Architecture for performance improvement of hybrid multi-channel protocol

Abstract

To provide high bandwidth "last mile" connectivity of WLAN mesh networks, many researchers have proposed the use of multiple channels and radios. In particular, Hybrid Multi-Channel Protocol (HMCP) has been expected to be an ultimate solution of multi-channel multi-radio WLAN mesh networks. However, HMCP still has challenging issues in WLAN mesh usage models. In the usage models, the fast, reliable, and co-located network interference aware services have to be guaranteed, but HMCP does not consider them to a fare-thee-well. Therefore, we propose new protocols which can ensure the requirements of WLAN mesh usage models. First, we propose co-located network interference aware fixed channel assignment scheme. In addition, we design and implement new software architecture of the scheme. Measurement results show that our scheme is less affected by interfering stream of co-located networks. Second, to support fast and reliable service, $\It{i.e.}$ Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) service, we propose TCP Aware Multi-Channel Protocol (TAMCP). Measurement results show that TAMCP outperforms HMCP in terms of throughput by 30%.