Using the wired internet as a control channel for residential wireless LANs

Abstract

This paper explores the possibility of using the Internet as a control channel for residential wireless networks (RWLANs). We design and implement Telegram, an architecture in which nearby APs coordinate their wireless transmissions over the wired Internet. The latency of coordination is resolved by scheduling packets slightly in advance. Testbed experiments show consistent performance gains, not only due to reduced control traffic, but also due to TDMA-like scheduling in space and time. Motivated by early results, ongoing work is focused on developing a fully-functional system solution.