Distributed Control and Quality-of-Service in Multihop Wireless Networks

Abstract: Control of wireless multihop networks, while simultaneously meeting end-to-end mean delay requirements of different flows is a challenging problem. Additionally, distributed computation of control parameters adds to the complexity. Using the notion of discrete review used in fluid control of networks, a distributed algorithm is proposed for control of multihop wireless networks with interference constraints. The algorithm meets end-to-end mean delay requirements by solving an optimization problem at review instants. The optimization incorporates delay requirements as weights in the function being maximized. The weights are dynamic and vary depending on queue length information. The optimization is done in a distributed manner using an incremental gradient ascent algorithm. The stability of the network under the proposed policy is analytically studied and the policy is shown to be throughput optimal.