A Comparison of Near-Hidden and Information Asymmetry Interference Problems in Wireless Mesh Networks

Multi-radio Multi-channel (MRMC) Wireless Mesh Networks (WMNs) have made quick progress in current years to become the best option for end users due to its reliability and low cost. Although WMNs have already been used still the capacity of WMNs is limited due to information asymmetry and near hidden interference among frequency channels. In the past, various research studies have been done to investigate both these issues. To minimise both these interference types and maximise network capacity; channel assignment has always been a critical area of research in WMNs. In this research, a comparative analysis is done between NH and IA interference based on their impact on network capacity. This comparison is made using the existing Optimal Channel Assignment Model (OCAM). After extensive simulations, it is figured out that NH interference performs a major role in degrading overall network capacity up to 4% in comparison to IA interference. Further, in this research an optimal channel assignment model Information Asymmetry and Near Hidden Minimization (INM) model is proposed that collectively minimises both NH and IA interference problems. The proposed model considers three non-overlapping channels 1, 6 and 11 from IEEE802.11b standard. For simulations, four different Multi-radio Multi-channel Wireless mesh topologies have been considered to find out the average network capacity. An extensive simulation in OPNET shows that the proposed INM model performs 7% better than the existing OCAM model in maximising the WMN net capacity.