Performance modelling and optimization of integrated wireless LANs and multi‐hop mesh networks

Abstract

AbstractThe increasing demand for the coverage of high‐speed wireless local area networks (WLANs) is driving the installation of a very large number of access points (APs). Wireless mesh networks (WMNs) have emerged as a promising technology in the next generation networks to provide economical and scalable broadband access to wireless interconnection of multiple APs that manage individual WLANs in order to extend the coverage of the conventional single WLANs. In this paper, we develop a new analytical model to investigate the quality‐of‐service (QoS) performance metrics in WMNs interconnecting multiple WLANs. The model takes the phenomenon of communication locality into consideration. Extensive simulation experiments are conducted to validate the accuracy of the analytical model. The proposed model is then used to obtain the maximum achievable throughput, which is a key performance metrics in wireless networks. Moreover, we utilize the model to evaluate the impact of communication locality on network performance and investigate its effects on the optimization of integrated WLANs and multi‐hop mesh networks. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.