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Hybrid multicriteria algorithms applied to structural design of wireless local area networks

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Abstract

This manuscript presents a novel approach based on hybrid optimization techniques for planning Wireless Local Area Networks in two stages: i) network structure design for access point (AP) placement and channel assignment and ii) channel assignment enhancement. We consider two objective functions: network load balance and signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio; and three hard constraints: maximum AP capacities, client demand attendance, and minimum coverage levels. The proposed algorithm delivers an approximation of the efficient solution set, considering the two functions described above. The results from two scenarios were compared to the following four approaches: two multiobjective evolutionary algorithms, a well-known commercial tool, and a greedy technique. Finally, the solutions were subjected to sensitivity analysis to validate their robustness regarding user mobility and AP failures.

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Notes

  1. An ESS WLAN is a set of two or more access points that are seen by the client as a single Wi-Fi network.

  2. https://github.com/ORCSLab/WLAN_planning

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Brazilian agencies CAPES, CNPq, and FAPEMIG for financial support; Ekahau, Inc. for providing a functional version of Ekahau Site Survey software for seven-day testing; and Charles F. S. Vardiero and Prof. Felipe Campelo for their careful review of our manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Computing, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, João Monlevade, Brazil

    Marlon P. Lima

  2. Department of Electrical Engineering, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil

    Marlon P. Lima & Eduardo G. Carrano

  3. Department of Mathematics, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil

    Ricardo H. C. Takahashi

  4. Department of Computer Science, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil

    Marcos A. M. Vieira

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  1. Marlon P. Lima
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  2. Ricardo H. C. Takahashi
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  3. Marcos A. M. Vieira
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  4. Eduardo G. Carrano
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Correspondence to Marlon P. Lima.

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Lima, M.P., Takahashi, R.H.C., Vieira, M.A.M. et al. Hybrid multicriteria algorithms applied to structural design of wireless local area networks. Appl Intell 48, 3653–3671 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10489-018-1165-7

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