Method and apparatus for providing a metropolitan mesh network

• US 20060291482A1
• Filed: 06/23/2005
• Published: 12/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Evans, David
• Application Number:
  US11/159,585
• Publication Number:
  US 20060291482A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/401
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/246 Connectivity information discovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/04 Network layer protocols, e.g. mobile IP [Internet Protocol]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

The present disclosure provides for creating a metropolitan mesh network using vehicles as the framework. Mobile access points are installed on vehicles and configured to create ad-hoc, self-healing networks using mesh technology.

Claims

1. A metropolitan mesh network comprising:

a plurality of vehicles, each having a mobile router;

the mobile router being configured to form a mesh network with other mobile routers in wireless communication; and

provide peer-to-peer network connectivity for users of the mesh network.

2. The metropolitan mesh network of claim 1, wherein said mobile routers are mobile-IP compliant.

3. The metropolitan mesh network of claim 2, wherein said plurality of mobile vehicles further comprise wireless communication equipment compliant with the IEEE 802.16x specification.

4. The metropolitan mesh network of claim 3, wherein said plurality of mobile vehicles may access the Internet through a wired WAN.

5. The metropolitan mesh network of claim 4, wherein third-party private subscribers may access the Internet through said metropolitan mesh network.

6. The metropolitan mesh network of claim 5, wherein said third party subscribers are charged a fee for accessing said metropolitan mesh network.

7. The metropolitan mesh network of claim 6, wherein said mobile vehicles are further configured authenticate the accounts of said private subscribers.

8. The metropolitan mesh network of claim 3, wherein said mobile vehicles further comprise GPS functionality.

9. The metropolitan mesh network of claim 8, wherein said mobile vehicles communicate their positional information to a central office through said metropolitan mesh network.

10. A metropolitan mesh network comprising:

a plurality of mobile vehicle means;

mobile routing means operatively disposed within each of said mobile vehicle means; and

means for forming a mesh network with other mobile routers in wireless communication.

11. The metropolitan mesh network of claim 10, further comprising means for providing peer-to-peer network connectivity for users of the mesh network.

12. The metropolitan mesh network of claim 11, wherein said mobile routers are mobile-IP compliant.

13. The metropolitan mesh network of claim 12, wherein said plurality of mobile vehicles further comprise wireless communication equipment compliant with the IEEE 802.16x specification.

14. The metropolitan mesh network of claim 13, wherein said plurality of mobile vehicles may access the Internet through a wired WAN.

15. The metropolitan mesh network of claim 14, wherein third-party private subscribers may access the Internet through said metropolitan mesh network.

16. The metropolitan mesh network of claim 15, wherein said third party subscribers are charged a fee for accessing said metropolitan mesh network.

17. The metropolitan mesh network of claim 16, wherein said mobile vehicles are further configured authenticate the accounts of said private subscribers.

18. The metropolitan mesh network of claim 13, wherein said mobile vehicles further comprise GPS functionality.

19. The metropolitan mesh network of claim 18, wherein said mobile vehicles communicate their positional information to a central office through said metropolitan mesh network.

20. A metropolitan mesh network comprising:

a plurality of mobile vehicle means;

mobile routing means operatively disposed within each of said mobile vehicle means; and

means for forming a mesh network with other mobile routers in wireless communication

21. The metropolitan mesh network of claim 20, further comprising means for providing peer-to-peer network connectivity for users of the mesh network.

22. The metropolitan mesh network of claim 21, wherein said mobile routers are mobile-IP compliant.

23. The metropolitan mesh network of claim 22, wherein said plurality of mobile vehicles further comprise wireless communication equipment compliant with the IEEE 802.16x specification.

24. The metropolitan mesh network of claim 23, wherein said plurality of mobile vehicles may access the Internet through a wired WAN.

25. The metropolitan mesh network of claim 24, wherein third-party private subscribers may access the Internet through said metropolitan mesh network.

26. The metropolitan mesh network of claim 25, wherein said third party subscribers are charged a fee for accessing said metropolitan mesh network.

27. The metropolitan mesh network of claim 26, wherein said mobile vehicles are further configured authenticate the accounts of said private subscribers.

28. The metropolitan mesh network of claim 23, wherein said mobile vehicles further comprise GPS functionality.

29. The metropolitan mesh network of claim 28, wherein said mobile vehicles communicate their positional information to a central office through said metropolitan mesh network.

30. A vehicle for participating in a metropolitan mesh network comprising:

a vehicle having a mobile router;

the mobile router being configured to;

form a mesh network with other mobile routers in wireless communication; and

route IP-compliant traffic between members of the mesh network.

31. The metropolitan mesh network of claim 30, wherein said mobile routers provide peer-to-peer network connectivity for users of the mesh network.

32. The metropolitan mesh network of claim 31, wherein said mobile routers are mobile-IP compliant.

33. The metropolitan mesh network of claim 32, wherein said plurality of mobile vehicles further comprise wireless communication equipment compliant with the IEEE 802.16x specification.

34. The metropolitan mesh network of claim 33, wherein said plurality of mobile vehicles may access the Internet through a wired WAN.

35. The metropolitan mesh network of claim 34, wherein third-party private subscribers may access the Internet through said metropolitan mesh network.

36. The metropolitan mesh network of claim 35, wherein said third party subscribers are charged a fee for accessing said metropolitan mesh network.

37. The metropolitan mesh network of claim 36, wherein said mobile vehicles are further configured authenticate the accounts of said private subscribers.

38. The metropolitan mesh network of claim 33, wherein said mobile vehicles further comprise GPS functionality.

39. The metropolitan mesh network of claim 38, wherein said mobile vehicles communicate their positional information to a central office through said metropolitan mesh network.