MANAGEMENT OF WIRELESS RELAY NODES USING ROUTING TABLE

• US 20090190522A1
• Filed: 01/28/2009
• Published: 07/30/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Agashe, Parag A., Ulupinar, Fatih, Tinnakornsrisuphap, Peerapol, Gupta, Rajarshi, Horn, Gavin B.
• Granted Patent: US 8,737,267 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/315
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5014 using dynamic host configuration protocol [DHCP] or bootstrap protocol [BOOTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/248 Connectivity information update
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/30 for proactive routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/32 for defining a routing cluster membership
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user

Abstract

A set of wireless relay nodes are managed to facilitate inter-node routing of packets in the set. In some aspects, unique identifiers are defined for the wireless relay nodes to facilitate routing packets within the set. In some aspect a routing table is provided to each of the wireless relay nodes, wherein the routing table identifies each wireless relay node in the set and a next-hop entity for each of these wireless relay nodes. Each of the wireless relay nodes may then define a forwarding table based on the routing table.

Claims

1. A method of communication, comprising:

defining a routing table for a set of wireless relay nodes, wherein the routing table comprises first identifiers that uniquely identify wireless relay nodes within the set and second identifiers that identify next-hop entities for the wireless relay nodes of the set; and

sending routing table information based on the routing table to the wireless relay nodes of the set.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the definition of the routing table comprises modifying the routing table if a wireless relay node joins the set, leaves the set, or moves within the set.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the routing table is redefined if another wireless relay node connects to one of the wireless relay nodes of the set.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the first identifiers is associated with another identifier that uniquely identifies a corresponding one of the wireless relay nodes within a network.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein each of the first identifiers is an Internet Protocol address of a corresponding one of the wireless relay nodes of the set.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first identifiers are defined to facilitate forwarding compressed packets between the wireless relay nodes of the set.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the next-hop entities comprise at least one of the group consisting of:

at least one of the wireless relay nodes of the set, and a single root access point that provides a network attachment point for the wireless relay nodes of the set.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the wireless relay nodes of the set use a first type of wireless technology to provide access for access terminals and to provide backbone connectivity.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a list to each wireless relay node of the set, wherein:

the list comprises the first identifiers and second identifiers that uniquely identify the wireless relay nodes of the set within a network.

10. An apparatus for communication, comprising:

a routing table definer configured to define a routing table for a set of wireless relay nodes, wherein the routing table comprises first identifiers that uniquely identify wireless relay nodes within the set and second identifiers that identify next-hop entities for the wireless relay nodes of the set; and

a transmitter configured to send routing table information based on the routing table to the wireless relay nodes of the set.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the definition of the routing table comprises modifying the routing table if a wireless relay node joins the set, leaves the set, or moves within the set.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the routing table is redefined if another wireless relay node connects to one of the wireless relay nodes of the set.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein each of the first identifiers is associated with another identifier that uniquely identifies a corresponding one of the wireless relay nodes within a network.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein each of the first identifiers is an Internet Protocol address of a corresponding one of the wireless relay nodes of the set.

15. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first identifiers are defined to facilitate forwarding compressed packets between the wireless relay nodes of the set.

16. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the next-hop entities comprise at least one of the group consisting of:

at least one of the wireless relay nodes of the set, and a single root access point that provides a network attachment point for the wireless relay nodes of the set.

17. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein each of the wireless relay nodes of the set use a first type of wireless technology to provide access for access terminals and to provide backbone connectivity.

18. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a list definer configured to provide a list to each wireless relay node of the set, wherein:

the list comprises the first identifiers and second identifiers that uniquely identify the wireless relay nodes of the set within a network.

19. An apparatus for communication, comprising:

means for defining a routing table for a set of wireless relay nodes, wherein the routing table comprises first identifiers that uniquely identify wireless relay nodes within the set and second identifiers that identify next-hop entities for the wireless relay nodes of the set; and

means for sending routing table information based on the routing table to the wireless relay nodes of the set.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the definition of the routing table comprises modifying the routing table if a wireless relay node joins the set, leaves the set, or moves within the set.

21. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the routing table is redefined if another wireless relay node connects to one of the wireless relay nodes of the set.

22. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein each of the first identifiers is associated with another identifier that uniquely identifies a corresponding one of the wireless relay nodes within a network.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein each of the first identifiers is an Internet Protocol address of a corresponding one of the wireless relay nodes of the set.

24. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the first identifiers are defined to facilitate forwarding compressed packets between the wireless relay nodes of the set.

25. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the next-hop entities comprise at least one of the group consisting of:

at least one of the wireless relay nodes of the set, and a single root access point that provides a network attachment point for the wireless relay nodes of the set.

26. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein each of the wireless relay nodes of the set use a first type of wireless technology to provide access for access terminals and to provide backbone connectivity.

27. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising means for providing a list to each wireless relay node of the set, wherein:

the list comprises the first identifiers and second identifiers that uniquely identify the wireless relay nodes of the set within a network.

28. A computer-program product, comprising:

computer-readable medium comprising code for causing a computer to;

define a routing table for a set of wireless relay nodes, wherein the routing table comprises first identifiers that uniquely identify wireless relay nodes within the set and second identifiers that identify next-hop entities for the wireless relay nodes of the set; and

send routing table information based on the routing table to the wireless relay nodes of the set.

29. The computer-program product of claim 28, wherein the definition of the routing table comprises modifying the routing table if a wireless relay node joins the set, leaves the set, or moves within the set.

30. The computer-program product of claim 28, wherein each of the first identifiers is associated with another identifier that uniquely identifies a corresponding one of the wireless relay nodes within a network.

31. The computer-program product of claim 30, wherein each of the first identifiers is an Internet Protocol address of a corresponding one of the wireless relay nodes of the set.

32. A method of communication, comprising:

receiving routing table information for a set of wireless relay nodes, wherein the routing table comprises first identifiers that uniquely identify the wireless relay nodes within the set and second identifiers that identify next-hop entities for the wireless relay nodes of the set; and

defining a forwarding table based on the routing table information for forwarding packets to at least one of the wireless relay nodes of the set.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the forwarding table identifies at least one next-hop link for forwarding packets destined for the at least one of the wireless relay nodes of the set.

34. The method of claim 32, further comprising:

receiving a compressed packet from one of the wireless relay nodes of the set; and

forwarding the compressed packet based on the forwarding table.

35. The method of claim 32, further comprising forwarding the routing table information to another one of the wireless relay nodes of the set.

36. The method of claim 32, wherein each of the first identifiers is associated with another identifier that uniquely identifies a corresponding one of the wireless relay nodes within a network.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein each of the first identifiers is an Internet Protocol address of a corresponding one of the wireless relay nodes of the set.

38. The method of claim 32, wherein the next-hop entities comprise at least one of the group consisting of:

at least one of the wireless relay nodes of the set, and a single root access point that provides a network attachment point for the wireless relay nodes of the set.

39. The method of claim 32, wherein each of the wireless relay nodes of the set use a first type of wireless technology to provide access for access terminals and to provide backbone connectivity.

40. The method of claim 32, further comprising receiving a list, wherein:

the list comprises the first identifiers and second identifiers that uniquely identify the wireless relay nodes of the set within a network; and

the definition of the forwarding table is further based on the list.

41. An apparatus for communication, comprising:

a routing table controller configured to receive routing table information for a set of wireless relay nodes, wherein the routing table comprises first identifiers that uniquely identify the wireless relay nodes within the set and second identifiers that identify next-hop entities for the wireless relay nodes of the set; and

a forwarding table definer configured to define a forwarding table based on the routing table information for forwarding packets to at least one of the wireless relay nodes of the set.

42. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein the forwarding table identifies at least one next-hop link for forwarding packets destined for the at least one of the wireless relay nodes of the set.

43. The apparatus of claim 41, further comprising:

a receiver configured to receive a compressed packet from one of the wireless relay nodes of the set; and

a packet processor configured to forward the compressed packet based on the forwarding table.

44. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein the routing table controller is further configured to forward the routing table information to another one of the wireless relay nodes of the set.

45. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein each of the first identifiers is associated with another identifier that uniquely identifies a corresponding one of the wireless relay nodes within a network.

46. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein each of the first identifiers is an Internet Protocol address of a corresponding one of the wireless relay nodes of the set.

47. The apparatus of claim 41, further comprising a list controller configured to receive a list, wherein:

the list comprises the first identifiers and second identifiers that uniquely identify the wireless relay nodes of the set within a network; and

the definition of the forwarding table is further based on the list.

48. An apparatus for communication, comprising:

means for receiving routing table information for a set of wireless relay nodes, wherein the routing table comprises first identifiers that uniquely identify the wireless relay nodes within the set and second identifiers that identify next-hop entities for the wireless relay nodes of the set; and

means for defining a forwarding table based on the routing table information for forwarding packets to at least one of the wireless relay nodes of the set.

49. The apparatus of claim 48, wherein the forwarding table identifies at least one next-hop link for forwarding packets destined for the at least one of the wireless relay nodes of the set.

50. The apparatus of claim 48, further comprising:

means for receiving a compressed packet from one of the wireless relay nodes of the set; and

means for forwarding the compressed packet based on the forwarding table.

51. The apparatus of claim 48, further comprising means for forwarding the routing table information to another one of the wireless relay nodes of the set.

52. The apparatus of claim 48, wherein each of the first identifiers is associated with another identifier that uniquely identifies a corresponding one of the wireless relay nodes within a network.

53. The apparatus of claim 52, wherein each of the first identifiers is an Internet Protocol address of a corresponding one of the wireless relay nodes of the set.

54. The apparatus of claim 48, further comprising means for receiving a list, wherein:

the list comprises the first identifiers and second identifiers that uniquely identify the wireless relay nodes of the set within a network; and

the definition of the forwarding table is further based on the list.

55. A computer-program product, comprising:

computer-readable medium comprising code for causing a computer to;

receive routing table information for a set of wireless relay nodes, wherein the routing table comprises first identifiers that uniquely identify the wireless relay nodes within the set and second identifiers that identify next-hop entities for the wireless relay nodes of the set; and

define a forwarding table based on the routing table information for forwarding packets to at least one of the wireless relay nodes of the set.

56. The computer-program product of claim 55, wherein the forwarding table identifies at least one next-hop link for forwarding packets destined for the at least one of the wireless relay nodes of the set.

57. The computer-program product of claim 55, wherein the routing table controller is further configured to forward the routing table information to another one of the wireless relay nodes of the set.

58. The computer-program product of claim 55, wherein each of the first identifiers is associated with another identifier that uniquely identifies a corresponding one of the wireless relay nodes within a network.

59. The computer-program product of claim 58, wherein each of the first identifiers is an Internet Protocol address of a corresponding one of the wireless relay nodes of the set.