Control plane design for Wi-Fi networks

Abstract

The demands on Wi-Fi networks, including traffic volume and QoS, are increasing dramatically due to the transition from PC era to mobile era. It is a big challenge to Wi-Fi networks as current Wi-Fi control methods render the networks inefficient in congested networks, while still remaining short in functions such as QoS. Although expanding capacity, which is the mean under active research, may relieve the pressure, improving the control methods, which relatively lacks attention, can be a more direct alternative to address the problem. In this thesis, two approaches are explored for the purpose of enhancing the control plane of Wi-Fi. The first approach is cross-layer optimization by leveraging physical layer innovations. This approach is possible to study because of the recent development in software radio platforms. The study in this thesis also starts from platform development that a flexible multi-radio platform is described. Based on this novel platform, two ideas on cross-layer optimization are presented. One of them targets to improve the error control function by introducing a light-weight narrow-band feedback channel, whereas the other targets to reduce control overhead by offloading control functions to a decoupled control channel. The second approach explored is introducing centralized control to current distributed and asynchronous Wi-Fi control methods. Improvement in QoS is demonstrated with this approach. Based on these ideas, four systems are designed, implemented and evaluated. Experimental results prove feasibility and benefit of these systems.

Date of Award	2014
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology