Link adaptation for a multi-hop route in a wireless mesh network

A method of operation of a network node in a wireless mesh network, comprising:

• receiving from a downstream network node of the network node in a route through the wireless mesh network information that is indicative of one or more bottleneck information flow rates determined by the downstream network node for the route;
• determining one or more new bottleneck information flow rates for the route based on the one or more bottleneck information flow rates determined by the downstream network node for the route;
• transmitting to an upstream network node of the network node in the route through the wireless mesh network, information that is indicative of the one or more new bottleneck information flow rates for the route;
• receiving from the upstream network node information that is indicative of a target information flow rate for a wireless link from a transmitter of the upstream network node to a receiver of the network node;
• and
• selecting a Modulation and Coding Scheme, MCS, for the transmitter of the network node for use when transmitting information over the route in the wireless mesh network that yield a lowest information flow rate that is greater than or equal to the target information flow rate received from the upstream network node.

A wireless mesh network, comprising:

• a plurality of network nodes in a route through the wireless mesh network, the plurality of network nodes comprising a starting network node for the route, an ending network node for the route, and one or more intermediate network nodes between the starting network node and the ending network node in the route, wherein the plurality of network nodes in the route are configured to:
• determine a bottleneck information flow rate for the route based on backward propagation of information indicative of a bottleneck information flow rate for the route from the ending network node to the starting network node through the one or more intermediate network nodes;
• determine a target information flow rate for the route that is less than or equal to the bottleneck information flow rate for the route;
• and
• determine a Modulation and Coding Scheme, MCS, for each network node of the plurality of network nodes other than the ending network node based on forward propagation of information indicative of the target information flow rate from the starting network node.