High performance wireless networks using distributed control

• US 7,420,952 B2
• Filed: 05/08/2003
• Issued: 09/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dynamic MESH Networks Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Mesh Dynamics Incorporated
• Inventors: da Costa, Francis, Dayanandan, Sriram
• Primary Examiner(s): D'Agosta; Stephen M
• Application Number:
  US10/434,948
• Publication Number:
  US 20040090943A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,944 Days
• Field of Search: 370/338, 370/319, 370/321, 370/328, 370/336, 370/442, 370/445, 455/41.2, 455/41.3, 455/450, 455/502, 455/507
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0654 using network fault recovery ring fault isolation or reconfiguration in loop networks without recovery actions by a network management system H04L12/437
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0806 for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5022 by giving priorities, e.g. assigning classes of service
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5087 wherein the managed service relates to voice services management of VoIP services H04M7/0081
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/509 wherein the managed service relates to media content delivery, e.g. audio, video or TV
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0811 by checking connectivity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/50 Secure pairing of devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/14 Spectrum sharing arrangements between different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/18 Negotiating wireless communication parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/02 Communication route or path selection, e.g. power-based or shortest path routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/14 Backbone network devices

Abstract

A design and proof of concept of a new type of WLAN, complete with simulation and results from the simulation has been described. Each AP Node is implemented as a self-contained embedded OS unit, with all algorithms resident in its Operating system. The normal day-to-day functioning of the AP node is based entirely on resident control algorithms. Upgrades are possible through a simple secure communications interface supported by the OS kernel for each AP node. Benefits provided by a wireless network, as proposed in this invention, are that: it installs out of the box; the network is self-configuring; the network is redundant in that mesh network formalism is supported, ensuring multiple paths; load balancing is supported; there is no single point of failure; allows for decentralized execution; there is a central control; it is network application aware; there is application awareness; there is automatic channel allocation to manage and curtail RF interference, maximize non interference bandwidth and enable seamless roaming between adjoining wireless sub networks (BSS) and it supports the wireless equivalent for switching—for seamless roaming requirements.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a wireless mesh network, comprising:

a) configuring the wireless mesh network with a first configuration, the wireless mesh network comprising a plurality of relay nodes, each of the relay nodes being capable of relaying traffic from a child node associated with the relay node, each of the relay nodes including a first radio interface configurable to relay traffic to a parent relay node and a second dual purpose radio interface configurable to both relay traffic from the child relay node and to communicate with a client node that is not a relay node, and at least one of the relay nodes is configured in the first configuration to relay traffic from a child relay node to a parent relay node;

b) determining that a first one of the plurality of relay nodes in the wireless mesh network requires a channel selection change;

c) dynamically selecting a second one of the plurality of relay nodes in the wireless mesh network to form a parent-child relationship with the first relay node; and

d) making a channel selection change;

wherein prior to being dynamically selected, the second relay node was a sibling node of the first relay node; and

making a channel selection includes making a channel selection change to meet a performance requirement.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the second node is selected to be a parent node of the first node.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the second node is selected to be a child node of the first node.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein making a channel selection includes making a channel selection change to meet a latency requirement.

5. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein making a channel selection includes making a channel selection change to meet a throughput requirement.

6. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein determining that the first node requires a channel selection change includes determining that the channel selection change is required due to a performance requirement change.

7. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein determining that the first node requires a channel selection change includes determining that the channel selection change is required due to congestion.

8. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the channel selection change is made to avoid channel interference.

9. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the channel selection change is made based on a change to network topology.

10. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising repeating b)-d).

11. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising receiving a monitoring signal that includes information about available nodes from which the second node is selected.

12. A computer program product for controlling a wireless mesh network, the computer program product being embodied in a computer readable medium and comprising computer instructions for:

a) configuring the wireless mesh network with a first configuration, the wireless mesh network comprising a plurality of relay nodes, each of the relay nodes being capable of relaying traffic from a child node associated with the relay node, each of the relay nodes including a first radio interface configurable to relay traffic to a parent relay node and a second dual purpose radio interface configurable to both relay traffic from the child relay node and to communicate with a client node that is not a relay node, and at least one of the relay nodes is configured in the first configuration to relay traffic from a child relay node to a parent relay node;

b) determining that a first one of the plurality of relay nodes in the wireless mesh network requires a channel selection change;

c) dynamically selecting a second one of the plurality of relay nodes in the wireless mesh network to form a parent-child relationship with the first relay node; and

d) making a channel selection change;

wherein prior to being dynamically selected, the second relay node was a sibling node of the first relay node; and

making a channel selection includes making a channel selection change to meet a performance requirement.

13. A computer program product as recited in claim 12, wherein the second node is selected to be a parent node of the first node.

14. A computer program product as recited in claim 12, wherein the second node is selected to be a child node of the first node.

15. A computer program product as recited in claim 12, wherein making a channel selection includes making a channel selection change to meet a latency requirement.

16. A computer program product as recited in claim 12, wherein making a channel selection includes making a channel selection change to meet a throughput requirement.

17. A computer program product as recited in claim 12, wherein determining that the first node requires a channel selection change includes determining that the channel selection change is required due to a performance requirement change.

18. A computer program product as recited in claim 12, wherein determining that the first node requires a channel selection change includes determining that the channel selection change is required due to congestion.

19. A computer program product as recited in claim 12, wherein the channel selection change is made based on network topology.

20. A computer program product as recited in claim 12, the computer program product further comprising computer instructions for repeating b)-d).

21. A computer program product as recited in claim 12, the computer program product further comprising computer instructions for receiving a monitoring signal that includes information about available nodes from which the second node is selected.