Abstract
Overview
This report addresses technological and marketing issues of wireless mesh
networks (WMN). Such networks allow building self-organized and self-healing
architectures where all nodes are equally involved in the transport of video,
voice and data, making decisions based on information received from neighbors.
The network responds on each failure, and because it has in-built redundancy,
re-routes traffic from a place of failure.
The report analyzes WMN structures, and deals with:
- Radio technologies utilized by WMN
- Routing protocols.
In discussion of radio technologies for WMN, we emphasize the importance of
three forward-looking wireless protocols: IEEE802.11n, ZigBee and Ultra
Wideband (UWB). Though the majority of WMNs, at the present time use slower
IEEE802.11b, g technologies, it is our perception that these three protocols
will be building blocks of WMN in the near future. Except ZigBee, these
technologies allow transmission with a rate of hundreds Mb/s and support
greater coverage. ZigBee-structured WMNs are already a today reality in spite
of a fact that their speed of transmission cannot exceed a couple of hundreds
Kb/s.
All discussed technologies have features that are useful in the WMN environment:
- Extremely low power consumption
- Inherent security features
- Low sensitivity to mutipath problems.
The report analyzes technological benefits and limitations of each radio
technology and standardization process as well as presents the marketing
analysis and forecast.
The report also addresses the standardization process for WMN, and discusses a
status of the IEEE802.11s standard. It shows that, so far, almost every
manufacturer of WMN nodes uses proprietary routing protocols, and this
situation slows WMN development. Some of the most popular routing protocols in
use by WMNs are discussed in the report.
WMN architectures found already many applications in the commercial market,
though initially they were the military prerogative.
Among the most popular applications, we addressed:
- Municipalities
- Public safety communications
- Industrial automation
- Consumers.
Note that WMNs are perfect choice for first responders. These networks can be
easily deployed in a very short period of time (for example, in the emergency
situations), and each node may be associated with a first responder, as per an
ad-hoc network scenario. More than that, due to the fact that some routing
protocols are agnostic to the radio protocols, interoperability between
different agencies communications can be achieved. Some technologies, such as
UWB, may be used for dual purposes being a building block not only for
communications devices, but for extremely precise radar as well.
The report provides market characteristics of WMN, and shows that the industry
already has created a strong basis for future WMN expansion. We envision that
in several years 802.11n and UWB will prevail in WMN applications required
high-speed transmission, and they will successfully compete with wired
technologies, such as Fast Ethernet. ZigBee and 802.11a, b, g will be left for
applications that do not require high speed transmission, such as, for
example, industrial automation, or home networks.
Target Audience
This report is important to a wide population of researches, technical and
sales staff involved in the developing of mesh networks services and products.
It is recommended for both service providers and vendors that are working
with related technologies. The report also helps to understand issues
associated with relationship between WMN and other technologies.
Table of Contents
1.0 Introduction
- 1.1General
- 1.2 Definition
- 1.3 Scope
- 1.4 Research Methodology
- 1.5 Target Audience
2.0 Mesh Networks: Standards
- 2.1 General
- 2.2 IEEE 2.s
- 2.2.1 Standardization Process
3.0 Radio Technologies
- 3.1 IEEE 2.n
- 3.1.1 Advanced Technologies: MIMO and Others
- 3.1.1.1 General
- 3.1.1.2 Spatial Multiplexing
- 3.1.1.3 OFDM
- 3.1.2 Directions
- 3.1.3 Standard
- 3.1.4 Details: Technology
- 3.1.5 Market
- 3.1.5.1 General
- 3.1.5.2 Market Forecast
- 3.1.5.2.1 Model Assumptions
- 3.1.5.2.2 Estimate
- 3.1.5.2.2.1 Chipsets
- 3.1.5.2.2.2 Platforms
- 3.1.6 802.11n Industry Players
- Atheros
- Belkin
- Broadcom
- Intel
- Ruckus
- Linksys
- Marvell
- Metalink
- NEC
- Netgear
- SiGe
- 3.2 ZigBee
- 3.2.1 General
- 3.2.2 Device Types
- 3.2.3 Protocol Stack
- 3.2.3.1 Physical and MAC layers - IEEE802.15.4
- 3.2.4 Upper Layers
- 3.2.5 Interoperability
- 3.2.6 Security
- 3.2.7 Platform Considerations
- 3.2.8 Technology Benefits and Limitations
- 3.2.9 Standardization Process
- 3.2.9.1 Zigbee Alliance
- 3.2.9.2 Objectives
- 3.2.9.3 802.15.4- ZigBee Basis
- 3.2.9.4 IEEE 802.15.4 Radio
- 3.2.9.5 Application Specifics
- 3.2.10 ZigBee Role
- 3.2.11 Market
- 3.2.11.1 Expectations
- 3.2.11.2 Segments
- 3.2.11.3 Forecast
- 3.2.12 Industry
- Airbee (Software)
- Amber (RF Systems)
- Atmel (Chipsets)
- Chipcon -TI (Chipsets)
- Cirronet (Modules Industrial Automation)
- Duolog (Transceivers)
- Eazix (Modules)
- Ember (Chipsets)
- Falcom (Modules)
- Helicomm (Modules)
- Jennic (Chipsets-Modules)
- Freescale (Chipsets)
- Luxoft Labs (Integration)
- M&R Lawugger GmbH (Software)
- Maxstream (WSN Modules)
- Nanotron (Chipsets)
- Oki (Chipsets)
- Renesas (Platforms)
- Silicon Laboratories (Chipsets, Modules)
- Telegesis (Integrator)
- Uniband (Chipsets)
- ZMD (Chipsets)
- 3.3 UWB
- 3.3.1 General
- 3.3.2 Obstacles
- 3.3.3 Benefits
- 3.3.4 Definition
- 3.3.5 Rates
- 3.3.6 Spectrum Allocation
- 3.3.7 Choices
- 3.3.8 Major Features
- 3.3.9 Standards and Regulations
- 3.3.9.1 Multiband OFDM
- 3.3.9.2 DS-UWB
- 3.3.9.3 Groups
- 3.3.10 Major Applications
- 3.3.11 Market Estimate
- 3.3.11.1 General
- 3.3.11.2 Geographical Segmentation
- 3.3.11.3 Forecast
- 3.3.12 Industry
- Aether (localization devices)
- Alereon (chipsets)
- Artimi (chipsets)
- BBN (radio, first responders applications)
- Camero (radar, equipment for first responders)
- decaWave (chipsets)
- Focus Enhancement (chipsets)
- Freescale (chipsets, systems)
- General Atomics (chipsets)
- Multispectral (RFID and others)
- Parco (RFID)
- Pulse~ Link (chipsets)
- Staccato (chipsets)
- TriQuint (chipsets - homeland security applications)
- Time Domain (chipsets-fusion of communications & radar)
- Tzero (chipsets)
- Ubisense (RFID-tracking)
- Wisair (chipsets)
- WiQuest (chipsets)
4.0 Technology: Mesh Networks Specifics
- 4.1 Features
- 4.2 Benefits and Limitations
- 4.3 Architectures
- 4.4 Routing Protocols
- 4.4.1 Too Many
- 4.4.1.1. Lack of Standardization
- 4.4.1.2 Applications Variety
- 4.4.2 Protocols
- 4.5 Security Issues
- 4.5.1 General
- 4.5.2 802.11
- 4.5.3 UWB
- 4.5.4 ZigBee
5.0 Market: Mesh Networks
- 5.1 Major Applications
- 5.2 Market Estimate
- 5.2.1 Market Leaders
- 5.2.2 Forecast
6.0 Major WMN Vendors and their Products
- Atheros (chipsets)
- BelAir (Nodes)
- Cisco (Protocols, Nodes)
- Crossbow (nodes)
- Dust Networks (WMN Nodes)
- Ember (ZigBee chips for WMN)
- Intel (Nodes)
- IWT(Network Solution)
- IPMobileNet (WMN)
- FireTide (Mesh network-Public safety applications)
- Foxboro-Invensys (MN for Industrial Automation)
- MeshDynamics (Nodes)
- Millennial Net (SW and Systems)
- Moteiv (Nodes and SW)
- MeshNetworks (Motorola)
- Mitre (protocols)
- Motorola (Nodes-Public Safety Communications)
- NexGen City (Mesh-Public Safety)
- Northrop Grumman (Nodes)
- Nortel (WMN Systems)
- NovaRoam (Public Safety Communications -WMN)
- Octave Technologies (SW)
- PacketHop (WMN SW)
- Proxim (WMN Nodes)
- Rajant (WMN-Military, First Responders)
- Sensoria (WMN for Public Safety Communications)
- Sensicast (WMN for Industrial Automation)
- SIAE (WMN for IA)
- SkyPilot Networks (WMN Nodes)
- Strix (Nodes)
- Qorvus (WMN for IA)
- Tropos (routers, OS)
- Ubiwave (Mesh Network)
7.0 WMN and First Responders
8.0 Conclusions
Figures:
- Figure 1: Mesh Network Diagram
- Figure 2: WiMesh Stack
- Figure 3: Basic two-antenna MIMO system with two-stream SDM Example
- Figure 4: 802.11 Protocol Family MAC Frame Structure
- Figure 5: 802.11n IC Market Estimate ($M)
- Figure 6: Market Estimate: 802.11n Equipment Shipping ($B)
- Figure 7: ZigBee Protocol Stack
- Figure 8: Estimate: ZigBee Chipsets Market Worlwide ($M)
- Figure 9: ZigBee Market Segmentation (2006)
- Figure 10: ZigBee Market Segmentation (2010)
- Figure 11: UWB Spectrum
- Figure 12: Market Estimate: UWB Circuitry ($B)
- Figure 13: Market Estimate: Multiband OFDM UWB Circuitry ($B)
- Figure 14: Market Estimate: DS UWB Circuitry ($B)
- Figure 15: Estimate of UWB Market - Communications Applications ($B)
- Figure 16: Mesh Network Equipment Sale: Market Estimate ($B)
- Figure 17: Mesh Network Radio Technologies
- Figure 18: Technology Segmentation: Mesh Network Market
- Figure 19: Mesh Network Market Geography (2006)
Tables:
- Table 1: 802.11 Family
- Table 2: 802.11 Family-Rates
- Table 3: Parameters
- Table 4: Comparison: DS-UWB and MB-OFDM
