Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080205385 | DATA FRAME FORMATS TO IMPROVE GROUPCAST EFFICIENCY IN MULTI-HOP WIRELESS NETWORKS - Unified groupcast data frame formats are provided for improving the efficiency of groupcast communications in multihop wireless mesh networks, and significantly reducing bandwidth consumption. The unified groupcast data frame formats modify existing BSS data frame formats by inserting a mesh end-to-end sequence number into a field that is normally reserved for a sequence control field. In some implementations, a time-to-live (TTL) value can also be inserted into a QoS control field. | 08-28-2008 |
20080316951 | METHOD FOR DISCOVERING A ROUTE TO AN INTELLIGENT ACCESS POINT (IAP) - In a wireless multi-hop network including a plurality of multi-radio meshed nodes, a method is provided for a particular recipient multi-radio meshed node to optimize a route to an intelligent access point (IAP). Each of the multi-radio meshed nodes include a plurality of radio modules, and each radio module comprises an interface. Each of the radio modules in each of the multi-radio meshed nodes transmit a HELLO message over-the-air (OTA). Each HELLO message transmitted by each of the radio modules comprises: a source node MAC address field which specifies a first MAC address of the multi-radio meshed node, and a source interface MAC address field associated with a particular radio module of the multi-radio meshed node and which specifies an interface MAC address of the radio module. | 12-25-2008 |
20080316997 | MULTI-RADIO NODE WITH A SINGLE ROUTING MODULE WHICH MANAGES ROUTING FOR MULTIPLE DIFFERENT RADIO MODULES - A multi-radio meshed node is provided which includes a first radio module, a second radio module, and a single routing manager module that is common to or shared by the first radio module and the second radio module. The multi-radio meshed node has a node MAC address associated therewith which uniquely identifies the multi-radio meshed node. The first radio module includes a first interface. The second radio module is designed to communicate simultaneously when the first radio module is communicating. The second radio module includes a second interface. The first radio module has a first interface MAC address associated therewith, and the second radio module has a second interface MAC address associated therewith. The single routing manager module determines which one of the first interface and the second interface is to be used for routing of a particular packet. | 12-25-2008 |
20080317047 | METHOD FOR DISCOVERING A ROUTE TO A PEER NODE IN A MULTI-HOP WIRELESS MESH NETWORK - A method is provided for a particular multi-radio meshed node to discover a route to a peer multi-radio meshed node in a wireless multi-hop network including a plurality of multi-radio meshed nodes. Each of the multi-radio meshed nodes each includes a plurality of radio modules, and each radio module comprises an interface. The particular multi-radio meshed node transmits route request (RREQ) messages from each interface of a particular multi-radio meshed node. When a particular recipient multi-radio meshed node receives at least one of the route request (RREQ) messages, it generates a reverse route to the particular multi-radio meshed node. A peer-to-peer route is established when the particular multi-radio meshed node receives a route reply (RREP) message and can then be used to forward traffic to and from the destination node. | 12-25-2008 |
20090028169 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR ROUTING MESH NETWORK TRAFFIC - A method and device for routing mesh network traffic from a mesh access point to a non-mesh network as provided improves network efficiency. According to one aspect, the method includes identifying a data flow in the mesh network traffic. A priority of the data flow is then determined. A preferred mesh gateway is then selected from a plurality of mesh gateways based on the priority of the data flow and preference information of the plurality of mesh gateways, where the plurality of mesh gateways provide routes to the non-meshed network. The data flow is then routed to the preferred mesh gateway, wherein the preferred mesh gateway routes the data flow to the non-mesh network. | 01-29-2009 |
20090041039 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR ROUTING MESH NETWORK TRAFFIC - A method and device for routing to a non-mesh network a first data flow received at a first mesh gateway via a wireless link as provided improves network efficiency. According to one aspect, the method includes determining that available bandwidth of a backhaul link to the non-mesh network through the first mesh gateway is below a threshold value. The first data flow is then determined to have a higher priority than a second data flow that is currently routed through the first mesh gateway to the non-mesh network. The second data flow is then forwarded to a second mesh gateway, whereby the second mesh gateway routes the second data flow to the non-mesh network. The first data flow is then routed to the non-mesh network through the first mesh gateway after forwarding the second data flow to the second mesh gateway. | 02-12-2009 |
20090168674 | DETERMINING POSITION OF A NODE BASED ON AGED POSITION DATA - Techniques are provided for determining a position of a node. For example, the node receives first position data from a first reference node and second position data from a second reference node. The second position data includes second position measurement information and a precision indicator which indicates accuracy of the second position measurement information. The node generates a timestamp which indicates when the second position data was received by node, and storing the second position data and associated timestamp. Upon receiving updated first position data at the node from the first reference node, the node determines whether updated second position data has been received from the second reference node, and if not, generates aged second position data based on the stored second position data and the associated timestamp. The node can then determine its position based on the aged second position data and the updated first position data. | 07-02-2009 |
20090170526 | DETERMINING POSITION OF A NODE AND REPRESENTING THE POSITION AS A POSITION PROBABILITY SPACE - Methods and apparatus are provided for determining and representing a location or position of a node in a network. When the node receives position measurement information from a reference node, the node generates, based on the position measurement information, a position probability space (PPS) which defines a space that encompasses possible positions where the node is possibly positioned in the network. The PPS includes a centroid (i.e., a set of coordinates), and a set of vectors which originate from the centroid and define the space around the centroid. The magnitude of each vector reflects the accuracy of the position in the direction of the vector. | 07-02-2009 |
20090210710 | SECURITY AUTHENTICATION AND KEY MANAGEMENT WITHIN AN INFRASTRUCTURE-BASED WIRELESS MULTI-HOP NETWORK - A system and method of security authentication and key management scheme in a multi-hop wireless network is provided herein with a hop-by-hop security model. The scheme adapts the 802.11r key hierarchy into the meshed AP network. In this approach, a top key holder (R0KH) derives and holds the top Pairwise Master Key (PMK_0) for each supplicant wireless device after the authentication process. All authenticator AP take the level one key holder (R1KH) role and receive the next level Pairwise Master Key (PMK_1) from R0KH. The link level data protection key is derived from PMK_1 via the 802.11i 4-way handshaking. | 08-20-2009 |
20090245264 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR UPDATING A VIRTUAL LOCAL AREA NETWORK (VLAN) STATUS OF A NODE IN A MESH NETWORK - A method for updating at a bridge node a virtual local area network (VLAN) status of a first node in a mesh network as provided enables improved network connectivity. The method includes processing a first VLAN status message that associates a first VLAN identifier with the first node, wherein the first VLAN status message was generated in response to a first bind request (BREQ) message (step | 10-01-2009 |
20100056174 | METHOD FOR PROXIMITY DETECTION IN A WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORK - A method for proximity detection in a wireless communication network. A node attempts to determine the proximity of the closest neighboring node by transmitting a ranging request. Other nodes respond, and the first node to receive and respond to the request will have the shortest response time and thus will be the closest node. Exact ranges can be determined by applying Time-Of-Arrival (TOA) techniques to node response times. To further avoid collisions, one or more frames of the response messages can be same, making the multiple responses appear as multi-path. The group of responders can be narrowed and individual groups probed in a search pattern until the single nearest node is known or range of the nearest node is known. The ranging node may then use ordinary unicast mechanisms to probe this node, or begin scanning the groups again, or interleave the two mechanisms as desired. | 03-04-2010 |
20100103850 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CHANNEL SELECTION IN A WIRELESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEM - A node in a wireless communication system announces a channel switch operation to facilitate a smooth transition to other channel. The node detects a requirement to discontinue communications at a first channel and sends a message to a plurality of neighboring nodes in response to detecting the requirement. Generally, the message comprises at least a reason for discontinuation of communications at the first channel and a duration for the channel switch operation after which the node is available for communications at the first channel or an alternate channel. Each of the plurality of neighboring nodes can determine based on the message and the neighborhood conditions a requirement to scan alternate channels to initiate communications with other nodes. | 04-29-2010 |
20100135267 | METHOD FOR ADAPTIVE BEACONING - A method of adaptive beaconing includes operating a node within an ad hoc wireless communication network to calculate a probability P for an interval of time I; transmit a beacon when a uniformly distributed random number is less than the probability P; and wait for the interval of time “I” and repeat the calculate, transmit, and waiting operations when the uniformly distributed random number is greater than the probability P. | 06-03-2010 |
20100157888 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR IMPROVING EFFICIENCY AND RELIABILITY OF BROADCAST COMMUNICATIONS IN A MULTI-HOP WIRELESS MESH NETWORK - Systems and methods are provided for improving efficiency and reliability of broadcast transmission in a multi-hop wireless mesh communication network. In some implementations, systems and methods are provided for a leaf mesh node to acknowledge reception of a broadcast packet broadcast by an Intelligent Access Point (IAP), and for allowing the IAP to determine whether to re-communicate the broadcast packet that it had previously re-transmitted when no acknowledgment is received from a leaf mesh node. | 06-24-2010 |
20100157889 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR IMPROVING EFFICIENCY OF BROADCAST COMMUNICATIONS IN A MULTI-HOP WIRELESS MESH NETWORK - Systems and methods are provided for improving efficiency and reliability of broadcast transmission in a multi-hop wireless mesh communication network. When an intelligent access point (IAP) receives a broadcast packet (BP), the IAP can determine a list of downlink child mesh nodes (DLCMNs) of the IAP based on route information provided in its routing table. After the IAP knows its DLCMNs, the IAP can determine a first lowest data rate (LDR) between the IAP and each of its DLCMNs, and then re-transmit the BP at the first LDR. The BP is then received by at least one “parent” mesh node, which can then perform similar processing, and can then re-transmit the BP to its DLCMNs. This process repeats until the BP reaches a leaf mesh node. In other words, each mesh node can determine its DLCMNs, determine the LDR between itself and each of its DLCMNs, and can then re-transmit the BP at this LDR. | 06-24-2010 |
20100197243 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR FREQUENCY SCANNING USING TWO RADIOS | 08-05-2010 |
20100278118 | METHOD FOR SELECTING COMMUNICATION LINKS IN A MULTI-RADIO WIRELESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEM - A method provides for selecting a communication interface towards an access point by a wireless communication device. The method includes receiving one or more HELLO messages from the access point; determining whether any of a plurality of communication links is being used to reach the access point by evaluating at least one field of each of the received HELLO messages; penalizing a link metric of a communication link when the communication link is being used; and selecting a communication interface towards the access point, wherein the selected communication interface is coupled to a best communication link having a best link metric. | 11-04-2010 |