System and method for routing data between different types of nodes in a wireless network
First Claim
1. A method for communicating packets in a wireless communication network, the method comprising:
- providing a plurality of non-meshed nodes which are adapted to communicate packets in the network;
providing at least one meshed node;
operating the meshed node to communicate packets in the network and to function as a proxy for those of said non-meshed nodes associated therewith to route packets from the associated non-meshed nodes to other non-meshed nodes and other meshed nodes in the network.
10 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for routing data in a wireless network (400) that enables all nodes (106, 402, 404, 406, 408) to find routes to each other even if the nodes are incapable of operating as a router to route packets received from other nodes (106, 402, 404, 406, 408). The meshed nodes (106, 402) which are capable of performing packet routing act as proxy nodes for their associated non-meshed nodes (STA 13-STA 15) to route packets from their associated non-meshed nodes (STA 13-STA 15) to destination nodes. Some of the meshed nodes further operate as intelligent access points (106) to provide the non-meshed nodes and other meshed nodes with access to other networks, such as the Internet (402).
-
Citations
22 Claims
-
1. A method for communicating packets in a wireless communication network, the method comprising:
-
providing a plurality of non-meshed nodes which are adapted to communicate packets in the network; providing at least one meshed node; operating the meshed node to communicate packets in the network and to function as a proxy for those of said non-meshed nodes associated therewith to route packets from the associated non-meshed nodes to other non-meshed nodes and other meshed nodes in the network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
-
-
7. A method for communicating packets in a wireless communication network, the method comprising:
-
providing a plurality of non-meshed nodes which are adapted to communicate packets in the network; providing a plurality of meshed nodes, such that at least one of the plurality of meshed nodes is an intelligent access point; operating the meshed node to communicate packets in the network and to function as a proxy for those of said non-meshed nodes associated therewith to route packets from the associated non-meshed nodes to other non-meshed nodes and other meshed nodes in the network; operating the intelligent access point to provide other meshed nodes and non-meshed nodes associated therewith access to another network, wherein; when a non-meshed node operates as a source node to send a packet to a destination node, operating the meshed node as a proxy for a non-meshed node sends a probe message to the intelligent access point with which the non-meshed node is associated to locate the destination node; and when a meshed node operates as a source node to send a packet to a destination node, operating the source node to send the probe message to the intelligent access point with which the source node is associated to locate the destination node, and further wherein; when the source is a non-meshed node and the intelligent access point receives the probe message, operating the intelligent access point to locate the destination node and send a probe response message to the meshed node acting as a proxy for the source node to inform the proxy meshed node whether the intelligent access point has located the destination node on the network; and when the source node is a meshed node, and the intelligent access point receives the probe message, operating the intelligent access point to locate the destination node and send the probe response message to the source node to inform the source node whether the intelligent access point has located the destination node on the network. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. A wireless communication network, comprising:
-
a plurality of non-meshed nodes which are adapted to communicate packets in the network; at least one meshed node, adapted to communicate packets in the network and to operate as a proxy for those of said non-meshed nodes associated therewith to route packets from the associated non-meshed nodes to other non-meshed nodes and other meshed nodes in the network. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
-
18. A wireless communication network, comprising:
-
a plurality of non-meshed nodes for communicating packets in the network; a plurality of meshed nodes, each mesh node for communicating packets in the network and also for operating as a proxy for those of said non-meshed nodes associated therewith to route packets from the associated non-meshed nodes to other non-meshed nodes and other meshed nodes in the network, wherein at least one of the plurality of meshed nodes comprises an intelligent access point for providing other meshed nodes and non-meshed nodes associated therewith access to another network, wherein at least one of the plurality of meshed nodes operates as a proxy for a non-meshed node operating to send a packet to a destination node, such that the meshed node sends a probe message to the intelligent access point with which the non-meshed node is associated to locate the destination node; and wherein a meshed node operating to send a packet to a destination node sends the probe message to the intelligent access point with which the meshed node is associated to locate the destination node, and further wherein; the intelligent access point, in response to the probe message received from a non-meshed node source node, locates the destination node and sends a probe response message to the meshed node acting as a proxy for the non-meshed source node to inform the proxy meshed node whether the intelligent access point has located the destination node on the network; and the intelligent access point, in response to the probe message received from a meshed source node, locates the destination node and sends the probe response message to the meshed source node to inform the meshed source node whether the intelligent access point has located the destination node on the network. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
-
Specification