Introduction

In the previous module, we were placing circular antennas in our flat, rectangular town. We now continue focusing on this task, adding richness to our model. Any antennas with overlapping ranges are likely to interfere with each other's signals. We will need to assign each pair of overlapping antennas different channels (bands of wavelengths) to communicate on so that they can both operate simultaneously without issue.

Learning outcomes

This module will help you do the following:

• Build upon existing code to create a richer model
• Model a complex system in terms of a graph
• Employ a sophisticated data structure (in this case, a graph)
• Apply basic graph-theoretical concepts (vertex, edge, neighbor, degree)
• Visualize graphs with a network library
• Apply a combinatorial problem (graph coloring) to a real-world setting
• Draft a heuristic for a situation that lacks an efficient algorithm

Warm-up

A tech article on wifi interference.

Warm-up assessment

After reading about Wi-Fi interference, elaborate briefly your thoughts on how this same concept may apply to the placement of mobile phone base stations (the big antennas to which your cellphone talks to get you connected to your carrier). Also, throw in a line or two, on a related note, regarding two of why you think TV and radio channels are indeed called channels.

Concepts

After this module, you should be familiar with the following concepts:

• Data structure
• Graph
• Combinatorics
• Heuristic

Remember that you can always look concepts up in the glossary. Should anything be missing or insufficient, please report it.