Wireless mesh network node

• US 20020176390A1
• Filed: 04/15/2002
• Published: 11/28/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trilliant Networks Incorporated
• Original Assignee: SkyPilot Networks Incorporated (Trilliant Networks Incorporated)
• Inventors: Franceschini, Michael R., Olsen, William G., Sparr, Robert H., Bradley, Kirk Alton, Rich, Mark J., Merenda, Joseph T., Hammel, Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 7,616,600 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/24 Cell structures
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/06 based on characteristics of available antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/20 based on geographic position or location
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/003 locating network equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/00 Network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/20 between access points

Abstract

Method and apparatus for providing a wireless mesh network and network node are described. More particularly, a network having network node neighborhoods is described. A node comprises a multi-sectored antenna and a transceiver controller. Nodes are configured for installation without antenna pointing and without pre-coordination with the network. Software architecture for the node is also described.

Claims

1. A network node, comprising:

an antenna sector array;

a radio frequency (RF) converter coupled to the antenna sector array;

a transceiver coupled to the RF converter;

a transceiver controller coupled to the transceiver;

a processor coupled to the transceiver controller; and

an interface coupled to the processor;

the network node configured for point-to-point communication with a neighboring network node.

2. The network node of claim 1 further comprising:

a global positioning antenna;

a global positioning system coupled to the antenna and to the single board computer and the transceiver controller, the global positioning system configured to provide a time reference for synchronization of the network node with the neighboring network node.

3. The network node of claim 2 wherein the interface is selected from Ethernet, Universal Serial Bus, Fiber and Wireless Local Area Network.

4. The network node of claim 3 further comprising a cache memory for mass storage.

5. The network node of claim 1 wherein the antenna sector array is arranged in banks of sectors, each of the banks of sectors having a trough, modified trough or corner reflector.

6. The network node of claim 1 wherein the transceiver controller is configured for real-time execution, and the processor is configured for non-real-time execution.

7. A transceiver controller, comprising:

an interface;

a plurality of registers coupled to the interface;

first memory elements configured to buffer data for conversion from non-real-time execution to real-time execution and coupled to the interface;

second memory elements configured to receive sequence numbers for synchronization of transfer of the buffered data and coupled to the interface; and

an event handler coupled to the first and the second memory elements, the event handler configured to process pre-scheduled slots in real-time.

8. A transceiver controller, comprising:

a bus interface;

a plurality of registers coupled to the bus interface;

a plurality of buffers coupled to the bus interface, the buffers and configured for synchronized transfer of data in real-time;

an event handler coupled to the plurality of buffers and configured to accept a slot defining command;

a timebase counter coupled to the event handler;

an oscillator coupled to the timebase counter; and

a frequency error detector configured to receive a time reference signal from a global positioning system, the frequency error detector coupled to the oscillator and configured to discipline the oscillator responsive to the time reference signal.

9. A software architecture comprising:

a protocol stack module;

a provisioning module;

a route management module;

a database module in communication with the protocol stack module, the route management module and the provisioning module, the database module configured with a database management module and configured to transmit and receive a shareable database;

a traffic management module in communication with the database module;

a link management module in communication with the the database module;

an interface control module in communication with an interface controller and the database module; and

a positioning module in communication with the database module.

10. The software architecture of claim 9 further comprising a global positioning system module in communication with the positioning module.

11. A method for installing a portion of a network, comprising:

providing a node configured with an antenna; and

positioning the node for communication with another node or a neighborhood access point, the positioning not including having to align the antenna to point at or approximately point at a base station.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising joining the network without having to manually configure the node and without advanced co-ordination with the network.