**3. Protocol layer and functionalities**

Factors that influence the performance of wireless mesh networks include:


In order to develop the protocols, we need to clearly understand the relationship between the above factors and the capacity of WMNs and is given in **Figure 5**.

**7**

*An Overview of Wireless Mesh Networks DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.83414*

**3.1 Physical layer**

*Layer structure of WMN.*

**Figure 5.**

wideband (UWB) techniques.

ing is to be carried out.

hop with the help of MAC.

**3.2 MAC layer**

networks:

Wireless mesh networks are capable of multiple data rates simultaneously. It is achieved with the help of various modulation techniques and coding rates. Link adaption provides adaptive error resilience. High-speed data transmission is achieved with orthogonal frequency-division multiple access (OFDMA) and ultra-

of increasing the capacity and to overcome the co-channel interference, fading, multi-antenna systems, etc. But it is tedious for designing the same for wireless mesh networks though it is available with the existing system. Unoccupied spectrum can be utilized by proper frequency planning with the help of WMN. Frequency

access modes are programmable in such a way that it can be implemented in a software for working under cognitive radio range. It will be easier if further updat-

physical layer techniques which suit better for wireless communications.

agile/cognitive radio is used in order to utilize the unused spectrum.

Wireless communication system is provided with smart antenna for the purpose

As most of the radio components, RF band, various channel modulations, and

With the available physical test beds, the software platform is not much appropriate to provide desired solution. But still it can able to make advance changes in

MAC layer in WMN plays a unique role when compared to various other wireless

• In WMN, communication is focused on more than one hop rather than single

*Wireless Mesh Networks - Security, Architectures and Protocols*

destination [6].

*2.2.3 Advantages*

large network coverage.

nodes in the network.

more number of nodes.

*2.2.4 Backhaul nodes*

• Architecture

• Data pattern and traffic

• Density of the nodes

• Transmission power

• Mobility of the nodes

• Topology

node.

capable of predicting the shortest path from the available path between source and destination. Addition and deletion of nodes and the routes will be updated then and there whenever there is a change in the network infrastructure. Dynamic routing is the capability of the node to predict the shortest available path between source and

• The cost of designing the network is lesser for fewer numbers of nodes even for

• Wireless mesh network shows better performance even for large number of

• Easy to install and uninstall which makes network more adaptable with less or

In wireless LAN, there may be a chance that the information may be returned to the wired access point. Getting back the information to access is called backhaul. Small networks can be handled without any special configuration, whereas in larger network, backhaul nodes are required to retrieve the information from wired access

Factors that influence the performance of wireless mesh networks include:

In order to develop the protocols, we need to clearly understand the relationship

between the above factors and the capacity of WMNs and is given in **Figure 5**.

• Number of channels used by the nodes in the network

• Wireless mesh networks relay on various Wi-Fi standards.

• It is useful for Non-line-of-sight (NLoS) network.

• It is self-configuring and self-healing.

**3. Protocol layer and functionalities**

**6**

**Figure 5.** *Layer structure of WMN.*
