QoS aware multi-channel scheduling for IEEE 802.15.3 networks

From a multimedia applications perspective, there is an ever increasing demand for wireless devices with higher bandwidth to support high data rate flows. One possible solution to support the demand for higher bandwidth is to utilize the full spectrum by simultaneously using multiple channels for transmission. Recent approval by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has led to considerable interest in exploiting Ultra Wideband (UWB) access on an unlicensed basis in the 3.1-10.6 GHz band. Currently, the IEEE TG802.15.3a standards group is in the process of developing an alternative high-speed link layer design conformable with the IEEE802.15.3 Wireless Personal Area Network (WPAN) multiple access (MAC) protocol. One of the proposals, based on the concept of Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM), divides the spectrum into multiple bands and achieves channelization through the use of different time-frequency codes. These multiple channels can help satisfy the increasing demand for higher bandwidth in order to support high data rate multimedia applications. In this paper, we present a QoS-aware, multi-channel scheduling algorithm that simultaneously utilizes the various channels available in the UWB network.