Quality of service (QoS) provisioning is an important issue in the deployment of broadband wireless access networks e.g. WiMAX (IEEE Std 802.16-2004, 2004) networks with real-time and non-real-time traffic integrated. To design a QoS support framework tailored for WiMAX networks is more challenge as wireless channel has unique characteristics such as time-varying channel and limited channel capacity. This chapter presents various QoS support mechanisms in WiMAX networks. Existing proposals with the state-of-the-art technology have been classified into three main categories: QoS support architecture, bandwidth management mechanism, and packet scheduling schemes. Representative schemes from each of the categories have been evaluated with respect to major distinguishing characteristics of the WiMAX MAC layer and PHY layer as specified in the IEEE 802.16d standard. Suggestions and research trends on QoS support in WiMAX networks are highlighted.
