A cross-layer optimization framework for multicast in multi-hop wireless networks

Achieving optimal transmission throughput in data networks is known as a fundamental but hard problem. The situation is exacerbated in multi-hop wireless networks due to the interference among local wireless transmissions. In this paper, we propose a general modeling and solution framework for the throughput optimization problem in wireless networks. In our framework, data routing, wireless medium contention and network coding are jointly considered to achieve the optimal network performance. The primal-dual solution method in the framework represents a cross-layer optimization approach. It decomposes the original problem into data routing sub-problems at the network layer, and power allocation sub-problems at the physical layer. Various effective solutions are discussed for each sub-problem, verifying that our framework may handle the throughput optimization problem in an efficient and distributed fashion for a broad range of wireless network scenarios.