An Interference-Aware Channel Assignment Scheme for Wireless Mesh Networks

Abstract

Multichannel communication in a wireless mesh network with routers having multiple radio interfaces significantly enhances the network capacity. Efficient channel assignment and routing is critical for realization of optimal throughput in such networks. In this paper, we investigate the problem of finding the largest number of links that can be activated simultaneously in a wireless mesh network subject to interference, radio and connectivity constraints. Our goal is to activate all such links and we present an interference aware channel assignment algorithm that realizes this goal. We show that the Link Interference Graph created by utilizing a frequently used interference model gives rise to a special class of graphs, known as overlapping double-disk (ODD) graphs. We prove that the Maximum Independent Set computation problem is NP-complete for this special class of graphs. We provide a Polynomial Time Approximation Scheme (PTAS) for computation of the Maximum Independent Set of an ODD graph. We use this PTAS to develop a channel assignment algorithm for a multiradio multichannel Wireless Mesh Network. We evaluate the performance of our channel assignment algorithm by comparing it with the optimal solution obtained by solving an integer linear program. Experimental results demonstrate that our channel assignment algorithm produces near optimal solution in almost all instances of the problem.