Control Plane Design for Wi-Fi Networks

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
Department of Computer Science and Engineering


PhD Thesis Defence


Title: "Control Plane Design for Wi-Fi Networks"

By

Mr. Jiansong ZHANG


Abstract

The demands on Wi-Fi networks, including traffic volume and QoS, are 
increasing dramatically due to the transition from PC era to mobile era. 
It is a big challenge to Wi-Fi networks as current Wi-Fi control methods 
render the networks inefficient in congested Networks, while still 
remaining short in functions such as QoS. Although expanding capacity, 
which is the mean under active research, may relieve the pressure, 
improving the control methods, which relatively lacks attention, can be a 
more direct alternative to address the problem.

In this thesis, two approaches are explored for the purpose of enhancing 
the control plane of Wi-Fi. The first approach is cross-layer optimization 
by leveraging physical layer innovations. This approach is possible to 
study because of the recent development in software radio platforms. The 
study in this thesis also starts from platform development that a flexible 
multi-radio platform is described. Based on this novel platform, two ideas 
on cross-layer optimization are presented. One of them targets to improve 
the error control function by introducing a light-weight narrow-band 
feedback channel, whereas the other targets to reduce control overhead by 
offloading control functions to a decoupled control channel. The second 
approach explored is introducing centralized control to current 
distributed and asynchronous Wi-Fi control methods. Improvement in QoS is 
demonstrated with this approach. Based on these ideas, four systems are 
designed, implemented and evaluated. Experimental results prove 
feasibility and benefit of these systems.


Date:			Friday, 15 August 2014

Time:			2:00pm - 4:00pm

Venue:			Room 5487
 			Lifts 25/26

Chairman:		Prof. Vincent Lau (ECE)

Committee Members:	Prof. Qian Zhang (Supervisor)
 			Prof. Gary Chan
 			Prof. Lin Gu
 			Prof. Daniel Palomar (ECE)
 			Prof. Minghua Chen (Inf. Engg., CUHK)


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