Network Coding Based Multicast in Multi-channel Multi-radio Wireless Mesh Networks

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Multicast is a form of communication that delivers information from a source to a group of destinations simultaneously in an efficient manner. Many important applications require multicast communications such as distribution of stock quotes, financial data, billing records, software, newspapers, pay-per-view movies; audio/video conference; distance learning; and distributed online games. Wireless mesh networking is an emerging technology that enables inexpensive and quick deployments of wireless ad-hoc networks that provide multi-hop wireless connectivity from one computer to another or to the Internet. Wireless mesh networks (WMNs) support many important applications such as Internet access provisioning in rural areas, municipal and metropolitan networking, ad hoc networking for emergency and disaster recovery, security surveillance, and information services in public transportation systems. In a single-channel WMN, the overall network throughput is limited by interferences from concurrent transmissions of wireless mesh routers on the same channel (band of frequencies). One of the most effective approaches to enhance the aggregate network throughput is to add more channels to a WMN and use routers with multiple radios (antennas) to support concurrent transmissions on different channels. To further increase the network throughput, network coding, which allows a router to combine multiple packets into a single transmission, has been proven to be a promising technique. In this research program, we study the problem of NETwork COding based Multicast (NetCoM) in multi-channel multi-radio (MCMR) WMNs, covering both theoretical and practical aspects of the problem. Specific objectives include performance modeling and evaluation, routing, channel assignment, quality of service provisioning, flow/congestion control and reliable multicast. Targeted outcomes of the proposed research program include new results in network coding theory, deeper understanding of NetCoM performance, practical algorithms and protocols for NetCoM to achieve high throughput in MCMR WMNs, wider deployment of multicast services, and technical advances in wireless mesh networking technology.