A Collocated Approach for Coexistence Resolution in Wireless Home Networking

Abstract

In a home networking environment where more than one radio devices that are using 2.4GHz band within a certain distance may result in a significant interference. This research mainly focused on particular technologies that operate in 2.4GHz radio channel analysing the fact that the Bluetooth and Wi-Fi radio operation in a wireless network environment may create interference and may deliver poor throughput. We also focused on the importance of Bluetooth as a wireless technology and its potentiality of adoption in a wireless home networking environment. Therefore, the paper intends to outline an approach of coexistence for Bluetooth and Wi-Fi technologies in a given wireless network. This research combines some ideas of coexistence where we can mitigate the interference to improve throughput and thus the network performance. The mechanism proposed a collocation approach for Bluetooth (BT) and Wi-Fi where the radios will reside in a single form factor. In this approach, the radios are collocated in a single device that utilizes Adaptive Frequency Hopping (AFH), Medium Access Control (MAC) level switching and Driver level switching in its respective architecture levels, enabling simultaneous operation between Wi-Fi and Bluetooth devices. The device Operating System (OS) controls the operations and throughout the process, interference mitigation performed in just one device rather than every single device in the network. Although the collocated approach is a suitable solution for interference mitigation, there are limitations in its implementation and compatibility with other technologies. Further research would resolve that issues.