Gateway designation for timely communications in instant mesh networks

In this paper, we explore how to effectively create and use "instant mesh networks", i.e., wireless mesh networks that are dynamically deployed in temporary circumstances (e.g., emer­ gency responses) - in addition to enabling coverage for internal on­ site communications, such a network will support information flow into and out of the deployment site through its gateway (i.e., the mesh router that connects to the external backhaul). We study op­ timizing the performance of communications (specifically in terms of latency) in an instant mesh network by intelligently selecting the gateway. We demonstrate that designating the proper gateway significantly enhances the timeliness of communications with the external backhaul. We mathematically model the "gateway desig­ nation problem" using the notion of centrality from graph theory. We propose a distributed algorithm, FACE (Fast Approximate Center Exploration), for locating the optimal gateway. FACE is an approxima...

• Type: Journal
• Year: 2010
• Where: PERCOM
• Authors: Bo Xing, Mayur Deshpande, Sharad Mehrotra, Nalini Venkatasubramanian
• Keywords: Computer Networks, External Backhaul, Instant Mesh Network, Mesh Network, PERCOM 2010