System and method for trans-medium address resolution on an ad-hoc network with at least one highly disconnected medium having multiple access points to other media

• US 20030174682A1
• Filed: 09/25/2002
• Published: 09/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: MeshNetworks, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Barker, Charles R. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 6,771,666 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/00 Network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/10 of different types
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/02 Communication route or path selection, e.g. power-based or shortest path routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements

Abstract

A system and method for providing a mechanism for trans-medium address resolution on a network with at least one highly disconnected medium having multiple access points to other media. The system and method provides a “unique” media access control (MAC) address in address resolution protocol (ARP) for mobile nodes in an ad-hoc network, correctly identifying the optimum intelligent access point (IAP) for node communication where the optimum IAP changes more rapidly than traditional address updating may be able to accommodate. Medium layer routing protocols recognize medium frames addressed with this unique MAC address should be routed to the currently associated IAP, whichever IAP that might be at the moment the frame is sent.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a plurality of nodes in an ad-hoc communications network to perform address resolution protocol (ARP) on a frame by frame basis, said plurality being adapted to transmit and receive data packets to and from other nodes in said ad-hoc network, said method comprising:

controlling a first node of said plurality to generate an address resolution protocol (ARP) request for a first media access control (MAC) address corresponding to an optimum intelligent access point (IAP) for sending a medium frame;

controlling a second node to receive and identify said request, and provide a second MAC address, adapted to instruct said first node that said requested first MAC address is a dynamic link address; and

controlling said first node to receive said second MAC address and in response, route said medium frame to a current IAP.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said ARP controls said first node to generate said ARP request.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said ARP controls said second node to identify IAP MAC addresses corresponding to said dynamic link addresses, and to designate said second MAC address as the current address for said IAP.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said dynamic link addresses comprise IAP MAC addresses for said IAP and associated mobile nodes which are subject to movement relative to one another.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said ARP controls said second node to provide said second MAC address upon request for a MAC address corresponding to a dynamic link address.

6. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said current IAP comprises the IAP associated with said first node at the time said medium frame is sent.

7. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said ARP controls said first node to select said current IAP at the time said medium frame is sent.

8. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said current IAP is selected by said first node based upon quantitative factors including bandwidth and spectral efficiency.

9. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second MAC address is included in network-layer ARP protocol.

10. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising updating said second MAC address may be updated upon ARP expiration timeout.

11. An apparatus adapted to perform address resolution protocol (ARP) on a frame by frame basis, and being further adapted to transmit and receive data packets to and from other nodes in said ad-hoc network, comprising:

a first node, adapted to generate an address resolution protocol (ARP) request for a first media access control (MAC) address corresponding to an optimum intelligent access point (IAP) for sending a medium frame;

a second node, adapted to receive and identify said request, and to provide a second MAC address adapted to instruct said first node that said requested first MAC address is a dynamic link address; and

said first node being further adapted to receive said second MAC address and in response, to route said medium frame to a current IAP.

12. An apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein said ARP is adapted to control said first node to generate said ARP request.

13. An apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein said ARP is adapted to control said second node to identify IAP MAC addresses corresponding to dynamic link addresses, and to designate said second MAC address as the current address for said IAP.

14. An apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein said dynamic link addresses comprise IAP MAC addresses for said IAP and associated mobile nodes which are subject to movement relative to one another.

15. An apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein said ARP is adapted to control said second node to provide said second MAC address upon request for a MAC address corresponding to a dynamic link address.

16. An apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein said current IAP comprises the IAP associated with said first node at the time said medium frame is sent.

17. An apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein said ARP is adapted to control said first node to select said current IAP at the time said medium frame is sent.

18. An apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein said current IAP is selected by said first node based upon quantitative factors including bandwidth and spectral efficiency.

19. An apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein said second MAC address is included in network-layer ARP protocol.

20. An apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein said second node is further adapted to update said second MAC address.