Dynamic and intelligent channel allocation methods for multi-radio wireless mesh networks

Abstract

A wireless mesh network is an ad-hoc network formed by wireless mesh routers. These routers form wireless links by interconnecting with each other and allow mobile or wireless terminals to access the network. One of the major issues in wireless mesh networks is to design an efficient and effective channel allocation scheme. The key objective is to allocate channels effectively and efficiently by taking into consideration both co-channel and environmental interferences so as to enhance the network performance. This project was conducted through university-industry collaboration. To fulfill the research objective, different channel allocation methods were investigated. First, we designed a genetic algorithm (GA)-based channel allocation scheme, which was implemented and tested using real wireless mesh routers. Second, we designed both a centralized macro-channel allocation scheme and a distributed macro-channel allocation scheme. They were compared and evaluated by means of simulations. Third, we designed a micro-channel allocation scheme, which can be used to re-allocate channels for part of a wireless mesh network whenever required (e.g., when some channels become worse). Furthermore, to support the micro-channel allocation scheme, we designed a router reboot algorithm, which generates the correct order for rebooting the routers. Last but not least, to facilitate channel deployment in general, we also developed an auto-config-mesh system, which is an automatic and effective system to deploy the channel allocations to wireless mesh routers.