Maximizing throughput in wireless networks via gossiping

A major challenge in the design of wireless networks is the need for distributed scheduling algorithms that will efficiently share the common spectrum. Recently, a few distributed al- gorithms for networks in which a node can converse with at most a single neighbor at a time have been presented. These algorithms guarantee 50% of the maximum possi- ble throughput. We present the first distributed scheduling framework that guarantees maximum throughput. It is based on a combination of a distributed matching algorithm and an algorithm that compares and merges successive matching solutions. The comparison can be done by a deterministic algorithm or by randomized gossip algorithms. In the latter case, the comparison may be inaccurate. Yet, we show that if the matching and gossip algorithms satisfy simple con- ditions related to their performance and to the inaccuracy of the comparison (respectively), the framework attains the desired throughput. It is shown that the complexities of our algorithms, that achieve nearly 100% throughput, are com- parable to those of the algorithms that achieve 50% through- put. Finally, we discuss extensions to general interference models. Even for such models, the framework provides a simple distributed throughput optimal algorithm.