Interference and capacity analysis in multi-hop wireless mesh networks

Accurate modeling of the effects of interference on network capacity in two flow topologies is very critical in understanding MAC behaviors and predicting per flow throughput in general multi-hop wireless mesh networks. This understanding is helpful in designing efficient routing and spectrum decision protocols for WMNs. The existing interference models do not consider the difference between carrier sensing and transmission range while considering interfering links. In practical scenarios, links inside carrier sensing range of edge nodes of a particular link induce significantly different interference compared to links within transmission range. In this research, we have classified interference between two flow topologies on the basis of geometric location of the links within transmission and carrier sensing ranges. We have also considered the difference in MAC behavior and resulting throughput imbalances. We compute occurrence probabilities of identified categories and discuss the effect of MAC behavior on throughput imbalances. Subsequent work shall focus on interference model for multi-hop WMN based on our two-flow classification and prediction of per flow throughput in a general multi-hop WMNs.