University of Houston

In this paper, BFLY--a localized network coding protocol for wireless mesh networks--is proposed. To supplement forwarding packets in wireless networks, intermediate nodes code (i.e., XOR) packets from different sources, so that each transmission's information content is increased. Prior work allowed intermediate nodes to code packets such that the recipient of the coded message must decode the message before forwarding. BFLY, however, allows intermediate recipients to, in addition to XOR-ing, forward coded packets; and thus further exploits network coding opportunities. BFLY utilizes knowledge of local topologies and source route information in packet headers. Our extensive simulation and linear programming (LP) model results show that BFLY can increase overall network throughput by a factor of 1.2 -- 2 and reduce end-to-end latency.

Also, previous work on network coding do not discriminate on whether to send coded or native packets based on link loss ratios. Our analysis, buttressed by LP results show that a trinary decision--send a coded packet, native packet or none at all--based on link loss rates leads to higher coding gains than being oblivious to the packet type.