Systems and methods for congestion control in a wireless mesh network
First Claim
1. A method for establishing a wireless data connection between wireless communication devices in an ad hoc wireless mesh network, comprising:
- sending from a first wireless communication device a channel clearance assessment message over a first channel in an ad hoc wireless mesh network;
determining that the first channel is not available;
sending a channel clearance assessment message over a second channel in the ad hoc wireless mesh network;
determining that the channel is available; and
sending a data communication to a second wireless communication device over the second channel in the ad hoc wireless mesh network.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for reducing congestion in a wireless communication network are provided. In one aspect, an improved MAC layer protocol is provided that allows channel switching for data communications over a wireless network on a frame by frame basis allowing increased use of spectrum and significantly reducing congestion. Additionally, throughput is increased and battery life is conserved by reducing the power level for an RTS message to the minimum power needed to reach the recipient node. The corresponding CTS message is then sent by the recipient node and the range of the CTS message is sufficient to inform other nodes in the network that the recipient is not available for communication. This method allows other nodes in the network to remain free to communicate with each other. Moreover, the minimum power level needed to send an RTS message to each node may be maintained in a local routing table or other data storage area on the wireless communication device.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method for establishing a wireless data connection between wireless communication devices in an ad hoc wireless mesh network, comprising:
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sending from a first wireless communication device a channel clearance assessment message over a first channel in an ad hoc wireless mesh network;
determining that the first channel is not available;
sending a channel clearance assessment message over a second channel in the ad hoc wireless mesh network;
determining that the channel is available; and
sending a data communication to a second wireless communication device over the second channel in the ad hoc wireless mesh network. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A method for increasing throughput in an ad hoc wireless mesh network having a plurality of wireless communication devices, comprising:
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sending a clear channel assessment message on a first channel in an ad hoc wireless mesh network;
determining that the first channel is busy;
sending a clear channel assessment message on a second channel in the ad hoc wireless mesh network;
determining that the second channel is available; and
sending a data communication frame on the second channel. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for increasing data communication throughput in an ad hoc wireless mesh network having a plurality of wireless communication devices, comprising:
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sending from a first wireless communication device a request to send message at a first power level, wherein the first power level is optimized such that the substantially maximum range of the request to send message will reach a predetermined second wireless communication device;
receiving at a second wireless communication device the request to send message;
sending from the second wireless communication device a clear to send message in response to the request to send message, wherein the clear to send message is sent at a second power level and the second power level is optimized such that the substantially maximum range of the clear to send message will reach the first wireless communication device; and
wherein the clear to send message identifies the first wireless communication device as being able to send data communications to the second wireless communication device.
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21. An improved wireless communication device, comprising:
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a wireless network interface configured to allow a wireless communication device to send and receive data communications over a wireless communication network;
a communication protocol stack including a media access control layer, wherein the media access control layer is adaptable to send a data communication comprising a plurality of frames, wherein a first frame is sent on a first channel in the wireless communication network and a second frame is sent on a second channel in the wireless communication network. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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25. A method for conserving battery power in a wireless communication device, comprising:
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determining the distance to a recipient wireless communication device in a wireless communication network;
identifying a minimum power level needed for a request to send message to reach the recipient wireless communication device; and
maintaining a routing table associating the recipient wireless communication device and the identified minimum power level needed for a request to send message to reach the recipient wireless communication device. - View Dependent Claims (26)
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Specification