Projects

Service-Oriented Routing Algorithm (SORA)

Wireless mesh network (WMN) is a promising technology that can provide cost-effective solutions to cover a rather large area. Despite this important feature, the future generation of WMNs needs to support more and more applications, such as voice over internet protocol (VoIP) and multimedia content distribution. To efficiently support these diverse demands and to effectively utilize the wireless network, service-oriented network layer design has been proposed recently. A key idea of such a service-oriented design is that a user only needs to specify the service to the network, instead of the destination address in a traditional manner.

In this project, we present a simple solution, namely, the service-oriented routing algorithm (SORA), to enable service orientation in WMNs. The proposed scheme works in a similar manner as the Domain Name System (DNS). Specifically, SORA associates IP addresses to services just like the DNS associates IP addresses to domain names. SORA calculates the best route using the number of hops from a source to an arbitrary destination. This destination is chosen to be the one closest to the source and that has the service that it requests.

Our experiments show that the proposed algorithm can efficiently provide distributed services in wireless mesh networks.

Channel Selection and Network Coding (CHANET)

In recent years, IEEE 802.11 based wireless local area network (WLANs) have been widely deployed and the cost of IEEE 802.11-enabled routers and adapters are very low. To effectively establish wireless networks in various scenarios, it is important to exploit such inexpensive commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) products.

In this project, we address this issue and propose a novel medium access control (MAC) scheme based on the idea of network coding and intelligent channel selection. Specifically, we will design a new sub-layer, named CHANET, between the network layer and the legacy IEEE 802.11 MAC layer. In this manner, the cost for updating the system can be minimized, while the performance can be improved efficiently.

The first technique discussed is intelligent channel selection using Fuzzy Logic; with it the mesh can be transformed into a full-duplex connection, meaning that can receive and transmit at the same time. Of course that in order to achieve this the nodes need to have at least two radios, if this is not the case it can still send the information using the channel that is being used the less.

The second technique involves network coding at the network layer. Using DSP algorithms, the nodes in the mesh can create linearly independent equations that can mix N unknown packet to be decoded at the destination. This allows more data to be sent through the mesh utilizing even better the channel capacity, using multicast messages. The encoding of the packets is done while the system is scanning for the best channel to be use to transmit.

Our simulation results show that the proposed scheme can substantially improve the throughput and delay performance of the wireless network.

Local Service Network

Wireless mesh network (WMN) is a promising technology for the next-generation wireless communication systems because it can support broadband services with ubiquitous coverage and with relatively low cost. Currently, hundreds of municipalities are implementing or planning to implement meshed Wi-Fi for public Internet access, public safety, and business communications.


Due to their broadcast nature, WMNs can provide services in a highly effective manner. Clients requesting services can connect to the mesh using the closest mesh router (MR), and obtain the services with better performance than that of a far network. In this project we develop a system analog to that of Global Positioning System (GPS), namely Local Service Network (LSN). Moreover, we compare the availability of services and performance of the system in contrast to the traditional satellite version.

This project consists of the design and implementation of a Local Service Network (LSN). Just like a GPS, the LPN promises to have knowledge of the surroundings providing information on maps and points of interest. We will create a wireless mesh network to provide the services of the maps and points of interests around the area, using the Linksys WRT54GL routers. A database will be stored inside of storage devices connected through Ethernet to the routers and accessed using wireless clients and location positioning services like Skyhook.

In this project, we expect to:

·        Understand the communication between different types of devices through a wireless network.

·        Understand the operation of commercial WLAN routers, adapters, sensors and hard drives.

·        Compare our design with the existent technology.

·        Acquire experience in the development of software, and the practice of software engineering and telecommunication designs.


Wireless Mesh Networks for Smart Homes

Wireless mesh network (WMN) have proven to solve many issues of the current world, using cheap solutions. Their broadcast nature makes them an attractive solution to provide services effectively. Currently, hundreds of municipalities are implementing or planning to implement meshed Wi-Fi for public Internet access, public safety, and business communications.

Although many applications are based on wide area coverage one cannot limit their capabilities to wide open spaces. In this project we encounter the challenge of developing a WMN for a small, but full of interference, area. Moreover, we propose to design a prototype for a smart home using a WMN as backbone for the nodes and Xbees to communicate devices in the home. The Texas Instruments microcontroller MSP430 will be used to control the devices remotely at a single location in the house.

This project consists of the design and implementation of a smart home prototype. We will use a MSP430 microcontroller to centralize the logic of the home along with various xbees to communicate wirelessly with all the devices. The house will have several sensors installed to detect the presence of either audio, movement, absence of people, etc. The lights will be activated with voice command.

In this project, we expect to:

·        Understand the operation of the TI MSP430.

·        Understand the operation of xbees and the IEEE 802.15.4 standard.

·        Develop new software in C to implement the control of the smart home.

·        Acquire experience in the development of software, and the practice of software engineering, telecommunication designs and hardware-control techniques.