Network protocol for wireless ad hoc networks
First Claim
1. A method for establishing a network from a plurality of nodes, said network comprising a first subset of said plurality of nodes designated as backbone nodes and a second subset of said plurality of nodes designated as non-backbone nodes, said method comprising the steps of:
- periodically transmitting a signaling packet by each of said plurality of nodes, wherein each of said plurality of nodes transmitting said signaling packet is a transmitter and each of said signaling packets contains at least one protocol support record;
selecting as backbone nodes a subset of said plurality of nodes in response to said at least one protocol support record; and
forwarding said at least one protocol support record to neighboring nodes only by said backbone nodes.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for establishing and maintaining a wireless ad hoc network comprising backbone nodes which forward packets through the network and non-backbone nodes which are capable of using the network, but do not forward packets. Signaling packets containing one or more protocol support records are periodically generated and transmitted by each node to neighboring nodes and are forwarded through the network by backbone nodes. Non-network nodes are initially selected to become backbone members during a SELECTION process based on an assessment of the node'"'"'s connectivity relative to its neighbors. Link quality between nodes is monitored and used during an EXPANSION process in which additional non-network nodes may become backbone members. Disconnected backbone segments are interconnected during a CONNECTION process and the network is maintained during a MAINTENANCE process by periodically assessing the value of a backbone node'"'"'s membership in the backbone. Efficient multicast routing is supported over the backbone by dynamically establishing and maintaining multicast trees. Signaling packets are periodically and frequently generated, thereby facilitating rapid adaptation to network changes. Further, the signaling packets are efficiently forwarded only by backbone nodes, thereby reducing bandwidth associated with establishing and maintaining the network.
348 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method for establishing a network from a plurality of nodes, said network comprising a first subset of said plurality of nodes designated as backbone nodes and a second subset of said plurality of nodes designated as non-backbone nodes, said method comprising the steps of:
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periodically transmitting a signaling packet by each of said plurality of nodes, wherein each of said plurality of nodes transmitting said signaling packet is a transmitter and each of said signaling packets contains at least one protocol support record;
selecting as backbone nodes a subset of said plurality of nodes in response to said at least one protocol support record; and
forwarding said at least one protocol support record to neighboring nodes only by said backbone nodes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for establishing a network from a plurality of nodes, said network comprising a first subset of said plurality of nodes designated as backbone nodes and a second subset of said plurality of nodes designated as non-backbone nodes, said method comprising the steps of:
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periodically transmitting a signaling packet by each of said plurality of nodes to neighboring nodes, wherein each of said plurality of nodes transmitting said signaling packet is a transmitter and each of said signaling packets contains at least one protocol support record indicating status information about the transmitter; and
prior to one of said plurality of nodes transitioning to a backbone node in response to receipt of said at least one protocol support record, evaluating the quality of a link between said node and at least one neighboring node in order to verify that said link quality meets a predetermined minimum requirement. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification