Title: Comparisons of channel assignment algorithms for wireless mesh networks

Authors: Yan Feng, K.L. Eddie Law, Dong Jian He

Addresses: College of Information Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China. ' Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Ryerson University, 350 Victoria Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5B 2K3, Canada. ' College of Mechanical and Electronic Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China

Abstract: Capacity of wireless mesh networks can be expanded by adding more radios to mesh routers for accessing non-overlapping channels for communications among them. Channel assignment algorithms are important to improve the overall system performance. In this paper, three popular algorithms are reviewed, and they are tabu-based, load-aware (LACA), max-flow (MCAR) channel assignment algorithms. Their performances are evaluated based on randomly generated traffic patterns on two wireless mesh network topologies using 802.11 protocol. Our simulation results have shown that the MCAR algorithm provides a higher system throughput than the tabu-based and LACA algorithms.

Keywords: wireless mesh networks; WMNs; multi-radio; multi-channel; tabu based channel assignment; load aware channel assignment; LACA; max flow channel assignment; routing; non-overlapping channels; throughput; wireless networks; tabu search; simulation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJIPT.2010.035384

International Journal of Internet Protocol Technology, 2010 Vol.5 No.3, pp.132 - 141

Published online: 28 Sep 2010 *

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