NeTS: Small: Collaborative Research: Harnessing Network Coding Gains in Multi-Rate Wireless Networks

Network coding brings the promise of increased wireless network capacity by decreasing the overall number of

transmissions. In practice however, many challenges remain in realizing the gains from network coding. In particular

the interactions between network coding and transmission rate control have not been carefully studied to date.

While transmission at higher rates favor a capacity increase, they can diminish overhearing possibilities, a key requirement

of network coding.

This proposal considers the problem of transmission rate control and network coding in a holistic

way. A framework that examines the interdependencies between the use of network coding and multiple transmission

rates with respect to various functions spanning the link and routing layers, is developed.

The following tasks are being undertaken: (i) Design a network-coding aware transmission rate control module

that allows nodes to transmit at the high bit rates while at the same time facilitating network coding.

(ii) Design a set of functions at the link and routing layers that provide the best trade-offs between applying

network coding and controlling interference and network congestion

(iii) Implement and extensively evaluate a unified framework combining all of our functional modules on wireless testbeds.

The proposed research is tightly knit with new education programs by establishing wireless teaching

laboratories and introduce cross-disciplinary courses that bridge the physical and higher layers.