Cross-Layer Design for Multi-power, Multi-interface Routing in Wireless Mesh Networks

In this paper, we propose a cross-layer routing protocol design over multi-power, multi-interface wireless mesh networks (WMNs). Variable transmission power levels cause different network connectivity and impact the route discovery. Further, different power levels have different network spatial reusability and interference. These features affect the network throughput and end-to-end delay. We incorporate transmission power control with intra/inter-flow interference, and proposed the Multi-power Multi-interface Routing protocol considering Intra/Inter flow Interference (M²iRi²). Each radio interface locally calculates the tolerable interference (iTolerance)information at the physical layer and sends to the network layer to exchange with neighbors to constrain the power level selection at the route discovery. The traffic flow chooses the appropriate power level and the path with less interference to forward the packets. In this way, the simulations results demonstrate that the proposed M²iRi² can improve both network throughput and end-to-end delay.