Wireless LAN mesh networks and protocols

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Wireless local area networks (WLANs) have rapidly appeared in homes, businesses and in public Wi-Fi hotspots. Hotspots are now being extended to form contiguous hotzones, spanning tens of kilometers in expansive outdoor areas. In these types of deployments, WLAN mesh networks can be used to reduce the cost of large-scale hotzone deployment.  WLAN mesh network nodes do this by functioning as multihop backhaul relays in addition to their role in providing radio coverage for end user stations. This project will fund the applicant's research in the area of sustainable-energy WLAN mesh networks. For the past several years the applicant has developed a solar powered WLAN mesh network, referred to as SolarMESH. A solar powered solution has an advantage over conventional WLAN mesh networks in cases where continuous power sources are difficult or impossible to provide. The work will include various activities that are motivated by reducing the power consumption of the WLAN mesh nodes. Reduced power consumption leads to lower node costs due to a reduction in the resources needed for continuous operation. Research is needed into ways of including this functionality in a manner that supports the quality of service required for real-time services and that will support fast real-time handoff for mobile stations. WLAN mesh networks are very new and commercial markets for these networks will be world-wide. For this reason the proposed work has a very strong potential for generating results of benefit to companies working in this area.