scholarly journals Access-Point Allocation Algorithms for Scalable Wireless Internet-Access Mesh Networks

10.5772/13771 ◽  
2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nobuo Funabiki
2011 ◽  
Vol 12 (03) ◽  
pp. 137-154 ◽  
Author(s):  
NOBUO FUNABIKI ◽  
JUNKI SHIMIZU ◽  
MASAHARU HATA ◽  
SHIGERU TOMISATO ◽  
TORU NAKANISHI ◽  
...  

As an inexpensive, flexible, and scalable Internet-access wireless network, we have studied the architecture, protocols, and design optimizations of the Wireless Internet-access Mesh NETwork (WIMNET) that adopts multiple access-points (APs) connected through wireless links. WIMNET can improve the dependability to failures of APs and/or their links by allocating APs redundantly in the network field. Because redundant APs may increase the operational cost and degrade the throughput due to increasing radio interferences, only the necessary APs for connectivity between the hosts and the Internet gateway should be activated in communications. In this paper, we first define the active AP selection problem of selecting the minimum number of active APs, and prove the NP-completeness of its decision version through reduction from the known minimum set cover problem. Then, we propose an active AP selection algorithm of deactivating APs one by one until no more AP can be deactivated. Due to the limited transmission capacity in WIMNET, we further present an algorithm extension for throughput maximization. We verify the effectiveness of our proposal through simulations in three instances, where the number of active APs is reduced by more than 40% and the throughput is improved by more than 10% from the original in any instance.


Author(s):  
Shafi Al-Shafi

This chapter examines the adoption of free wireless Internet parks (iPark) by Qatari citizens as a means of accessing electronic services from public parks. The Qatar government has launched the iPark concept with a view of providing free internet access for all citizens while enjoying the outdoors. This concept is enabled by an ICT infrastructure and broadband facilities, which is considered as regional good practice. By offering free wireless Internet access, the Qatari government encourages its citizens to actively participate in the global information society with a view of bridging the digital divide. Using a survey based study this research set out to examine the Qatari citizens’ perceptions of the iPark initiative. Results of the survey showed that there is a positive level of relation between the independent variables, usefulness, ease of use, Internet safety, and Internet speed/response time and one dependent variable, intention to use the iPark in Qatar. The chapter provides a discussion on the key findings, research implications, limitations, and future directions for the iPark initiative in Qatar.


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