Cross-Layer Design for Wireless Mesh Networks Using Column Generation

Wireless Mesh Networks (WMNs) have become an interesting answer for broadband wireless networking. Cross-layer optimization problems for WMNs deployment and management are necessary and challenging. In this paper we focus on jointly optimizing routing and link scheduling in a single-channel wireless mesh network, in order to maximize fair network throughput or equivalently minimize time period. Our approach is based on a {\em{path/configuration linear formulation}} of the joint routing and scheduling problem, which is solved by column generation with two auxiliary programs to generate new paths and configurations. The method is validated on small topologies from an optimal {\em{node/arc formulation}}, and simulations are then done on random and grid topologies