Search

In a multisensor target tracking application running on a shared network, at what bit rates should the sensors send their measurements to the tracking fusion center? Clearly, the sensors cannot use arbitrary rates in a shared network, and a standard network rate control algorithm may not provide rates amenable to effective target tracking. For Kalman filter-based multisensor target tracking, we derive a utility function that captures the tracking quality of service as a function of the sensor bit rates. We incorporate this utility function into a network rate resource allocation framework, deriving a distributed rate control algorithm for a shared network that is suitable for current best effort packet networks, such as the Internet. In simulation studies, the new rate control algorithm engenders significantly better tracking performance than a standard rate control method, while the ordinary data transfer flows continue to effectively operate while using their standard rate control methods.

In networked data fusion or control applications, a data sink node may require participating source nodes to transmit data according to certain bit-rate allocations, or bit-rate ratios that are determined by the fusion or control task. In a shared network, the coordinated flows of a fusion or control application will need to coexist with the flows of other applications. In this paper, we examine the problem of congestion control of coordinated flows of a fusion or control application along with flows of ordinary data transfer applications. Through a simple modification of a utility function to accommodate the rate coordination, we employ network utility maximization methods to derive window flow control algorithms for both ordinary and coordinated flows. While the congestion control method for the ordinary flows remains unchanged, the coordinated flows require scalar feedback from a sink node to maintain rate coordination. We examine the equilibria, and the impact of the rate coordination algorithm on the ordinary flows, and provide simulation results that demonstrate the efficacy of the new congestion control method.