Performance modelling of the IrDA infrared wireless communications protocol

We present a performance analysis of the Infrared Data Association (IrDA) IR data communications protocol using a mathematical throughput model based on the virtual transmission time of uni-directional IrDA data packets. The IrDA standard speci"es a protocol stack for reliable short-range indoor IR wireless data communication between devices with the data link layer (IrLAP) being a HDLC derivative. The virtual transmission time provides the average end-to-end transmission time of a packet incorporating the time for retransmissions if packet errors occur or other enforced delays. Analytic results are produced for the 115.2 kbit/s, 4 and 16 Mbit/s versions. Results are given for throughput with varying link parameters of packet size, BER, data rate, minimum turn-around time and maximum turn-around time. Copyright ( 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.