Heterogeneous Multi-Channel Wireless Networks: Scheduling and Routing Issues

We consider multi-channel networks where nodes may be equipped with heterogeneous radios, each potentially capable of operation on a limited portion of the total available spectrum. Moreover even the channels may not all be identical; they may possibly have different propagation characteristics, and may support different sets of transmission rates. Much prior research on multi-channel networks has assumed identical channels and radio capabilities. However heterogeneity of channels and radios introduces a host of new issues that must be handled. In recent theoretical work we considered asymptotic transport capacity of multi-channel networks subject to switching constraints. This constitutes a class of instances involving heterogeneous radios, albeit identical channels. We leverage some of the insights obtained from our theoretical results, and now consider a more general model involving heterogeneity of radios and channels for networks of realistic scale. We identify the key issues that differentiate heterogeneous multi-channel networks, and describe a design framework for routing and channel/interface assignment.