Efficient design of WIMAX/802.16 mesh networks

Broadband wireless networks are becoming increasingly popular due to their fast and inexpensive deployment and their capabilities of providing flexible and ubiquitous Internet access. While the majority of existing broadband wireless networks are still exclusively limited to single hop access, it is the ability of these networks to forward data frames over multi-hop wireless routes which enabled them to easily extend the network coverage area. Unfortunately, achieving good multi- hop throughput has been challenging due to several factors, such as lossy wireless links caused by interference from concurrent transmissions, and intra-path interference caused by transmissions on successive hops along a single path. A wireless mesh network WMN consists of a number of stationary wireless mesh routers, forming a wireless backbone. The wireless mesh routers serve as access points (APs) for wireless mobile devices, and some of them also act as gateways to the Internet via high speed wireless links. Several technologies are currently being considered for mesh (multi-hop) networks, including, IEEE 802.11 (both single channel and multi-channel), IEEE 802.16/WiMAX, and next generation cellular networks (LTE). In this work, we focus on the IEEE 802.16. To maximize the network performance of mesh networks (e.g., throughput), it is essential to consider a cross-layer design, exploiting the dependency between protocol layers such as the routing network layer and the scheduling resource allocation MAC layer. Therefore this PhD thesis considers a cross-layer design approach for designing efficient wireless mesh networks; we first develop mathematical models (link-based and path-based) for the problem of joint routing tree construction and link scheduling in WiMAX-based mesh networks with the objective of minimizing the schedule length to satisfy a set of uplink and downlink demands. This is achieved by maximizing the number of concurrent active transmissions in the network by efficiently reusing the spectrum spatially. Second, we exploit the broadcasts nature of the wireless medium and enhance our design models by incorporating opportunistic network coding into the joint routing tree construction and link scheduling problem. Identifying coding-aware routing structures and utilizing the broadcasting feature of the wireless medium play an important role in realizing the achievable gain of network coding. Last, the uprising mobile WiMAX (802.16e amendment) has introduced more difficulties and challenges into the network design problem; thus, ensuring larger connection lifetime and better routing stability become of greater interest for the joint routing and scheduling problem. This is addressed by augmenting the previously designed models. Throughout this thesis, we assume centralized scheduling at the base station (BS) and we develop, for the joint problems, integer linear programming (ILP) models which require the enumeration of all feasible solutions to reach the optimal solution. Given their complexities, we rely on optimization decomposition methods using column generation for solving each model in an efficient way

Throughput Optimization in Multi-hop Wireless Networks with Random Access

This research investigates cross-layer design in multi-hop wireless networks with random access. Due to the complexity of the problem, we study cross-layer design with a simple slotted ALOHA medium access control (MAC) protocol without considering any network dynamics. Firstly, we study the optimal joint configuration of routing and MAC parameters in slotted ALOHA based wireless networks under a signal to interference plus noise ratio based physical interference model. We formulate a joint routing and MAC (JRM) optimization problem under a saturation assumption to determine the optimal max-min throughput of the flows and the optimal configuration of routing and MAC parameters. The JRM optimization problem is a complex non-convex problem. We solve it by an iterated optimal search (IOS) technique and validate our model via simulation. Via numerical and simulation results, we show that JRM design provides a significant throughput gain over a default configuration in a slotted ALOHA based wireless network. Next, we study the optimal joint configuration of routing, MAC, and network coding in wireless mesh networks using an XOR-like network coding without opportunistic listening. We reformulate the JRM optimization problem to include the simple network coding and obtain a more complex non-convex problem. Similar to the JRM problem, we solve it by the IOS technique and validate our model via simulation. Numerical and simulation results for different networks illustrate that (i) the jointly optimized configuration provides a remarkable throughput gain with respect to a default configuration in a slotted ALOHA system with network coding and (ii) the throughput gain obtained by the simple network coding is significant, especially at low transmission power, i.e., the gain obtained by jointly optimizing routing, MAC, and network coding is significant even when compared to an optimized network without network coding. We then show that, in a mesh network, a significant fraction of the throughput gain for network coding can be obtained by limiting network coding to nodes directly adjacent to the gateway. Next, we propose simple heuristics to configure slotted ALOHA based wireless networks without and with network coding. These heuristics are extensively evaluated via simulation and found to be very efficient. We also formulate problems to jointly configure not only the routing and MAC parameters but also the transmission rate parameters in multi-rate slotted ALOHA systems without and with network coding. We compare the performance of multi-rate and single rate systems via numerical results. We model the energy consumption in terms of slotted ALOHA system parameters. We found out that the energy consumption for various cross-layer systems, i.e., single rate and multi-rate slotted ALOHA systems without and with network coding, are very close

Network Coding For Star and Mesh Networks

This thesis introduces new network coding techniques to improve the file sharing and video streaming performance of wireless star and mesh networks. In this thesis we propose a new XOR based scheduling algorithm for network coding in cooperative local repair. The proposed algorithm commences in three phases. In the first phase, nodes exchange packets availability vectors. These vectors are functions of the probability of correct packet reception over the channel. This is followed by a short period of distributed scheduling where the nodes execute the processing algorithm which tries to minimize the total transmission time. In the third phase, nodes transmit the encoded packets as per the decision of the scheduling algorithm. Simulation results show improvement in system throughput and processing delay for the proposed algorithm. We also study the trade-offs between file sizes, processing delays, number of users and packet availability. In the sequel we display the favorable effects of file segmentation on the performance of the proposed scheduling algorithm. Furthermore, the upper bound on the performance and the analysis of the proposed scheduling algorithm are derived. Also, in this thesis, the effects of random network coding on code division multiple access/time division duplex (CDMA/TDD) platforms for wireless mesh networks are studied and evaluated. A multi-hop mesh network with single source and multiple receiving nodes is assumed. For reliable data transfer, a Selective Repeat ARQ protocol is used. Two scenarios are evaluated for their efficiency. In scenario 1, but not in scenario 2, random network coding is applied to CDMA/TDD wireless mesh networks. The delay and delay jitter for both scenarios are computed. The study also focuses on the effects of uncontrolled parameters such as the minimum number of neighbors and the network connectivity, and of controlled parameters such as Galois Field (GF) size, packet size, number of Walsh functions employed at each node and the Processing Gain. The analysis and simulation results show that applying random network coding to CDMA/TDD systems in wireless mesh networks could provide a noticeable improvement in overall efficiency. We also propose a cross layer approach for the Random Network coded-Code Division Multiple Access/Time Division Duplex (RNC-CDMA/TDD) wireless mesh networks. The proposed algorithm selects the number of assigned Walsh functions depending on the network topology. Two strategies of Walsh function assignments are proposed. In the first, nodes determine the number of their assigned Walsh functions depending on the neighbor with the maximum number of neighbors, which we call the worst case assignment. In the second, nodes determine the number of their assigned Walsh functions depending on the need for each transmission. Simulation results show the possible achievable improvement in the system performance, delay and delay jitter due to cross layer design

Multimedia delivery in the future internet

The term “Networked Media” implies that all kinds of media including text, image, 3D graphics, audio and video are produced, distributed, shared, managed and consumed on-line through various networks, like the Internet, Fiber, WiFi, WiMAX, GPRS, 3G and so on, in a convergent manner [1]. This white paper is the contribution of the Media Delivery Platform (MDP) cluster and aims to cover the Networked challenges of the Networked Media in the transition to the Future of the Internet. Internet has evolved and changed the way we work and live. End users of the Internet have been confronted with a bewildering range of media, services and applications and of technological innovations concerning media formats, wireless networks, terminal types and capabilities. And there is little evidence that the pace of this innovation is slowing. Today, over one billion of users access the Internet on regular basis, more than 100 million users have downloaded at least one (multi)media file and over 47 millions of them do so regularly, searching in more than 160 Exabytes1 of content. In the near future these numbers are expected to exponentially rise. It is expected that the Internet content will be increased by at least a factor of 6, rising to more than 990 Exabytes before 2012, fuelled mainly by the users themselves. Moreover, it is envisaged that in a near- to mid-term future, the Internet will provide the means to share and distribute (new) multimedia content and services with superior quality and striking flexibility, in a trusted and personalized way, improving citizens’ quality of life, working conditions, edutainment and safety. In this evolving environment, new transport protocols, new multimedia encoding schemes, cross-layer inthe network adaptation, machine-to-machine communication (including RFIDs), rich 3D content as well as community networks and the use of peer-to-peer (P2P) overlays are expected to generate new models of interaction and cooperation, and be able to support enhanced perceived quality-of-experience (PQoE) and innovative applications “on the move”, like virtual collaboration environments, personalised services/ media, virtual sport groups, on-line gaming, edutainment. In this context, the interaction with content combined with interactive/multimedia search capabilities across distributed repositories, opportunistic P2P networks and the dynamic adaptation to the characteristics of diverse mobile terminals are expected to contribute towards such a vision. Based on work that has taken place in a number of EC co-funded projects, in Framework Program 6 (FP6) and Framework Program 7 (FP7), a group of experts and technology visionaries have voluntarily contributed in this white paper aiming to describe the status, the state-of-the art, the challenges and the way ahead in the area of Content Aware media delivery platforms

RECOMAC: a cross-layer cooperative network protocol for wireless ad hoc networks

A novel decentralized cross-layer multi-hop cooperative protocol, namely, Routing Enabled Cooperative Medium Access Control (RECOMAC) is proposed for wireless ad hoc networks. The protocol architecture makes use of cooperative forwarding methods, in which coded packets are forwarded via opportunistically formed cooperative sets within a region, as RECOMAC spans the physical, medium access control (MAC) and routing layers. Randomized coding is exploited at the physical layer to realize cooperative transmissions, and cooperative forwarding is implemented for routing functionality, which is submerged into the MAC layer, while the overhead for MAC and route set up is minimized. RECOMAC is shown to provide dramatic performance improvements of eight times higher throughput and one tenth of end-to-end delay than that of the conventional architecture in practical wireless mesh networks

Wireless industrial monitoring and control networks: the journey so far and the road ahead

While traditional wired communication technologies have played a crucial role in industrial monitoring and control networks over the past few decades, they are increasingly proving to be inadequate to meet the highly dynamic and stringent demands of today’s industrial applications, primarily due to the very rigid nature of wired infrastructures. Wireless technology, however, through its increased pervasiveness, has the potential to revolutionize the industry, not only by mitigating the problems faced by wired solutions, but also by introducing a completely new class of applications. While present day wireless technologies made some preliminary inroads in the monitoring domain, they still have severe limitations especially when real-time, reliable distributed control operations are concerned. This article provides the reader with an overview of existing wireless technologies commonly used in the monitoring and control industry. It highlights the pros and cons of each technology and assesses the degree to which each technology is able to meet the stringent demands of industrial monitoring and control networks. Additionally, it summarizes mechanisms proposed by academia, especially serving critical applications by addressing the real-time and reliability requirements of industrial process automation. The article also describes certain key research problems from the physical layer communication for sensor networks and the wireless networking perspective that have yet to be addressed to allow the successful use of wireless technologies in industrial monitoring and control networks

Intra- and Inter-Session Network Coding in Wireless Networks

In this paper, we are interested in improving the performance of constructive network coding schemes in lossy wireless environments.We propose I2NC - a cross-layer approach that combines inter-session and intra-session network coding and has two strengths. First, the error-correcting capabilities of intra-session network coding make our scheme resilient to loss. Second, redundancy allows intermediate nodes to operate without knowledge of the decoding buffers of their neighbors. Based only on the knowledge of the loss rates on the direct and overhearing links, intermediate nodes can make decisions for both intra-session (i.e., how much redundancy to add in each flow) and inter-session (i.e., what percentage of flows to code together) coding. Our approach is grounded on a network utility maximization (NUM) formulation of the problem. We propose two practical schemes, I2NC-state and I2NC-stateless, which mimic the structure of the NUM optimal solution. We also address the interaction of our approach with the transport layer. We demonstrate the benefits of our schemes through simulations