Cross layer routing in WiMAX Mesh networks

Abstract

The Mesh mode of the WiMAX standard divides the system resources into two regions, one for Internet other for intranet tra±c. According to the standard, one type of tra±c cannot use the other's reserved capacity in anyway. This results in reduced system utilization when there is congestion in one region while other is not congested. We develop a cross layer Queue Aware Routing (QAR) scheme for the Mesh mode of IEEE 802.16 with two approaches that utilize the capacity allocated to intranet tra±c Internet tra±c in case the latter su®ers from congestion. Our solution does not introduce any changes in the standard. Thus, it can be implemented without incurring any change to existing user and BS devices. Our simulation results show that both of our QAR schemes decrease the end-to-end delay and the number of dropped packets at the cost of a slight increase in the delay for the intranet tra±c.