INTEGRATED WIRELESS DISTRIBUTION AND MESH BACKHAUL NETWORKS

• US 20110075627A1
• Filed: 12/10/2010
• Published: 03/31/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: BelAir Networks Inc (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Inventors: Rayment, Stephen G., Herscovich, Bernard
• Granted Patent: US 8,483,066 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/329
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/02 Topology update or discovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/124 using a combination of metrics
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/00 Communication routing or communication path finding
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/02 Communication route or path selection, e.g. power-based or shortest path routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/06 based on characteristics of available antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/246 Connectivity information discovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/00 Network topologies

Abstract

Networks, devices and methods related to wireless networking. A wireless network using nodes that perform both distribution and backhaul functions is provided. These nodes constitute the key elements of a wireless network that would be deployed and controlled by a wireless network operator. Each node contains a distribution wireless module which is wirelessly coupled to the wireless end user device using a point to multipoint scheme. Also integrated into each node is at least one backhaul wireless module with a directional wireless antenna. Each backhaul wireless module communicates by way of a point to point wireless link with the backhaul module of one other node. The nodes in the wireless network are interconnected to form a mesh backhaul network. Because of the nature of a mesh network, data traffic can be routed around obstacles that may prevent line of site links. Furthermore, the mesh network allows dynamic routing of data traffic to avoid congestion points or downed links in the network.

Claims

1. A method for routing traffic in a network from a specific node in said network, the method comprising the steps of:

a) gathering information related to at least one link between said specific node and nodes adjacent to said specific node;

b) for the or each of said links, calculating a cost associated with said link between said specific node and a node adjacent to said specific node associated with said link;

c) receiving data from other nodes in said network, said data relating to costs associated with links between said other nodes and nodes adjacent to said other nodes;

d) distributing link data to said other nodes, said link data including a cost for the or each of said links between said specific node and nodes adjacent to said specific node;

e) determining routing paths from said specific node to each of said other nodes based on said data calculated in step b) and said link data received from other nodes in step c) such that a path cost associated with said routing path is minimized wherein only most recent data received from said other nodes are used in step e).

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein for the or each link, said information is derived from bit rate information related to a specific link between said specific node and a node adjacent to said specific node.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein for the or each link, said information is derived from link utilization information related to a utilization of a link between said specific node and a node adjacent to said specific node.

4. A method according to claim 1 wherein said network is a wireless network.

5. A method according to claim 1 wherein said specific node comprises:

at least one wireless backhaul module for communicating with at least one node in a wireless network;

a wireless distribution module for communicating with at least one wireless end user device;

wherein the device receives said at least one wireless signal from said at least one node by way of the at least one backhaul module and transmits at least a portion of at least one of said at least one wireless signal to either,

another node in the wireless network by way of the at least one backhaul module, or;

to said at least one end user device by way of the wireless distribution module and

the or each wireless backhaul module communicates with a single node in the wireless network at any one time.

6. A method according to claim 5 wherein said specific node further comprises a switch/router module for routing traffic between different modules in said at least one routing node, said traffic being extracted from said at least one wireless signal.