A topology control approach for utilizing multiple channels in multi-radio wireless mesh networks

Abstract

We consider the channel assignment problem in a multi-radio wireless mesh network that involves assigning channels to radio interfaces for achieving efficient channel utilization. We present a graph-theoretic formulation of the channel assignment guided by a novel topology control perspective, and show that the resulting optimization problem is NP-complete. We also present an ILP formulation that is used for obtaining a lower bound for the optimum.We then develop a new greedy heuristic channel assignment algorithm (termed CLICA) for finding connected, low interference topologies by utilizing multiple channels. Our evaluations show that the proposed CLICA algorithm exhibits similar behavior and comparable performance relative to the optimum bound with respect to interference and capacity measures. Moreover, our extensive simulation studies show that it can provide a large reduction in interference even with a small number of radios per node, which in turn leads to significant gains in both link layer and multihop performance in 802.11-based multi-radio mesh networks.

A Mixed Strategy-Based Mechanism for Multi-Rate Multi-Channel Allocation in Wireless Networks

“…In recent years, many allocation mechanisms have been proposed based on several promising theories, such as weighted graph coloring [1], integer linear programming [2] and game theory [5]- [7]. Different channel assignment schemes exist for single-radio and multi-radio networks [3].…”

Simulation of multi-radio multi-channel 802.11-based mesh networks in ns-3

“…Most of the CAs proposed in the literature fall into static category [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13], where nodes tune their radios to certain channels permanently. Static CAs are easy to deploy but unsuccessful to cope with the changes in the wireless environment [4].…”

“…Channel assignment mechanisms are usually evaluated via simulations due to the multiple considerations and complex scenarios required to evaluate them [7][8][9][10]13,[22][23][24][25]. However, most of the current network simulators do not support multi-radio routers nor dynamic re-configuration of the radio interface, requiring modifications into their core level to allow the evaluation of CA mechanisms [29].…”

“…Although many solutions have been considered for channel assignment [3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][43][44][45][46][47], few proposals are adaptive to the changes in the wireless environment such as the interference induced from other wireless networks [16,22,25,48]. The first interference aware CA mechanism is Breath First Search Channel Assignment (BFSCA) [16].…”

Learning Automata Based Channel Assignment with Power Control in Multi-Radio Multi-Channel Wireless Mesh Networks

“…According to this survey, most of centralized approach utilized graph based techniques in solving problems with mentioned constraints. CLICA is an approach proposed by Marina et al [8]. It is also called "base channel assignment keep any link of unit disk graph", and according to the distribution of nonoverlapping channels among different links, the interference is reduced and finally the traffic pattern is not considered [8].…”