WAF: an adaptive protocol framework for multihop wireless networks

Multihop wireless networks have the potential to enhance existing wireless deployments in an efficient and robust fashion. However, optimizations are needed to reach a viable solution. These should target the challenges of integrating both existing and emerging wireless technologies, addressing hybrid network structures (instantly formed multihop wireless networks seamlessly coupled with fixed networks) and also considering the performance of Internet protocols, over IPv4 and IPv6 transports. Routing, protocol layer coupling, interoperability, link layer robustness and interference mitigation are key requirements. The work presented in this paper aims to bridge the gap between theoretical (still non-deployed) and rather complex multihop wireless ad hoc solutions, and easily deployed solutions, by introducing WAF, an enabling technology for heterogeneous multihop wireless networks. Rather than being a particular protocol, WAF is an adaptive framework, which allows for the close coupling of adaptive protocols found in a wireless protocol stack. In addition, WAF introduces mechanisms to support link layer boosting capabilities for particular wireless links.