Method of call routing and connection

• US 7,916,648 B2
• Filed: 09/11/2007
• Issued: 03/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: JSDQ Mesh Technologies LLC
• Original Assignee: JSDQ One, LLC
• Inventors: Schloemer, Jerry R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Eng, George
• Assistant Examiner(s): KIM, WESLEY LEO
• Application Number:
  US11/900,620
• Publication Number:
  US 20080220785A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,295 Days
• Field of Search: 455/445, 455/446, 455/11.1, 455/62, 455/422, 455/501, 455/315, 455/332, 455/229, 455/238, 370/315, 370/332, 370/229, 370/238, 370/338
• US Class Current: 370/238
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/26 at least one of which is mobile
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/10 based on available power or energy
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/205 using topographical information, e.g. hills, high rise buildings

Abstract

A method of radio communications and routing and connection in a mobile radio system consisting of the steps of providing nodes for transmitting and receiving signals wherein the nodes are positioned in a free form fashion within a defined area, and the routing of a communication is determined based on selecting the most desirable and normally the shortest path between the communication source and the destination drop.

Claims

1. A radio communications system comprising individual nodes capable of distribution arbitrarily relative to each other, wherein a plurality of said nodes can be assembled into at least one radio communication route between an originating node and a destination node, each node of at least some of said nodes in said route comprising:

a transmitter for transmitting radio signals used to establish radio links with other said nodes and a receiver for receiving said radio signals directly from other said nodes without regard to the relative location of said nodes transmitting and receiving said signals, wherein at least some of said received radio signals include associated routing messages having content (i) identifying at least one preferred multi-link route segment to a different said node and (ii) including at least one value of a radio parameter of said radio signals associated with said radio links in said route segment;

a measuring device for measuring values of said radio parameter associated with at least some of said received radio signals;

a storage device for storing said measured values of said radio parameter and said content of said routing messages included in said radio signals associated with at least some of said measured values; and

a computer for using said stored measured and received values of said radio parameter to select from said storage device a said routing message associated with a preferred multi-link route segment between another said node transmitting said routing message and said different node identified in said routing message and for using said selected routing message to generate a routing message for transmission in a radio signal from said node, said transmitted routing message identifying said node and said different node, wherein said computers in said nodes use said selected routing messages to assemble said radio communication route using at least one said preferred multi-link route segment, said route being assembled by said computers in said nodes independently of any computer separate from said nodes in said route.

2. A system as in claim 1, wherein said computers use said radio parameter to assemble an optimum said radio communication route.

3. A system as in claim 1, wherein said computers use said radio parameter to assemble said radio links into multiple optimum radio communication routes, each having an originating node and a destination node.

4. A system as in claim 3, wherein said computers assemble said optimum routes without necessarily including the same said node in any two said routes.

5. A system as in claim 4, wherein said measuring device includes circuitry for detecting the strength of said radio signals received from said other nodes, said radio parameter being said signal strength.

6. A system as in claim 5, wherein no said radio link is established between a pair of said nodes unless said signal strength exceeds a predetermined minimum threshold.

7. A system as in claim 1, wherein said measuring device includes circuitry for detecting the strength of said radio signals received from said other nodes, said radio parameter being said signal strength.

8. A system as in claim 7, wherein no said radio link is established between a pair of said nodes unless said signal strength exceeds a predetermined minimum threshold.

9. A system as in claim 1, wherein said radio signals including said routing messages are transmitted by each said node in a separate time slot.

10. A system as in claim 1, wherein said computer further uses the number of said radio links in said route segment to select said transmitted routing message.

11. A radio communications system comprising individual nodes capable of distribution arbitrarily relative to each other, wherein a plurality of said nodes can be assembled into at least one radio communication route between an originating node and a destination node, each node of at least some of said nodes in said route comprising:

a transmitter for transmitting radio signals used to establish radio links with other said nodes and a receiver for receiving said radio signals from other said nodes without regard to the relative location of said nodes, wherein at least some of said received radio signals include associated routing messages having content (i) identifying at least one preferred multi-link route segment to a different said node and (ii) including at least one value of a radio parameter of said radio signals associated with said radio links in said route segment;

a measuring device for measuring values of said radio parameter associated with at least some of said received radio signals;

a storage device for storing said measured values of said radio parameter and said content of said routing messages included in said radio signals associated with at least some of said measured values; and

a computer for using said stored measured and received values of said radio parameter to select from said storage device a said routing message associated with a preferred multi-link route segment between another said node transmitting said routing message and said different node identified in said routing message and for using said selected routing message to generate a routing message for transmission in a radio signal from said node, said transmitted routing message identifying said node and said different node, wherein;

said computers in said nodes use said selected routing messages to assemble said radio communication route using at least one said preferred multi-link route segment, said route being assembled by said computers in said nodes independently of any computer separate from said nodes in said route;

said receivers include call receiving circuitry for accepting external radio communications from a source in addition to other said nodes, and said transmitters include call transmitting circuitry for transmitting said external radio communications to successive nodes along said route to said destination node; and

a first said route includes a first originating node for receiving a said external radio communication and at least two other said nodes, said computers in said other nodes including hand-off circuitry for (a) monitoring said external radio communications to determine whether to terminate reception of an external radio communication at said first originating node, (b) selecting a second originating node for receiving said external radio communication, wherein said second originating node is in a second said route that comprises a number of radio links to said destination node that is different from the number of radio links from said first originating node to said destination node, and (c) terminating reception of said external radio communication at said first originating node and initiating reception thereof at said second originating node.

12. A radio communications system comprising individual nodes capable of distribution arbitrarily relative to each other, wherein a plurality of said nodes can be assembled into at least one radio communication route between an originating node and a destination node, each node of at least some of said nodes in said route comprising:

a transmitter for transmitting radio signals used to establish radio links with other said nodes and a receiver for receiving said radio signals from other said nodes without regard to the relative location of said nodes, wherein at least some of said received radio signals include associated routing messages having content (i) identifying at least one preferred multi-link route segment to a different said node and (ii) including at least one value of a radio parameter of said radio signals associated with said radio links in said route segments;

a measuring device for measuring values of said radio parameter associated with at least some of said received radio signals;

a storage device for storing said measured values of said radio parameter and said content of said routing messages included in said radio signals associated with at least some of said measured values; and

a computer for using said stored measured and received values of said radio parameter to select from said storage device a said routing message associated with a preferred multi-link route segment between another said node transmitting said routing message and said different node identified in said routing message and for using said selected routing message to generate a routing message for transmission in a radio signal from said node, said transmitted routing message identifying said node and said different node, wherein;

said computers in said nodes use said selected routing messages to assemble said radio communication route using at least one said preferred multi-link route segment, said route being assembled by said computers in said nodes independently of any computer separate from said nodes in said route;

at least some of said routing messages identify said nodes as being one of at least two different categories that do not interfere when transmitting; and

at least one of said radio links is established between different said categories of said nodes.

13. A system as in claim 12, wherein at least two of said radio links are established between different said categories of said nodes.

14. A radio communications system comprising individual nodes capable of distribution arbitrarily relative to each other, wherein a plurality of said nodes can be assembled into at least one radio communication route between an originating node and a destination node, each node of at least some of said nodes in said route comprising:

a transmitter for transmitting radio signals used to establish radio links with other said nodes and a receiver for receiving said radio signals directly from other said nodes without regard to the relative location of said nodes transmitting and receiving said signals, wherein at least some of said received radio signals include associated routing messages having content (i) identifying at least one preferred multi-link route segment to a different said node and (ii) including at least one value of a parameter indicating the quality of said radio signals associated with said radio links in said route segment;

a measuring device for measuring values of said parameter associated with at least some of said received radio signals;

a storage device for storing said measured values of said parameter and said content of said routing messages included in said radio signals associated with at least some of said measured values; and

a computer for using said stored measured and received values of said parameter to select from said storage device a said routing message associated with a preferred multi-link route segment between another said node transmitting said routing message and said different node identified in said routing message and for using said selected routing message to generate a routing message for transmission in a radio signal from said node, said transmitted routing message identifying said node and said different node, wherein said computers in said nodes use said selected routing messages to assemble said radio communication route using at least one said preferred multi-link route segment, said route being assembled by said computers in said nodes independently of any computer separate from said nodes in said route.

18. A system as in claim 14, wherein said computer further uses the number of said radio links in said route segment to select said transmitted routing message.

15. A system as in 14, wherein said computers assemble said radio links into multiple radio communication routes, each having an originating node and a destination node.

16. A system as in claim 15, wherein said computers assemble said routes without necessarily including the same said node in any two said routes.

17. A system as in claim 16, wherein no said radio link is established between a pair of said nodes unless said quality exceeds a predetermined minimum value.

19. A radio communications system comprising individual nodes capable of distribution arbitrarily relative to each other, wherein a plurality of said nodes can be assembled into at least one radio communication route between an originating node and a destination node, each node of at least some of said nodes in said route comprising:

a transmitter for transmitting radio signals used to establish radio links with other said nodes and a receiver for receiving said radio signals from other said nodes without regard to the relative location of said nodes, wherein at least some of said received radio signals include associated routing messages having content (i) identifying at least one preferred multi-link route segment to a different said node and (ii) including at least one value of a parameter indicating the quality of said radio signals associated with said radio links in said route segment;

a measuring device for measuring values of said parameter associated with at least some of said received radio signals;

a storage device for storing said measured values of said parameter and said content of said routing messages included in said radio signals associated with at least some of said measured values; and

a computer for using said stored measured and received values of said parameter to select from said storage device a said routing message associated with a preferred multi-link route segment between another said node transmitting said routing message and said different node identified in said routing message and for using said selected routing message to generate a routing message for transmission in a radio signal from said node, said transmitted routing message identifying said node and said different node, wherein;

said computers in said nodes use said selected routing messages to assemble said radio communication route using at least one said preferred multi-link route segment, said route being assembled by said computers in said nodes independently of any computer separate from said nodes in said route;

said receivers include call receiving circuitry for accepting external radio communications from a source in addition to other said nodes, and said transmitters include call transmitting circuitry for transmitting external radio communications to successive nodes along said route to said destination node; and

a first said route includes a first originating node for receiving a said external radio communication and at least two other said nodes, said computers in said other nodes including hand-off circuitry for (a) monitoring said external radio communications to determine whether to terminate reception of an external radio communication at said first originating node, (b) selecting a second originating node for receiving said external radio communication, wherein said second originating node is in a second said route that comprises a number of radio links to said destination node that is different from the number of radio links from said first originating node to said destination node, and (c) terminating reception of said external radio communication at said first originating node and initiating reception thereof at said second originating node.

20. A radio communications system comprising individual nodes capable of distribution arbitrarily relative to each other, wherein said system includes a plurality of nodes comprising:

a transmitter for transmitting radio signals and a receiver for receiving said radio signals from other said nodes, at least some of said radio signals including routing messages identifying said node as being one of at least two different categories that do not interfere when transmitting;

detecting circuitry for detecting the signal strength of said radio signals received from said other nodes;

circuitry for using said radio signals to establish radio links between plural pairs of said nodes of different said categories; and

routing circuitry for assembling selected said radio links into a radio communication route between an originating node and a destination node, said route being assembled by said routing circuitry in said nodes independently of any computer separate from said nodes in said route, and said route including plural said radio links consisting of links between different categories of said nodes, wherein each said radio link of said route comprises a radio signal with a higher signal strength than the minimum signal strength of said radio signal comprising any said radio link in any other potential radio communication route between said originating node and said destination node.

21. A radio communications system comprising individual nodes capable of distribution arbitrarily relative to each other, wherein a plurality of said nodes can be assembled into at least one radio communication route between an originating node and a destination node, and wherein:

each node of at least some of said nodes in said route comprises (a) a transmitter for transmitting radio signals used to establish radio links with other said nodes and a receiver for receiving said radio signals from other said nodes without regard to the relative location of said nodes, wherein at least some of said received radio signals include associated routing messages, (b) a storage device for storing said routing messages associated with at least some of said received radio signals, and (c) a computer for selecting from said storage device a said routing message associated with a preferred route segment between another said node transmitting said radio signal and a different said node identified in said routing message and for using said selected routing message to generate a routing message for transmission in a radio signal from said node, wherein said computers in said nodes use said selected routing messages to assemble said radio communication route, said route being assembled by said computers in said nodes independently of any computer separate from said nodes in said route;

said receivers include call receiving circuitry for accepting external radio communications from a source in addition to other said nodes, and said transmitters include call transmitting circuitry for transmitting said external radio communications to successive nodes along said route to said destination node; and

a first said route includes a first originating node for receiving a said external radio signal and at least two other said nodes, said computers in said other nodes including hand-off circuitry for (a) monitoring said external radio communications to determine whether to terminate reception of an external radio communication at said first originating node, (b) selecting a second originating node for receiving said external radio communication, wherein said second originating node is in a second said route that comprises a number of radio links to said destination node that is different from the number of radio links from said first originating node to said destination node, and (c) terminating reception of said external radio communication at said first originating node and initiating reception thereof at said second originating node.

22. A system as in claim 21, wherein said radio parameter is the strength of said radio signals.

23. A system as in claim 22, wherein no said radio link is established between a pair of said nodes unless said signal strength exceeds a predetermined minimum threshold.

24. A system as in claim 21, wherein:

at least some of said routing messages identify said nodes as being one of at least two different categories that do not interfere when transmitting; and

at least one of said radio links is established between different said categories of said nodes.

25. A method of providing a radio communication route among individual nodes capable of distribution arbitrarily relative to each other, the method comprising:

a) establishing radio links between pairs of said nodes using radio signals transmitted from one said node and received by other said nodes without regard to the relative locations of said nodes of said pair;

b) transmitting a first said radio signal from a first said node, said radio signal including a first node identifier;

c) receiving said first radio signal at a plurality of second said nodes, wherein at least some of said second nodes each measures a value of a radio parameter of said received first radio signal;

d) transmitting second radio signals from said second nodes, wherein a plurality of individual said second nodes each transmits a said second radio signal with content including said first node identifier, said measured value of said radio parameter, and a second node identifier;

e) receiving said second radio signals at a plurality of third said nodes, wherein a plurality of individual said third nodes each measures a value of a radio parameter of at least some of said second radio signals received at said third node;

f) storing in at least some of said third nodes said measured values of said radio parameters of said received second radio signal and said content of said received second radio signals;

g) using said stored value of said radio parameter received in said second radio signal and said measured value of said actual radio parameter of said received second radio signal to determine a preferred multi-link route segment between said third node and said first node;

h) generating a routing message associated with an individual said third node, each said routing message identifying said preferred multi-link route segment;

i) transmitting third radio signals from said third nodes, wherein a plurality of individual said third nodes each transmits a said third radio signal including said routing message associated with said third node;

j) assembling a radio communication route between an originating node and a destination node, said route being assembled by computers in a plurality of said nodes independently of any computer separate from said nodes in said route, and said route including at least one said preferred multi-link route segment;

k) using call receiving circuitry in said nodes to accept an external radio communication from a source in addition to other said nodes;

l) transmitting said external radio communication to successive nodes along said route to said destination node;

m) monitoring said external radio communications to determine whether to terminate reception of an external radio communication at a first originating node in a first said route;

n) selecting a second originating node for receiving said external radio communication, wherein said second originating node is in a second said route that comprises a number of radio links to said destination node that is different from the number of radio links from said first originating node to said destination node; and

o) terminating reception of said external radio communication at said first originating node and initiating reception thereof at said second originating node.

26. A method as in claim 25, wherein said radio parameter is the strength of said radio signals.

27. A method as in claim 26, wherein no said radio link is established between a pair of said nodes unless the strength of said radio signals exceeds a predetermined minimum threshold.

28. A method of providing a radio communication route among individual nodes capable of distribution arbitrarily relative to each other, the method comprising:

a) establishing radio links between pairs of said nodes using radio signals transmitted from one said node and received by other said nodes without regard to the relative locations of said nodes of said pair;

b) transmitting a first said radio signal from a first said node, said radio signal including a first node identifier;

c) receiving said first radio signal at a plurality of second said nodes, wherein at least some of said second nodes each measures a value of a radio parameter of said received first radio signal;

d) transmitting second radio signals from said second nodes, wherein a plurality of individual said second nodes each transmits a said second radio signal with content including said first node identifier, said measured value of said radio parameter, and a second node identifier;

e) receiving said second radio signals at a plurality of third said nodes, wherein a plurality of individual said third nodes each measures a value of a radio parameter of at least some of said second radio signals received at said third node;

f) storing in at least some of said third nodes said measured values of said radio parameters of said received second radio signal and said content of said received second radio signals;

g) using said stored value of said radio parameter received in said second radio signal and said measured value of said actual radio parameter of said received second radio signal to determine a preferred multi-link route segment between said third node and said first node;

h) generating a routing message associated with an individual said third node, each said routing message identifying said preferred multi-link route segment;

i) transmitting third radio signals from said third nodes, wherein a plurality of individual said third nodes each transmits a said third radio signal including said routing message associated with said third node;

j) assembling a radio communication route between an originating node and a destination node, said route being assembled by computers in a plurality of said nodes independently of any computer separate from said nodes in said route, and said route including at least one said preferred multi-link route segment, wherein;

at least some of said radio messages identify said nodes as being one of at least two different categories that do not interfere when transmitting; and

at least some of said radio links are established between different categories of said nodes.

29. A method of providing a radio communication route among individual nodes capable of distribution arbitrarily relative to each other, the method comprising:

a) establishing radio links between pairs of said nodes using radio signals transmitted from one said node and received directly by other said nodes without regard to the relative locations of said nodes of said pair transmitting and receiving said signals;

b) measuring values of a radio parameter of radio signals received by a said node;

c) transmitting from at least two of said nodes radio signals with associated routing messages, wherein said routing message from each of said two nodes identifies a multi-link route segment to another said node and includes a value of a radio parameter related to a condition of said route segment;

d) selecting at a said node receiving said radio signals a preferred said multi-link route segment, wherein said selection is based on the measured values of said radio parameter of said received radio signals and the values of said radio parameter included with said routing messages in said received radio signals;

e) transmitting from said selecting node a radio signal with a routing message identifying said selecting node and said preferred route segment; and

f) assembling a radio communication route between an originating node and a destination node, said route being assembled by computers in a plurality of said nodes independently of any computer separate from said nodes in said route, and said route including at least one said preferred multi-link route segment.

30. A method as in claim 29, wherein said radio signals including said routing messages are transmitted by said nodes in separate time slots.

31. A wireless communications system comprising individual routing nodes distributed to form a mesh of said routing nodes throughout an area covered by said system, wherein a plurality of said routing nodes can be assembled into at least one wireless communication route between an originating routing node and a destination routing node, each routing node of at least some of said routing nodes in said route comprising:

a transmitter for transmitting wireless signals used to establish wireless links with other said routing nodes and a receiver for receiving said wireless signals from other said routing nodes without regard to the relative location of said routing nodes, wherein at least some of said received wireless signals include associated routing messages with content (i) identifying at least one preferred multi-link route segment to a different said routing node and (ii) including at least one value of a parameter indicating the quality of said wireless signals associated with said wireless links in said route segment;

a measuring device for measuring values of said parameter associated with at least some of said received radio signals;

a storage device for storing said measured values of said parameter and said content of said routing messages included in said wireless signals associated with at least some of said measured values; and

a computer for using said stored measured and received values of said parameter to select from said storage device a said routing message associated with a preferred multi-link route segment between another said routing node transmitting said routing message and said different routing node identified in said routing message and for using said selected routing message to generate a routing message for transmission in a wireless signal from said routing node, said transmitted routing message identifying said routing node and said different routing node, wherein;

said computers in said routing nodes use said selected routing messages to assemble said wireless communication route using at least one said preferred multi-link route segment;

said receivers include call receiving circuitry for accepting external wireless communications from a source in addition to other said routing nodes, and said transmitters include call transmitting circuitry for transmitting said external wireless communications to successive nodes along said wireless communications route to said destination routing node; and

a first said route includes a first originating routing node for receiving a said external wireless communication and at least two other said routing nodes, said computers in said other routing nodes including hand-off circuitry for (a) monitoring said external wireless communications to determine whether to terminate reception of an external wireless communication at said first originating routing node, (b) selecting a second originating routing node for receiving said external wireless communication, wherein said second originating routing node is in a second said route that comprises a number of wireless links to said destination routing node that is different from the number of wireless links from said first originating routing node to said destination routing node, and (c) terminating reception of said external wireless communication at said first originating routing node and initiating reception thereof at said second originating routing node.

32. A system as in claim 31, wherein said computers assemble said wireless links into multiple wireless communication routes, each having a different originating routing node or a different destination routing node.

33. A system as in claim 31, wherein said quality is the signal strength of said wireless signals.

34. A routing node for use in a wireless communications system having a plurality of said routing nodes distributed to form a mesh of said routing nodes throughout an area covered by said system, wherein a plurality of routing nodes can be assembled into at least one wireless communication route between an originating routing node and a destination routing node, said routing node comprising:

a transmitter for transmitting wireless signals used to establish wireless links with other said routing nodes and a receiver for receiving said wireless signals from other said routing nodes without regard to the relative location of said routing nodes, wherein at least some of said received wireless signals include associated routing messages with content (i) identifying at least one preferred multi-link route segment to a different said routing node and (ii) including at least one value of a parameter indicating the quality of said wireless signals associated with said wireless links in said route segment;

a measuring device for measuring values of said parameter associated with at least some of said received radio signals;

a storage device for storing said measured values of said parameter and said content of said routing messages included in said wireless signals associated with at least some of said measured values;

a computer for using said stored measured and received values of said parameter to select from said storage device a said routing message associated with a preferred multi-link route segment between another said routing node transmitting said routing message and said different routing node identified in said routing message and for using said selected routing message to generate a routing message for transmission in a wireless signal from said routing node, said transmitted routing message identifying said routing node and said different routing node, wherein said computers in said routing nodes use said selected routing messages to assemble said wireless communication route using at least one said preferred multi-link route segment; and

call receiving circuitry for accepting external wireless communications from a source in addition to other said routing nodes, and call transmitting circuitry for transmitting said external wireless communications to successive routing nodes along said wireless communication route to said destination routing node, wherein a first said route includes a first originating routing node for receiving a said external wireless communication and at least two other said routing nodes, said computers in said other routing nodes including hand-off circuitry for (a) monitoring said external wireless communications to determine whether to terminate reception of an external wireless communication at said first originating routing node, (b) selecting a second originating routing node for receiving said external wireless communication, wherein said second originating routing node is in a second said route that comprises a number of wireless links to said destination routing node that is different from the number of wireless links from said first originating routing node to said destination routing node, and (c) terminating reception of said external wireless communication at said first originating routing node and initiating reception thereof at said second originating routing node.

35. A routing node as in claim 34, wherein said quality is the signal strength of said wireless signals.

36. A method of creating a radio communications route comprising multiple radio links between a plurality of pairs of nodes capable of distribution arbitrarily relative to each other, the method comprising:

a) receiving at a said node least two radio signals including routing messages transmitted from other said nodes, said signals being received at said node directly from said nodes transmitting said signals without regard to the relative locations of said node receiving said signals and said nodes transmitting said signals, wherein said routing message from each said node has content (i) identifying at least one preferred multi-link route segment to another said node, (ii) including the number of said radio links in said route segment, and (iii) including at least one value of a radio parameter of radio signals associated with said radio links in said route segment;

b) measuring at said receiving node values of said radio parameter associated with at least some of said radio signals received by said receiving node;

c) storing at said receiving node said measured values of said radio parameter and said routing messages associated with said measured values;

d) selecting at a said node receiving said routing messages a preferred said route segment, wherein said selection is based on the measured values of said radio parameter of said received radio signals and the stored values of said radio parameter;

e) transmitting from said selecting node a routing message identifying said preferred route segment; and

f) assembling a radio communication route between an originating node and a destination node.

37. A method as in claim 36, wherein at least some of said received routing messages include route segments comprising a single said radio link.

38. A method as in claim 37, wherein said selection of said preferred route segment further uses the number of said radio links in said route segment.

39. A method as in claim 37, wherein said radio signals including said routing messages are transmitted by said nodes in separate time slots.

40. A method as in claim 36, wherein said selection of said preferred route segment further uses the number of said radio links in said route segment.

41. A method as in claim 36, wherein said radio signals including said routing messages are transmitted by said nodes in separate time slots.

42. A radio communications system comprising individual nodes capable of distribution arbitrarily relative to each other, wherein each node of at least some of said nodes in said route comprises:

a transmitter for transmitting radio signals and a receiver for receiving said radio signals from other said nodes, at least some of said radio signals including routing messages identifying said node as being one of at least two different categories that do not interfere when transmitting;

detecting circuitry for detecting the signal strength of said radio signals received from said other nodes;

circuitry for using said radio signals to establish radio links between plural pairs of said nodes of different said categories; and

routing circuitry for assembling selected said radio links into a radio communication route between an originating node and a destination node, said route including plural said radio links consisting of links between different categories of said nodes.