Cross-Layer Scheduling over a Heterogeneous Opportunistic Emergency-Deployed Wireless Network

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to study the radio resource assignment problem in the context of a heterogeneous ad hoc network, composed of 1EEE802.15.4 sensor devices, their coordinators, mobile terminals conveying vldeo streams, and sinks. This scenario also fits to the paradigm of opportunistic networks. Design/methodology/approach: In such hierarchical heterogeneous opportunistic networks, the focus is on cross-layer scheduling of the video and sensor traffics toward the sink. The scheduling strategy proposed takes into account information coming from both physical and application layers. Evaluations are performed via simulations. Findings: Results show that the proposed cross-layer strategy significantly outperforms the maximum throughput scheduling, used as a benchmark, in case of video traffic, while preseruing the same performance for 802.15.4 traffic. Practical implications: The architecture and the relevant algorithms proposed could be used in realistic emergency-deployed networks composed by the kind of nodes considered in the paper. Originality/value: The novelty introduced is related to the application of a crosslayer design strategy in a very peculiar hierarchical heterogeneous opportunistic ad hoc network. This paper is believed to be the first published combining traditional tratfic sources with sensor generated data flows.