Collaborative Research: Modeling Networks with Multiple Physical Layers-The Case for Multi-Radio Networks

协作研究PI：Andras Farago，德克萨斯大学达拉斯分校Stefano Basagni，东北大学使用多物理层建模网络-多无线电网络的案例网络环境中两个主要且持久的趋势是无线网络的日益重要的重要性以及无线网络解决方案和标准的日益多样化。这些趋势伴随着无线电接口成本的快速下降和物理尺寸的缩小。现在，在单个无线网络节点中放置几个无线电发射机/接收机在技术上和经济上都是可行的。这创造了一种网络有效地具有多个物理层的环境。预计这在未来将变得无处不在。虽然多个物理层的技术可能性目前已经相当明确，但如何有效利用这一机会来显著提高网络性能则不那么明显。或者，从实用/经济的角度来看，最终的问题是：多物理层(多无线电)网络的发展是否会带来足够的性能改进，从而证明投资是合理的？在这个研究项目中，研究人员开发和分析了新的数学方法，可以量化通过多个物理层获得的网络性能收益。具体地说，研究人员使用边标多图对网络拓扑进行建模。这种模型提供的机会比传统的图表模型要丰富得多。使用这种方法，研究人员主要研究了以下几个方面：(1)量化网络拓扑中的多无线电增益；(2)网络层的新算法问题；(3)网络可靠性的新问题；(4)移动环境中的建模和路由选择；(5)通过项目中建立的试验床对结果进行实验验证。

Abstract0634847Collaborative ResearchPIs: Andras Farago, The University of Texas at Dallas Stefano Basagni, Northeastern UniversityModeling Networks with Multiple Physical Layers - The Case for Multi-Radio NetworksTwo major and lasting trends in the networking landscape are the growing importance of wireless networks and the increasing diversity of wireless networking solutions and standards. These trends come hand in hand with the rapidly decreasing cost and shrinking physical size of radio interfaces. It is now technically and economically feasible to put several radio transmitters/receivers in a single wireless network node. This creates an environment where the network effectively has multiple physical layers. This is expected to become ubiquitous in the future. While the technical possibility of multiple physical layers is already quite clear today, it is much less obvious how can this opportunity be efficiently utilized to gain significant improvement in the network performance. Or, from the practical/economical point of view, the ultimate question is: will the multiple physical layer (multi-radio) network development lead to sufficient performance improvement that justifies the investment?In this research project the investigators develop and analyze novel mathematical methods that can can quantify the network performance gain that is obtained via multiple physical layers. Specifically, the investigators model the network topology with an edge-labeled multigraph. This model offers surprisingly richer opportunities than the traditional graph model. Using this approach, the investigators study the following main areas: (1) quantifying the multi-radio gain in the network topology; (2) new algorithmic problems at the network layer; (3) new issues in network reliability; and (4) modeling and choosing routes in a mobile environment (5) experimental validation of the results via a testbed built in the project.