Multi-Channel Allocation and Medium Access Control in Wireless Sensor Network

The aggregate capacity of wireless mesh networks can be improved significantly by equipping each node with multiple interfaces and by using multiple channels in order to reduce the effect of interference. Since the number of available channels is limited, it is desired to allocate and reallocate channels on-demand. In this paper, a Cluster Channel Assignment (CCA) approach is proposed, to maximize the aggregate throughput by exploiting spatial reuse and local dynamic switching of the channels. A clustering approach is employed in order to maximize the network capacity while minimizing the interference and taking advantage of the possibility of reuse of channels among clusters.