Analysis of Route Availability in Inter-working Multi-hop Wireless Networks

In order to link a source-destination node pair in inter-working multi-hop wireless networks, links or routes must first be available. It is only after establishing the availability of links and routes between nodes that factors which affect connectivity e.g. interference can be considered. Connectivity in multi-hop wireless networks has been studied. However, the studies focused on network connectivity in ad-hoc networks. Since the next generation of wireless networks will be inter-working, an understanding of connectivity as it applies to such networks is needed. Specifically, this paper emphasizes that an analysis of route connectivity rather than network connectivity is needed for inter-working multihop wireless networks. With a focus on route connectivity, a route availability model for interworking multi-hop wireless networks is presented.