Combined scheduling and network coding for wireless mesh networks
US8223728B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 4, 2007 |
| Grant date | Jul 17, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 29, 2030 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04W84/18
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An architecture by which combined scheduling and network coding can be used in mesh networks, and more particularly wireless mesh networks. In various embodiments, this architecture includes a scheduling MAC protocol for scheduling nodes in the mesh network in order to take advantage of network coding opportunities. The schedule takes advantage of these opportunities by assigning a gain to transmit packets based upon the number of packets that are transmitted concurrently and choosing a schedule which minimizes the gain over the scheduling horizon. Regarding the assigned gain, in one embodiment this value is one for basic non-encoded operations and two or more for encoded operations. A scheduling MAC protocol is also used to announce and arbitrate network coding opportunities by indicating which packets (as characterized by their transmission slot) are to be encoded with each other.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.