Routing data within a communications network
First Claim
1. A method of routing traffic within an ad hoc data network comprising a multiplicity of nodes, whereineach node comprises a router having a processor and associated memory,the nodes including at least one mobile wireless network node that is moveable with respect to the other nodes in the network, the mobile wireless network node having one or more antennae for transmitting and receiving data via radio signals, and wherein the method comprises the steps of:
- the processor of the router of at least one of the nodes analysing one or more characteristics of a wireless link between the mobile wireless node and one of the other nodes within the network;
in response to the analysing step, the processor assigning a link class to the wireless link, the link class being chosen from a predefined set of link classes comprising;
a first link class for representing that the link is suitable for carrying one or more types of traffic including at least one of text or image, but not suitable for one or more other types of traffic including at least one of real-time audio, real-time video or application, anda second link class for representing that the link is suitable for two or more types of traffic including at least one of text, image or real-time audio and at least one type of traffic different from those types of traffic supported by a link according to the first link class but not suitable for one or more other types of traffic including at least one of real-time video or application;
a third link class for representing that the link is suitable for three or more types of traffic including at least one of text, image, real-time audio, real-time video or application and at least one type of traffic different from those types of traffic supported by a link according to the second link class;
dynamically producing and updating routing tables in the associated memory of the router with information on the types of data that the wireless link or a route comprising the wireless link is currently able to support; and
routing data across the network using the routing tables in the associated memory of the router while ensuring that only data of types consistent with the link class assigned to the wireless link are transmitted via the wireless link, and whereinthe steps of analysing one or more characteristics of the wireless link and then assigning a link class to the wireless link are performed at least once every 10 minutes; and
wherein each node publishes information comprising each link class for each of that node'"'"'s link to neighboring nodes, and wherein each neighboring node re-publishes the information to neighboring nodes of the neighboring node.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Data is routed within a data network (8), for example a mobile ad hoc network (MANET), comprising at least one wireless network node (10), typically having a router (11). A processor (18) analyzes characteristics of a wireless link (12ab) between a pair of nodes (10a, 10b) within the network (8). Following such analysis, the processor (18) assigns a link class to the wireless link (12ab), the link class being chosen from a predefined set of link classes. A first link class represents that the link (for example link 12ab) is suitable for carrying one or more types of traffic (for example real-time audio and text), but not suitable for one or more other types of traffic (for example real-time video of a certain quality). A second link class represents that a link (for example link 12ac) is suitable for two or more types of traffic (for example real-time audio and real-time video) including at least one type of traffic (for example real-time video) not supported by the first link class. Data may then be routed across the network (8) while ensuring that only data of types consistent with the link classes assigned to respective links (12ab, 12ac, 12bd, etc) are transmitted via those links.
28 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of routing traffic within an ad hoc data network comprising a multiplicity of nodes, wherein
each node comprises a router having a processor and associated memory, the nodes including at least one mobile wireless network node that is moveable with respect to the other nodes in the network, the mobile wireless network node having one or more antennae for transmitting and receiving data via radio signals, and wherein the method comprises the steps of: -
the processor of the router of at least one of the nodes analysing one or more characteristics of a wireless link between the mobile wireless node and one of the other nodes within the network; in response to the analysing step, the processor assigning a link class to the wireless link, the link class being chosen from a predefined set of link classes comprising; a first link class for representing that the link is suitable for carrying one or more types of traffic including at least one of text or image, but not suitable for one or more other types of traffic including at least one of real-time audio, real-time video or application, and a second link class for representing that the link is suitable for two or more types of traffic including at least one of text, image or real-time audio and at least one type of traffic different from those types of traffic supported by a link according to the first link class but not suitable for one or more other types of traffic including at least one of real-time video or application; a third link class for representing that the link is suitable for three or more types of traffic including at least one of text, image, real-time audio, real-time video or application and at least one type of traffic different from those types of traffic supported by a link according to the second link class; dynamically producing and updating routing tables in the associated memory of the router with information on the types of data that the wireless link or a route comprising the wireless link is currently able to support; and routing data across the network using the routing tables in the associated memory of the router while ensuring that only data of types consistent with the link class assigned to the wireless link are transmitted via the wireless link, and wherein the steps of analysing one or more characteristics of the wireless link and then assigning a link class to the wireless link are performed at least once every 10 minutes; and wherein each node publishes information comprising each link class for each of that node'"'"'s link to neighboring nodes, and wherein each neighboring node re-publishes the information to neighboring nodes of the neighboring node. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of routing traffic within an ad hoc data network comprising a multiplicity of nodes, wherein
each node comprises a router having a processor and associated memory, the nodes including at least one mobile wireless network node that is moveable with respect to the other nodes in the network, and wherein the method comprises the steps of: -
the processor of the router of at least one of the nodes analysing one or more characteristics of a wireless link between the mobile wireless node and one of the other nodes within the network; in response to the analysing step, the processor assigning a link class to the wireless link, the link class being chosen from a predefined set of link classes comprising; a first link class for representing that the link is suitable for carrying one or more types of traffic including at least one of text or image, but not suitable for one or more other types of traffic including at least one of real-time audio, real-time video or application, a second link class for representing that the link is suitable for two or more types of traffic including at least one of text, image or real-time audio and at least one type of traffic different from those types of traffic supported by a link according to the first link class but not suitable for one or more other types of traffic including at least one of real-time video or application; and a third link class for representing that the link is suitable for three or more types of traffic including at least one of text, image, real-time audio, real-time video or application and at least one type of traffic different from those types of traffic supported by a link according to the first link class and the second link class; and routing data across the network while ensuring that only data of types consistent with the link class assigned to the wireless link are transmitted via the wireless link, and wherein the steps of analysing one or more characteristics of the wireless link and then assigning a link class to the link are performed at least once every 10 minutes. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. A method of routing traffic within an ad hoc data network comprising a multiplicity of nodes, wherein
each node comprises a router having a processor and associated memory, the nodes including at least one mobile wireless network node that is moveable with respect to the other nodes in the network, and wherein the method comprises the steps of: -
the processor of the router of at least one of the nodes analysing one or more characteristics of a wireless link between the mobile wireless node and one of the other nodes within the network; in response to the analysing step, the processor assigning a link class to the wireless link, the link class being chosen from a predefined set of link classes comprising; a first link class for representing that the link is suitable for carrying at least text data, but not suitable for carrying streamed real-time video, and a second link class for representing that the link is suitable for two or more types of traffic including at least one of text, image or real-time audio and at least one type of traffic different from those types of traffic supported by a link according to the first link class but not suitable for one or more other types of traffic including at least one of real-time video or application, a third link class for representing that the link is suitable for three or more types of traffic including at least one of text, image, real-time audio, real-time video or application and at least one type of traffic different from those types of traffic supported by a link according to the second link class; and routing data across the network while ensuring that only data of types consistent with the link class assigned to the wireless link are transmitted via the wireless link, and wherein the steps of analysing one or more characteristics of the wireless link and then assigning a link class to the link are performed at least once every 10 minutes. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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Specification