We invented BATS (Batched Sparse) codes, a class of batched network coding schemes that combine low-complexity encoding/decoding with near-optimal throughput over multi-hop networks. BATS codes have been implemented in real-world systems and are a strong candidate for WiFi mesh, 5G integrated access and backhaul (IAB), underwater acoustic networks, and real-time content distribution over the Internet.
The outer-code–inner-code structure of BATS codes provides a general framework for designing network communication protocols. Our team studies flow and congestion control, routing, media access control, power/rate control, and end-to-end physical layer design under this framework, in collaboration with the Institute of Network Coding at CUHK and n-hop technologies.
The BATS coding scheme is also being standardized in the IRTF (draft-irtf-nwcrg-bats).
See also: BATS codes: theory and practice