Method and Apparatus for Providing Mobile Inter-Mesh Communication Points in a Multi-Level Wireless Mesh Network
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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.
5 Citations
48 Claims
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1-28. -28. (canceled)
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29. An inter-mesh communication point, comprising:
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an access point comprising a first network interface to a first level wireless mesh network, wherein the access point is configured as a destination for traffic originating from a device in the first level wireless mesh network, wherein the first level wireless mesh network is implemented using a first wireless access technology; and a relay point communicatively coupled to the access point and comprising a second network interface to a second level wireless mesh network, wherein the second level wireless mesh network is implemented using a second wireless access technology, and wherein the relay point is configured to; relay at least a portion of first level network traffic from the first level wireless mesh network to the second level wireless mesh network; and relay at least a portion of second level network traffic, that is destined for a device on the first level wireless mesh network, from the second level wireless mesh network to the first level wireless mesh network. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. An apparatus, comprising:
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a first network interface coupled to a first level wireless mesh network implemented using a first wireless access technology; a second network interface coupled to a second level wireless mesh network implemented using a second wireless access technology; and at least one processor coupled to the first and second network interfaces; wherein the apparatus is configured as an access point for the first level wireless mesh network and a relay point for the second level wireless mesh network; and wherein the at least one processor is configured to; receive, via the first network interface, traffic originating from a device in the first level wireless mesh network; relay, via the first and second network interfaces, traffic from the first level wireless mesh network to the second level wireless mesh network; and relay, via the first and second network interfaces, traffic from the second level wireless mesh network to the first level wireless mesh network. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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45. A non-transitory computer readable memory medium storing program instructions executable by a processor to:
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receive, via a first network interface, traffic originating from devices in a first level wireless mesh network, wherein the first level wireless mesh network is implemented using a first wireless access technology; transmit, via a second network interface, a subset of the received traffic to devices in a second level wireless mesh network, wherein the second level wireless mesh network is implemented using a second wireless access technology; relay traffic destined for the first level wireless mesh network and received via the second network interface to the first level wireless mesh network via the first network interface. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47, 48)
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Specification