Multichannel mesh networks: challenges and protocols

Abstract

Abstract-Supporting high throughput is an important challenge in multi-hop mesh networks. Popular wireless LAN standards, such as IEEE 802.11, provision for multiple channels. In this article, we consider the use of multiple wireless channels to improve network throughput. Commercially available wireless network interfaces can typically operate over only one channel at a time. Due to cost and complexity constraints, total number of interfaces at each host is expected to be fewer than the total channels available in the network. Under this scenario, several challenges need to be addressed before all the available channels can be fully utilized. In this article, we highlight the main challenges, and present two link-layer protocols for utilizing multiple channels. We also present a new abstraction layer that simplifies the implementation of new multi-channel protocols in existing operating systems. This article demonstrates the feasibility of utilizing multiple channels, even if each host has fewer interfaces than the number of available channels.

Channel Assignment Using Topology Control Based on Power Control in Wireless Mesh Networks

“…MMAC [15] [16] is a link-layer multi-channel protocol for nodes with a single network interface. A node equipped with a single interface can only listen to one channel at a time.…”

Stochastic Traffic Engineering in Multihop Cognitive Wireless Mesh Networks

“…We further assume that some scheduling mechanism is in place or some physical layer mechanisms are utilized such that the nodes cannot interfere with each other during the transmissions. For example, in a multichannel multiradio wireless mesh network, the channels can be assigned properly that the transmissions do not interfere with the neighboring nodes [2], [31]. Other examples are the OFDMA/CDMA-based wireless mesh networks [3], [32] where the interference among nodes can be eliminated by assigning orthogonal subcarriers/codes.…”

Wireless Mesh Networks for Infrastructure Deficient Areas

“…Both schemes try to reduce the unnecessary delay of multihop mesh packets, which leads to low scalability as we have encountered. A further method of increasing scalability is the employment of multiple channels for mesh backhaul traffic, thus reducing the bottleneck collision domain significantly as proposed in [28].…”