CAREER: Leveraging Simultaneous Access to Multiple Frequency Bands in Multihop Wireless Networks

由于最近FCC频段重新分配的高潮和无线设备复杂性的加速，同时访问多个不同的无线频段正变得越来越现实。自然，问题出现了：如何同时访问具有不同传播和通信能力的广泛频段来提高当前无线网络的性能？在本CAREER研究中，为多跳无线网络从单链路到全网决策的多频带开发奠定了基础。为此，该项目在一系列设备和测试平台上使用实验设计、测量分析、分析建模和嵌入式编程，从可通过应用程序下载访问的全球移动电话到实验室和现场无线基础设施。这项工作有三个关键的创新：1)利用移动电话测量和多个频段的现场试验，对多频段传播特性进行实验表征；2)针对可扩展的多频段架构的网络规划框架，该框架使用经验和分析模型对不同频段的异构拓扑结构进行容量预测；3)在信道可变性的实时测量、对环境背景的理解和基于历史性能的在线培训的指导下，协调和适应多个无线频段链路参数的协议。作为工作的结果，多跳无线网络研究人员、开发人员和基础设施提供商可以利用该框架，通过可用的实验数据、分析模型开发和协议设计，在广泛的网络协议、拓扑和环境中利用多个频段。

Due to the culmination of the recent reapportionment of FCC frequency bands and the acceleration of wireless device complexity, simultaneous access to multiple diverse wireless frequency bands is becoming more of a reality. Naturally, the question arises: How can simultaneous access to a wide range of frequency bands with distinct propagation and communication capabilities improve current wireless network performance? In this CAREER research, a foundation is laid for exploiting multiple frequency bands for multihop wireless networks from per-link to network-wide decisions. To do so, this project uses experimental design, measurement analysis, analytical modeling, and embedded programming on an array of devices and testbeds from mobile phones globally reachable via application downloads to in-lab and in-the-field wireless infrastructures.There are three key innovations to the work: 1) An experimental characterization for multiple frequency band propagation characteristics by leveraging mobile phone measurements and in-field trials on a number of frequency bands, 2) A network planning framework for scalable, multiband architectures that uses empirical and analytical models for capacity prediction of heterogeneous topological formations across a diverse set of frequency bands, and 3) Protocols that coordinate and adapt link parameters across multiple wireless frequency bands, guided by real-time measurements of channel variability, an understanding of environmental context, and on-line training based on historical performance. As a result of work, multihop wireless network researchers, developers, and infrastructure providers can leverage the framework to exploit multiple frequency bands in a broad class of network protocols, topologies, and environments via available experimental data, analytical model development, and protocol design.