Multi-hop Routing with Proactive Route Refinement for 60 GHz Millimeter-Wave Networks

TL;DR

This paper proposes proactive route refinement schemes for multi-hop millimeter-wave networks to improve reliability and robustness under mobility and blockage, validated through system-level simulations.

Contribution

It introduces cross-layer proactive route refinement methods for AODV-type and Backpressure routing protocols in mmWave systems, enhancing performance under dynamic conditions.

Findings

Proactive route refinement improves link stability.

Enhanced protocols outperform traditional methods.

Simulation results confirm reliability gains.

Abstract

Fundamental requirements of mmWave systems are peak data rates of multiple Gbps and latencies of the order of at most a few milliseconds. However, highly directional mmWave links are susceptible to frequent link failures under stress conditions such as mobility and human blockage. Under these conditions, multi-hop routing can achieve reliable and robust performance. In this paper, we consider multi-hop millimeter wave (mmWave) wireless systems and propose proactive route refinement schemes that are particularly important under dynamic scenarios. First, we consider the AODV-type protocols and propose a cross-layer approach that integrates sectorized communication at the MAC layer with on-demand multi-hop routing at the network layer. Next, we consider Backpressure routing protocol, and enhance this protocol with periodic HELLO status messages. System-level simulation results based on the IEEE 802.11ad standard are provided that confirm the benefits of proactive route refinement for the ADOV-type and Backpressure routing protocols.