Methods and improvements for joining wireless mesh networks

• US 8,000,334 B2
• Filed: 01/11/2007
• Issued: 08/16/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sprint Spectrum LLC (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Spectrum LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Norris, James W., Titus, Jeremy G., Delker, Jason R., Everson, John M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gelin; Jean A
• Assistant Examiner(s): TAYLOR, NATHAN SCOTT
• Application Number:
  US11/652,912
• Publication Number:
  US 20080170549A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,678 Days
• Field of Search: 370/338, 370/331, 370/254, 370401-403, 455/522
• US Class Current: 370/401
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/0431 Key distribution or pre-distribution; Key agreement
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/12 using downlink control channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements

Abstract

Method and improvements for joining wireless mesh networks are provided. In one embodiment, a controller in each network receives a message from a node in its respective network, the message indicating that the respective nodes each received a signal from a node in the other network. Each controller, in response to receiving the respective messages, validates the other network, and responsively (a) directs its respective node to enter a bridging mode and (b) provides its respective node with bridging data that includes a security key for communications between the two nodes. The two nodes then associate with each other using the security key, allowing communications to pass between the two wireless mesh networks.

Claims

1. A method of joining a first wireless mesh network (“

first network”

) with a second wireless mesh network (“

second network”

), wherein the first network includes a first-network controller and a plurality of first-network nodes, and wherein the second network includes a second-network controller and a plurality of second-network nodes, the method comprising;

the first-network controller receiving from a given first-network node a first message, the first message indicating that the given first-network node received a first signal from a given second-network node;

responsive to receiving the first message, the first-network controller (i) validating the second network and (ii) responsive to validating the second network, (a) directing the given first-network node to enter a first bridging mode and (b) providing the given first-network node with first bridging data that includes a security key for communications between the given first-network node and the given second-network node;

the second-network controller receiving from the given second-network node a second message, the second message indicating that the given second-network node received a second signal from the given first-network node;

responsive to receiving the second message, the second-network controller (i) validating the first network and (ii) responsive to validating the first network, (a) directing the given second-network node to enter a second bridging mode and (b) providing the given second-network node with second bridging data that includes the security key; and

the given first-network node and the given second-network node associating with each other using the security key, thereby allowing communications to securely pass between the first network and the second network,

wherein the first-network controller maintains first peering data, wherein the first message comprises an identifier for the second network, and wherein the first-network controller validating the second network comprises the first-network controller determining that the first peering data includes the identifier for the second network, and

wherein the second-network controller maintains second peering data, wherein the second message comprises an identifier for the first network, and wherein the second-network controller validating the first network comprises the second-network controller determining that the second peering data includes the identifier for the first network.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first message comprises the first signal, and wherein the second message comprises the second signal.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first-network controller validating the second network comprises the first-network controller validating the second-network controller, and wherein the second-network controller validating the first network comprises the second-network controller validating the first-network controller.

4. The method of claim 3,

wherein the identifier for the second network comprises an identifier for the second-network controller, and wherein determining that the first peering data includes the identifier for the second network comprises determining that the first peering data includes the identifier for the second-network controller;

and

wherein the identifier for the first network comprises an identifier for the first-network controller, and wherein determining that the second peering data includes the identifier for the first network comprises determining that the second peering data includes the identifier for the first-network controller.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first bridging data comprises an indication of a channel for the given first-network node to use for communications with the given second-network node, and wherein the second bridging data comprises the indication of the channel for the given second-network node to use for communications with the given first-network node.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising communicating bearer data securely between the given first-network node and the given second-network node using the security key.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising exchanging address-resolution-protocol (“

ARP”

) messages between the given first-network node and the given second-network node.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first network is in communication with a first client device, and wherein the second network is in communication with a second client device, the method further comprising the first client device and the second client device communicating with each other over a communication path that includes the given first-network node and the given second-network node.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first network is in communication with a first client device, wherein the second network is in communication with a third network, the method further comprising the first client device communicating over the third network over a communication path that includes the given first-network node and the given second-network node.

10. A method of joining a first wireless mesh network (“

first network”

) with a second wireless mesh network (“

second network”

), wherein the first network includes a first-network controller and a plurality of first-network nodes, and wherein the second network includes a second-network controller and a plurality of second-network nodes, the method comprising;

the first-network controller receiving from a given first-network node a first message, the first message indicating that the given first-network node received a first signal from a given second-network node;

responsive to receiving the first message, the first-network controller (i) validating the second network and (ii) responsive to validating the second network, (a) directing the given first-network node to enter a first bridging mode and (b) providing the given first-network node with first bridging data that includes a security key for communications between the given first-network node and the given second-network node;

the second-network controller receiving from the given second-network node a second message, the second message indicating that the given second-network node received a second signal from the given first-network node;

responsive to receiving the second message, the second-network controller (i) validating the first network and (ii) responsive to validating the first network, (a) directing the given second-network node to enter a second bridging mode and (b) providing the given second-network node with second bridging data that includes the security key; and

the given first-network node and the given second-network node associating with each other using the security key, thereby allowing communications to securely pass between the first network and the second network,

wherein the given first-network node comprises a first client radio and a first backhaul radio, and wherein upon being directed by the first-network controller to enter the first bridging mode, the given first-network node responsively uses the first client radio to communicate with the given second-network node and uses the first backhaul radio to communicate with at least one of (i) at least one other first-network node and (ii) the first-network controller, and

wherein the given second-network node comprises a second client radio and a second backhaul radio, and wherein upon being directed by the second-network controller to enter the second bridging mode, the given second-network node responsively uses the second client radio to communicate with the given first-network node and uses the second backhaul radio to communicate with at least one of (i) at least one other second-network node and (ii) the second-network controller.

11. In a system comprising a first wireless mesh network (“

first network”

) and a second wireless mesh network (“

second network”

), wherein the first network includes a first-network controller and a plurality of first-network nodes, and wherein the second network includes a second-network controller and a plurality of second-network nodes, the improvement comprising;

first logic in the first-network controller, the first logic being executable to;

(i) in response to the first-network controller receiving from a given first-network node a first message, wherein the first message indicates that the given first-network node received a first signal from a given second-network node, validate the second network and (ii) in response to validating the second network, (a) direct the given first-network node to enter a first bridging mode and (b) provide the given first-network node with first bridging data that includes a security key for communications between the given first-network node and the given second-network node; and

second logic in the second-network controller, the second logic being executable to;

(i) in response to the second-network controller receiving from the given second-network node a second message, wherein the second message indicates that the given second-network node received a second signal from the given first-network node, validate the first network and (ii) in response to validating the first network, (a) direct the given second-network node to enter a second bridging mode and (b) provide the given second-network node with second bridging data that includes the security key,

wherein the first-network controller comprises first data storage, wherein the first data storage contains first peering data, wherein the first message comprises an identifier for the second network, and wherein the first logic is executable to validate the second network at least in part by determining that the first peering data includes the identifier for the second network, and

wherein the second-network controller comprises second data storage, wherein the second data storage contains second peering data, wherein the second message comprises an identifier for the first network, and wherein the second logic is executable to validate the first network at least in part by determining that the second peering data includes the identifier for the first network.

12. The improvement of claim 11, wherein:

the first-network controller comprises a first communication interface, wherein the first communication interface is operable to receive from the given first-network node the first message; and

the second-network controller comprises a second communication interface, wherein the second communication interface is operable to receive from the given second-network node the second message.

13. The improvement of claim 11, wherein:

the first-network controller comprises a first processor, and wherein the first logic comprises machine-language instructions stored in the first data storage and executable by the first processor; and

the second-network controller comprises a second processor, and wherein the second logic comprises machine-language instructions stored in the second data storage and executable by the second processor.

14. The improvement of claim 13,

wherein the identifier for the second network comprises an identifier for the second-network controller;

and

wherein the identifier for the first network comprises an identifier for the first-network controller.

15. The improvement of claim 13, wherein the first bridging data comprises an indication of a channel for the given first-network node to use for communications with the given second-network node, and wherein the second bridging data comprises the indication of the channel for the given second-network node to use for communications with the given first-network node.

16. The improvement of claim 11, wherein bearer data is communicated securely between the given first-network node and the given second-network node using the security key.

17. The improvement of claim 11, wherein address-resolution-protocol (“

ARP”

) messages are communicated between the given first-network node and the given second-network node.

18. The improvement of claim 11, wherein the first network is in communication with a first client device, wherein the second network is in communication with a second client device, and wherein the first client device and the second client device communicate with each other over a communication path that includes the given first-network node and the given second-network node.

19. The improvement of claim 11, wherein the first network is in communication with a first client device, wherein the second network is in communication with a third network, and wherein the first client device communicates over the third network over a communication path that includes the given first-network node and the given second-network node.

20. In a system comprising a first wireless mesh network (“

first network”

) and a second wireless mesh network (“

second network”

), wherein the first network includes a first-network controller and a plurality of first-network nodes, and wherein the second network includes a second-network controller and a plurality of second-network nodes, the improvement comprising;

first logic in the first-network controller, the first logic being executable to;

(i) in response to the first-network controller receiving from a given first-network node a first message, wherein the first message indicates that the given first-network node received a first signal from a given second-network node, validate the second network and (ii) in response to validating the second network, (a) direct the given first-network node to enter a first bridging mode and (b) provide the given first-network node with first bridging data that includes a security key for communications between the given first-network node and the given second-network node; and

second logic in the second-network controller, the second logic being executable to;

(i) in response to the second-network controller receiving from the given second-network node a second message, wherein the second message indicates that the given second-network node received a second signal from the given first-network node, validate the first network and (ii) in response to validating the first network, (a) direct the given second-network node to enter a second bridging mode and (b) provide the given second-network node with second bridging data that includes the security key,

wherein the given first-network node comprises a first client radio and a first backhaul radio, and wherein upon being directed by the first-network controller to enter the first bridging mode, the given first-network node responsively uses the first client radio to communicate with the given second-network node, and uses the first backhaul radio to communicate with at least one of (i) at least one other first-network node and (ii) the first-network controller, and

wherein the given second-network node comprises a second client radio and a second backhaul radio, and wherein upon being directed by the second-network controller to enter the second bridging mode, the given second first-network node responsively uses the second client radio to communicate with the given first-network node, and uses the second backhaul radio to communicate with at least one of (i) at least one other second-network node and (ii) the second-network controller.