System and method for performing multiple network routing and provisioning in overlapping wireless deployments

• US 20030214921A1
• Filed: 05/16/2002
• Published: 11/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ARRIS Enterprises LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: MeshNetworks, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Alapuranen, Pertti O., Farley, Kevin L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,016,306 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/328
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/00 Routing or path finding of packets in data switching networks routing or path finding in wireless networks H04W40/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/302 Route determination based on requested QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/308 Route determination based on user's profile, e.g. premium users
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/02 Communication route or path selection, e.g. power-based or shortest path routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/04 based on wireless node resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/12 based on transmission quality or channel quality
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/248 Connectivity information update
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/30 for proactive routing
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A system and method for transmitting data in a wireless network is provided. Routing table information includes a system weight associated with each available node. An optimal node is selected based at least in part on the system weight, quality of service requirements, among other factors associated with each available node. Nodes are preferably selected on a per packet basis.

Claims

1. A node, adapted for use in a communication network, said node comprising:

a transceiver adapted to transmit a signal to at least one of a plurality of other nodes;

a memory adapted to store routing information comprising data including a respective network weight associated each of said plurality of other nodes; and

a controller adapted to control said transceiver to transmit said signal to one of said other nodes based on said network weight.

2. The node as claimed in claim 1, wherein said plurality of other nodes are each associated with one of a plurality of networks, and each of said network weights is associated with a respective one of said networks.

3. The node as claimed in claim 1, wherein said node is adapted to function within said communication network which includes an ad-hoc wireless network.

4. The node as claimed in claim 3, wherein said communication network comprises an IEEE 802.11 network.

5. The node as claimed in claim 1, wherein said controller is further adapted to control said transceiver to transmit said signal to one of said other nodes based further on at least one of a plurality of factors selected from the group consisting of transmit power level, received signal strength indication, link quality, and quality of service requirements.

6. The node as claimed in claim 5, wherein said controller is adapted to assign a cost to each of said plurality of other nodes based on said network weights and said plurality of factors.

7. The node as claimed in claim 6, wherein said controller is adapted to select one of said plurality of other nodes based on said cost assigned to each node.

8. The node as claimed in claim 1, wherein said controller is adapted to select one of said plurality of other nodes on a per packet basis.

9. The node as claimed in claim 6, wherein said controller is adapted to assign a cost to each of said plurality of other nodes on a per packet basis.

10. The node as claimed in claim 7, wherein said controller selects at least one of said other nodes associated with the lowest cost.

11. The node as claimed in claim 1, wherein said routing information includes a routing table, and said controller is further adapted to control said transceiver to transmit said signal to one of said other nodes based on said network weight and said routing table.

12. A method of controlling a communications network comprising the steps of:

determining a set of available nodes to receive a transmission;

determining a network identification associated with each available node;

determining a network weight associated with each network identification;

calculating a cost associated with transmitting to each available node based on said network weights;

selecting one of said available nodes based on said cost; and

transmitting data to said selected node.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of determining a set of available nodes comprises reviewing a routing table.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising the steps of receiving route advertisements and updating the routing table.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein said communication network comprises an ad-hoc wireless network.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said communication network includes an IEEE 802.11 network.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the calculating a cost step further comprises calculating said cost based on at least one of a plurality of factors selected from the group consisting of transmit power level, received signal strength indication, link quality, and quality of service requirements.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein said selecting step further comprises selecting the available node associated with the lowest cost.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein said selecting and transmitting steps are performed on a per packet basis.

20. A computer readable medium of instructions adapted to control a communication network comprising:

a first set of instruction adapted to control the communication network to determine a set of available nodes to receive a transmission,

a second set of instructions adapted to control the communication network to determine a network identification associated with each available node,

a third set of instructions adapted to control the communication network to determine a network weight associated with each network identification,

a fourth set of instructions adapted to control the communication network to calculate a cost associated with transmitting to each available node based on said network weights,

a fifth set of instructions adapted to control the communication network to select one of said available nodes based on said costs, and

a sixth set of instructions adapted to control the communication network to transmit data to said selected node.

21. The computer readable medium of instructions of claim 20, wherein the first set of instructions is further adapted to review a routing table to determine said available nodes.

22. The computer readable medium of instructions of claim 21, further comprising a seventh set of instructions adapted to control said communication network to receive route advertisements and update said routing table.

23. The computer readable medium of instructions of claim 20, wherein said communication network comprises a node in an ad-hoc wireless network.

24. The computer readable medium of instructions of claim 23, wherein said wireless network is an IEEE 802.11 network.

25. The computer readable medium of instructions of claim 20, wherein said fourth set of instructions is further adapted to control said network to calculate said cost based on at least one of a plurality of factors selected from the group consisting of transmit power level, received signal strength indication, link quality, and quality of service requirements.

26. The computer readable medium of instructions of claim 20, wherein said fifth set of instructions are further adapted to select the available node associated with the lowest cost.

27. The computer readable medium of instructions of claim 20, wherein said fifth and sixth sets of instructions are executed on a per packet basis.