This document introduces wireless mesh networks (WMNs) and discusses their advantages over other wireless network types. It describes the Mobimesh project, an experimental WMN platform developed by Politecnico di Milano, and its deployment in Bagnara Calabra, Italy. Ongoing research activities are also summarized, including projects to develop hierarchical routing, automatic frequency assignment, improved mobility management, integrated WMN and sensor networks, and hybrid wireless/powerline networks.

1. Wireless MESH Networks
and the Mobimesh Project
Antonio Capone

2. Summary
• Introduction to WMNs
• Application Scenarios
• The Mobimesh Project
• Ongoing R&D Activities

3. Ad hoc Networks: myth and reality
• Mobile Ad hoc Network (MANET)
relay
source
destination
relay
– Huge research effort (~330.000 scientific papers
published – source Google Scholar)
– Only few real applications

4. “Sons” of ad hoc Networks
AD HOC
Wireless Mesh
Wireless Sensor Vehicular Area
Networks (WMN)
Networks Networks (VANET)
(WSN)

5. The Evolution Path Toward WMNs
Eth
• The problem: In er n
et
many applications
creating a wired
infrastructure for
wireless access
networks, like
traditional WLAN
WiFi, is not possible
or too expensive • Solution: Replacing
wired infrastructure
with wireless links

6. The Evolution Path Toward WMNs (contd)
First possible solution: Wireless
Distribution System
• Manual configuration of wireless
links
• Can be used only with small size
networks

7. The Evolution Path Toward WMNs (contd)
Wireless networks of point-to-
point links
• Use of point-to-point links
based on traditional
technologies (e.g. SDH) or low
cost ones (WiFi, Hiperlan)
Weaknesses:
• Solution adopted by several
• Very low flexibility
WISPs and system integrators
• Complex configuration
• Two possible architectures:
like with WAN
– Non-meshed topologies
• No support for nomadic
– Meshed topologies with IP
users
based routing (e.g. OSPF)

8. The “true” Wireless Mesh Networks
Internet
Internet
• Mesh routers (MRs) mesh
manage routing gateway
automatically based on ad
hoc network technologies
• Devices are flexible and
self-configuring mesh
• All or a subset of MRs act router
as access points (Wi-Fi hot
spot)
mesh
• Some devices are the client
gateways to the Internet Access Link
Backhaul
Gateway Link

9. Advantages of WMNs
• Not only wireless access but also wireless infrastructure
• The only viable solution in most of the application
scenarios
• Probably the best in all cases under the cost/flexibility
perspective
WMNs deployment
• Ease up
time-to-
deployment
• Reduced
CAPEX/OPEX

10. Applications
• Large range of application scenarios where
creating a wired infrastructure is not possible or
cost effective
– Municipal wireless networks
– Temporary networks
– Industrial networks
– Retrofits
– Surveillance
– Environmental monitoring
– Traffic control and driver assistance

11. MuniWireless
• A new emerging application area of
wireless networks
• Tremendous interest worldwide
• Public utility services as
distinguishing feature
• Local governments and authorities
as new actors for building up
infrastructures and providing
services
Big cities
Medium-small cities
Solution to digital divide

12. MuniWireless Services
Deployment of a city-wide pervasive wireless network for offering a large set of services
to public agencies, local police, fire dept, citizens, shops, local companies, and visitors.
Metropolitan Area Network
One network
many services
Virtual LAN for public
Virtual LAN for Virtual LAN for
security
public access public utility services
Pollution mapping and
Citizen mobility
Tourist services E-health
control …
management
Support servuces
Parking lots Video Surveillance
for Police, Fire
management
Traffic control
Public Access
Depts, etc.
… and many others
The wireless network as a key enabler for a large set of
value-added public-utility services for the community.

13. Safety and Security
• Surveillance of public areas and buildings
• Support to communication of public
security officers (police, fire dept, etc.) and
rescue teams
• Civil protection
Wireless
Sensor & Actor MESH
Network Network
Ad hoc
network

14. E-Health
• Remote monitoring of patients and elderly
people
• Alarms management
• Control of drug delivery
• Improvement of life quality through
movement freedom

15. Environmental Monitoring
• Integration of WMNs with sensor networks for
remote sensing and control of large areas,
buildings, bridges
Wireless MESH
Network
Sensor & Actor
Network
Multimedia
Human actor
sensor
agent

16. Industrial Networks
• Retrofit of existing
plants
• Off-shore plants
• Large areas
coverage
• Diagnostics
• Monitoring

17. Temporary networks
• Wireless connectivity for
temporary events
– Fairs
– Expositions
– Sport events
– Festivals
• Fast
deployment/dismissal
• Easy configuration and Power supply
management with solar
panels

18. Experimental Projects in the Academic Labs
• MIT Roofnet
– First experimental project
– Low cost HW
– Software open-source
• Other projects
– GeorgiaTech BWN-Mesh
– Rice University
– Rutgers Winlab ORBIT
– SUNY Stonybrook Hyacinth
– MobiMESH PoliMI
• Several academic projects have
contributed to the commercial
exploitation of the technology

19. MobiMESH Project
• Started by ANTLab, Politecnico di Milano in
2004
• Initial goal:
– Create an experimental platform for
testing innovative solutions for routing,
mobility management, network MobiMESH first
prototype
configuration and management
• Soon coupled with the goal of:
– Designing advanced mesh networking
solutions and products for the market
– Thanks to the interest and support of
VoiSmart

20. MobiMESH Project
• Mobimesh is now a complete Wireless
Mesh platform:
– Node automatic configuration
– Fast adaptive routing
– Full support of multi-radio multi-
frequency operation
– Frequency aware and quality-aware
route selection Demo presented at:
– Mobility management - ACM MobiHoc 2006,
- IEEE MASS 2007
– Network management
(major international
– Security conferences on ad hoc
and mesh networks)

21. Bagnara Calabra
• Fast track deployment:
2 weeks to go-live
• Broadband and
excellent VoIP services
• 1+1 Mesh Gateway
• 8 Mesh Routers
• 5 GHz CPE’s access
• Redundant
configuration

22. R&D Activities
Our strength: Ability to develop new
Our strength: Ability to develop new
features and tailor the product to
features and tailor the product to
customer needs in short time
customer needs in short time

23. R&D Activities
• Product evolution and additional features
(available next few months)
– MHIR (Mobimesh hierarchical routing): Optimization
of routing and mobility management for very large
networks (thousands of nodes)
– MAFRA (Mobimesh Automatic Frequency
Assignment): completely automatic and adaptive
frequency assignment
– M4 (MobiMesh Mobility Management): improved and
scalable mobility management with < 10ms switch
over time

24. R&D Activities
• New projects (ongoing)
– MobiSens: heterogeneous mesh network for sensing
and control applications with programmable interfaces
based on an overlay architecture
Prototype already available
Prototype already available
Overlay
Network
Wireless MESH
Network
Sensor Network

25. R&D Activities
• New projects (ongoing)
– MobiVANET: Integrated mesh and mobile ad hoc
network for vehicular applications
Live demo in Autumn
Live demo in Autumn
Joint project with:
Univ. of California at Los Angeles
(Prof. Mario Gerla)

26. R&D Activities
IP Backbone
• New projects
(ongoing) Wireless
F.O.
Medium Voltage
– HIMESH: hybrid mesh Cell
network with wireless
Cluster
and power line links
MV
Master MV
Slave LV
Master
LV
Repeater
LV LV
LV
Master Master
Repeater
LV
LV
Repeater
RepeaterLV
LV
BPL Repeater
Repeater
Access
Low Voltage
Cell
Low Voltage
Low Voltage
Cell
Cell

27. Thanks
Antonio Capone
Politecnico di Milano
antonio.capone@polimi.it, antonio.capone@mobimesh.it
http://antlab.elet.polimi.it