Method and apparatus for providing mobile inter-mesh communication points in a multi-level wireless mesh network

• US 20050074019A1
• Filed: 10/03/2003
• Published: 04/07/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited (Nortel Networks Corporation)
• Inventors: Stark, Ryan M., Duxbury, Guy, Kwong, Herman, Marcanti, Larry, Wyrzykowska, Aneta, Handforth, Martin Ridgway
• Granted Patent: US 8,248,968 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/406
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/44 Star or tree networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/18 Network planning tools
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/005 Moving wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

A mobile backhaul inter-mesh communication point forms an interface between a wireless mesh network on a first level and a wireless mesh network on a second, higher bandwidth, level. The two wireless networks are differentiated, e.g., by causing the mesh networks to be formed using different spectra, protocols or coding, or antennae. The mobile intra-mesh communication point functions as an access point in the lower level mesh network and as a relay point in the upper level mesh network. Utilizing mobile inter-mesh communication points facilitates deployment of wireless network access points while enabling the location of access points to follow the concentration of network users. Mobile inter-mesh communication points may be deployed in personal vehicles such as cars, trucks, and motorcycles, public transportation vehicles such as busses, trains, and aircraft, emergency vehicles such as fire trucks and ambulances, and many other types of vehicles.

Claims

1. An mobile inter-mesh communication point, comprising:

a first wireless mesh network port configured to participate on a first level wireless mesh network; and

a second wireless mesh network port configured to participate on a second level wireless mesh network.

2. The mobile inter-mesh communication point of claim 1, wherein the first wireless mesh network port and the second wireless mesh network port are each part of separate network elements.

3. The mobile inter-mesh communication point of claim 2, further comprising a communication link between the separate network elements.

4. The mobile inter-mesh communication point of claim 1, wherein the first wireless mesh network port and the second wireless mesh network port are part of one network element.

5. The mobile inter-mesh communication point of claim 1, further comprising switching/routing circuitry configured to interconnect said first wireless mesh network port with said second wireless mesh network port.

6. The mobile inter-mesh communication point of claim 1, wherein the first level wireless mesh network is distinct from the second level wireless mesh network.

7. The mobile inter-mesh communication point of claim 1, wherein the first wireless mesh network port is configured to operate utilizing one of the 802.11x standards, and wherein the second wireless mesh network port is configured to operate utilizing at least one of Universal Mobile Telecommunications Standard (UMTS) and IEEE 802.16x standards.

8. The mobile inter-mesh communication point of claim 1, further comprising an interface to a DC power supply.

9. The mobile inter-mesh communication point of claim 8, wherein the interface to a DC power supply is configured to receive power from a vehicle power supply.

10. The mobile inter-mesh communication point of claim 9, further comprising a vehicle.

11. The mobile inter-mesh communication point of claim 1, further comprising a battery.

12. The mobile inter-mesh communication point of claim 1, further comprising a fuel cell.

13. The mobile inter-mesh communication point of claim 1, wherein the inter-mesh communication point is configured to be disposed in a vehicle, said mobile inter-mesh communication point further comprising a battery discharge controller configured to monitor a battery level of the vehicle.

14. The mobile inter-mesh communication point of claim 1, wherein the inter-mesh communication point is disposed in an emergency vehicle, and wherein the second wireless mesh network port is configured to generate priority traffic for transmission over the second wireless mesh network.

15. A method of providing a dynamically adjusting mesh network topography, comprising:

enabling a first mesh networking level;

enabling a mobile inter-mesh communication point to participate in the first mesh networking level; and

permitting a first mobile inter-mesh communication point to transmit onto the first mesh networking level data received from a second mesh networking level.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the first mobile inter-mesh communication point is enabled to participate in the first mesh networking level as a relay point.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the first mobile inter-mesh communication point is allowed to transmit onto the first mesh networking level while moving.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising selecting a second mobile inter-mesh communication point when the first mobile inter-mesh communication point moves away from users in the second mesh networking level.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising establishing policy on the first mesh networking level;

and requesting the policy to be implemented by the first mobile inter-mesh communication point.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising not permitting the first mobile inter-mesh communication point to transmit onto the first mesh networking level data if the first mobile intermesh communication point fails to implement the policy.

21. The method of claim 15, further comprising enabling a mobile inter-mesh communication point to transmit a limited amount of self-generated data onto the first level mesh network.

22. The method of claim 15, further comprising selectively activating and deactivating the mobile inter-mesh communication point depending on where the inter-mesh communication point is in the first level mesh network in relation to a traffic density on the first level mesh network.

23. The method of claim 15, further comprising compensating an entity associated with the first mobile inter-mesh communication point.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein compensating comprises at least one of:

providing free access to the first mesh networking level;

providing reduced fee access to the first mesh networking level;

paying based on an amount of traffic handled by the inter-mesh communication point; and

crediting an account associated with the inter-mesh communication point.

25. The method of claim 15, wherein the first mesh networking level comprises first wireless mesh links, and wherein the second mesh networking level comprises second wireless mesh links.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the first mesh networking level further comprises first wired mesh links, and wherein the second mesh networking level comprises second wired mesh links.

27. A vehicle, comprising:

a system configured to allow the vehicle to move;

an electrical system; and

an inter-mesh communication system connected to the electrical system and configured to communicate on two orthogonal mesh networks.