Routing protocols in wireless mesh networks: A survey

Wireless mesh networks (WMNs) are one of the emerging wireless networking technologies that can deliver self-configuring, scalable, flexible, and market-viable networks. Routing protocols play a crucial rule in the functionality of WMNs since their performance affect the network throughput, connectivity, and the quality of service (QoS) level, among others. Initially, WMNs adopted many routing protocols that were originally designed for other types of networks, e.g., mobile ad hoc networks (MANETs). However, due to the specific characteristics and architecture of WMNs, many new routing protocols with various metrics were specifically developed for WMNs over the past few years. In this paper, we survey these routing protocols with emphasis on their routing metrics, operation, and design considerations. Extensive summaries and many comparisons among different categories of these protocols are discussed throughout this paper. We also highlight the main issues that affect the general design of both protocols and routing metrics in WMNs. The paper concludes with future directions in this vital field.