Load distribution and channel assignment in IEEE 802.11 wireless local area networks

Recent growth in Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) deployment has generated considerable interest in load management and channel assignment among network designers. WLAN has become a major component of the modern telecommunication infrastructure. Load management and Channel assignment are among the critical aspects that face WLAN deployments. Well planned WLAN service environments require a network designed to provide not only radio coverage but also better load distribution and less interference across the service area, which in turn improves the Quality of Service (QoS).;In this dissertation, a novel approach to the WLAN load distribution and channel assignment is proposed that takes into account traffic demand characteristics, user population density (user location) and the structure of the service area. The load distribution algorithm is based on power management where the transmitted power at the most congested AP is decremented in discrete steps and the best user to AP association is chosen according to a load metric unit. As for the channel assignment algorithm, it is based on maximizing the signal-to-interference at the user level that leads to the best channel assignment at the access points. Then, results achieved by the developed algorithms are validated using OPNET simulation tool. OPNET simulations indeed confirm that the developed algorithms improve Quality of Service at the user level. Finally, a dynamic test model is developed to test the adaptability of the developed algorithms in a dynamic environment.