A study of topology formation in 802.11s multiradio wireless mesh networks

Wireless mesh networks (WMN) are efficient and low cost solutions for the deployment of broadband access in various environments. To support real-time applications such as multimedia and emergency services, WMNs must provide quality of service (QoS) guarantees and QoS continuity protection. While the capacity of single radio WMNs may severely limit the QoS for such traffic, multiradio WMNs can overcome this restriction and provide additional links to support better QoS mechanisms. This paper describes two self-configuration mechanisms to establish mesh topologies in IEEE 802.11s multiradio WMNs: a distributed mechanism based on the portal announcement protocol specified in the IEEE 802.11s standard to determine the initial channel assignment of the mesh points forming a backhaul network and a centralized mechanism to optimize the topology initially created once the network is stable. We also study the performance of topology formation in IEEE 802.11s multiradio WMNs and identify the various factors affecting delays in the creation and modification of topologies.