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Routing protocols in wireless mesh networks: challenges and design considerations

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Abstract

Wireless Mesh Networks (WMNs) are an emerging technology that could revolutionize the way wireless network access is provided. The interconnection of access points using wireless links exhibits great potential in addressing the “last mile” connectivity issue. To realize this vision, it is imperative to provide efficient resource management. Resource management encompasses a number of different issues, including routing. Although a profusion of routing mechanisms has been proposed for other wireless networks, the unique characteristics of WMNs (e.g., wireless backbone) suggest that WMNs demand a specific solution. To have a clear and precise focus on future research in WMN routing, the characteristics of WMNs that have a strong impact on routing must be identified. Then a set of criteria is defined against which the existing routing protocols from ad hoc, sensor, and WMNs can be evaluated and performance metrics identified. This will serve as the basis for deriving the key design features for routing in wireless mesh networks. Thus, this paper will help to guide and refocus future works in this area.

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Notes

  1. We interchangeably use the terms of users, mobile nodes or mobile terminals to refer to this specific network component. Mobile Nodes is a generic term used to refer to users who may not necessarily be mobile (i.e., static wireless terminals).

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Acknowledgments

This research is partially supported by Nortel Networks, Communications and Information Technology Ontario (CITO) and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) of Canada.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Computer Science, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Canada

    Sonia Waharte, Raouf Boutaba, Youssef Iraqi & Brent Ishibashi

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  1. Sonia Waharte
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  2. Raouf Boutaba
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  3. Youssef Iraqi
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  4. Brent Ishibashi
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Correspondence to Sonia Waharte.

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Waharte, S., Boutaba, R., Iraqi, Y. et al. Routing protocols in wireless mesh networks: challenges and design considerations. Multimed Tools Appl 29, 285–303 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11042-006-0012-8

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