Wireless mesh network

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Wireless mesh networking is mesh networking implemented over a Wireless LAN.

Whereas the Internet is mostly a wired based, co-operative electronic communication infrastructure similar to the international postal agreement, in that messages are mutually delivered and relayed within their separate domains free of charge (i.e. if you relay my messages within your domain I'll relay yours within mine), Mesh is a wireless co-operative communication infrastructure between a massive amount of individual wireless transceivers (i.e. a wireless mesh). This cooperative wireless array concept was first proposed in 1995 under a Canadian patent called Massive Array Cellular System (MACS). The inventor, Victor Pierobon, designed it solely as a disruptive technology to replace all chargeable communication services, such as landline telephones, cellular phones, and cable TV with an entirely free service, a user based, user solely owned communication infrastructure. To enable this, MACS route messages using GPS or longitude/latitude location, navigation between other MACS to the destined geo-location. Each MACS device is a multi-channel repeater/transceiver.

This type of infrastructure is decentralized (with no central service provider), relatively inexpensive, and very reliable and resilient, as each node need only transmit as far as the next node. Nodes act as repeaters to transmit data from nearby nodes to peers that are too far away to reach, resulting in a network that can span large distances, especially over rough or difficult terrain. Mesh networks are also extremely reliable, as each node is connected to several other nodes. If one node drops out of the network, due to hardware failure or any other reason, its neighbours simply find another route. Extra capacity can be installed by simply adding more nodes. Mesh networks may involve either fixed or mobile devices. The solutions are as diverse as communications in difficult environments such as emergency situations, tunnels and oil rigs to battlefield surveillance and high speed mobile video applications on board public transport or real time racing car telemetry.

The principle is similar to the way packets travel around the wired Internet — data will hop from one device to another until it reaches a given destination. Dynamic routing capabilities included in each device allow this to happen. To implement such dynamic routing capabilities, each device needs to communicate its routing information to every device it connects with, "almost in real time". Each device then determines what to do with the data it receives — either pass it on to the next device or keep it. The routing algorithm used should attempt to always ensure that the data takes the most appropriate (fastest) route to its destination.

The choice of radio technology for wireless mesh networks is crucial. In a traditional wireless network where laptops connect to a single access point, each laptop has to share a fixed pool of bandwidth. With mesh technology and adaptive radio, devices in a mesh network will only connect with other devices that are in a set range. The advantage is that, like a natural load balancing system, the more devices the more bandwidth becomes available, provided that the number of hops in the average communications path is kept low.

To prevent increased hop count from cancelling out the advantages of multiple transceivers, one common type of architecture for a mobile mesh network includes multiple fixed base stations with "cut through" high-bandwidth terrestrial links that will provide gateways to services, wired parts of the Internet and other fixed base stations. The "cut through" bandwidth of the base station infrastructure must be substantial for the network to operate effectively. However, one feature of wireless mesh networks is that an operator need only deploy a minimal base station infrastructure, and allow the users themselves to extend the network.

Since this wireless Internet infrastructure has the potential to be much cheaper than the traditional type, many wireless community network groups are already creating wireless mesh networks.

[edit] Protocols

There are more than 70 competing schemes for routing packets across mesh networks. Some of these include:

The IEEE is developing a set of standards under the title 802.11s to define an architecture and protocol for ESS Mesh Networking.

A more thorough list can be found at Ad hoc routing protocol list.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

  • Roofnet.net Mesh network documentation and monitoring for MIT-based roofnet networks
  • Sveasoft 3rd party mesh firmware upgrade for Asus, Buffalotech, Linksys, and similar routers
  • Moskaluk Wireless Mesh Don Moskaluk Mesh network documentation and monitoring for Locustworlds Open Source AODV
  • NetEquality A non-profit building mesh networks for low-income neighborhoods
  • IET From hotspots to blankets
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