Title: Multi-hop mesh networking for UWB WPANs with QoS support

Authors: Zhong Fan

Addresses: Toshiba Telecommunications Laboratory, Toshiba Research Europe Limited, 32 Queen Square, Bristol BS1 4ND, UK

Abstract: Currently there are two competing proposals for Ultra-WideBand (UWB): one is DS-UWB based on IEEE 802.15.3 MAC and the other is Multi-Band OFDM Alliance (MBOA). Because of the short-range characteristics of high-speed UWB networks (around 10 m), it is highly desirable to have a multi-hop, range extension technology for future wireless personal area networks. Moreover, QoS is essential to support real-time applications over multi-hop paths in UWB networks. This paper first proposes a mesh network architecture and a simple, low-cost method for establishing communications across multiple piconets via multi-hop connections in 802.15.3 networks. It can be used to extend network coverage through connecting piconets on multiple channels. We then describe a simple, measurement-based admission control scheme for contention access in MBOA UWB networks, which allows high throughputs and low delays for QoS traffic by limiting the traffic load in the network. The admission control decision is based on both on-line measurement and a well-known analytical model of contention-based channel access.

Keywords: UWB; mesh networks; ultra wideband WPANs; routing; admission control; QoS; quality of service; multi-hop range extension; wireless PANs; personal area networks; piconets; multi-band OFDM alliance; MBOA.

DOI: 10.1504/IJWMC.2009.028900

International Journal of Wireless and Mobile Computing, 2009 Vol.3 No.3, pp.189 - 200

Published online: 11 Oct 2009 *

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