Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods relating to wireless communication mesh networks. In one aspect, the disclosed systems and methods may involve (1) a preexisting fiber network associated with a geographical area that includes buildings, where the preexisting fiber network comprises preexisting fiber links, (2) a first fiber link that is spliced into a given one of the preexisting fiber links coupled to the preexisting fiber network at a given location that was identified as being convenient for extending the preexisting fiber network, (3) a second fiber link that is deployed between the given location and a given building that is closest to the given location, where the given building is configured to serve as a seed node of a wireless communication mesh network that has backhaul connectivity through the preexisting fiber network, and (4) one or more point-to-point or point-to-multipoint communication links that originate from the seed node.

Abstract: A given wireless communication node of a wireless mesh network may include at least one processing unit and a plurality of radio modules, where at least one given radio module of the plurality of radio modules is capable of operating in a temporary network-sensing mode in which the given radio module gathers information about any other wireless communication node of the wireless mesh network that is sensed within the given wireless communication node's surrounding area by scanning for radio-frequency signals being emitted by any other radio module within at least a portion of the given wireless communication node's surrounding area while an antenna azimuth of the given radio module is being rotated.

Abstract: A wireless communication node within a mesh-based communication system includes wireless mesh equipment that is configured to establish and communicate over one or more bi-directional wireless links with one or more other wireless communication nodes of the mesh-based communication system. The wireless communication node further includes a multi-tier storage architecture that is configured to store data at the wireless communication node. The multi-tier storage architecture includes at least (i) a first tier of one or more storage units that is designated for storage of a first class of data, and (ii) a second tier of one or more storage units that is designated for storage of a second class of data that differs from the first class of data.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a wireless mesh network comprised of ultra-high-capacity nodes that are capable of establishing ultra-high-capacity links (e.g., point-to-point or point-to-multipoint bi-directional communication links) using a millimeter wave spectrum, including but not limited to 28 Ghz, 39 Ghz, 37/42 Ghz, 60 Ghz (including V band), or E-band frequencies, as examples. The higher capacity and/or extended range of these ultra-high-capacity nodes/links may be achieved via various advanced signal processing techniques. Further, these ultra-high-capacity nodes/links may be used in conjunction with other types of point-to-point and/or point-to-multipoint links to build a multi-layer wireless mesh network.

Abstract: In a wireless mesh network comprising wireless communication nodes that are interconnected via wireless point-to-point and/or wireless point-to-multipoint links, at least some of the wireless communication nodes may additionally be installed with equipment that enables them to operate as blockchain nodes within a blockchain network, such as a computing system comprising hardware and software for operating as part of the blockchain network. This architecture enables such wireless communication nodes to serve a dual purpose of delivering both mesh-based applications and/or services to users, such as high-speed internet, as well as blockchain-based applications and/or services to users. For example, such wireless communication nodes may function to provide distributed, blockchain-based platforms for content storage (e.g., blockchain-based databases or distributed file storage platforms), content distribution, social media, gaming, and/or virtual experiences, among other possibilities.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a first wireless communication node comprising a first communication module that includes a first baseband unit configured to handle baseband processing for the first communication module, a first RF unit configured to define a frequency range of radio signals for the first communication module, and a first antenna unit configured to generate a first extremely-narrow beam that facilitates exchange of radio signals with at least one other wireless communication node. The first wireless communication node may also comprise a second communication module that includes a second baseband unit configured to handle baseband processing for the second communication module, a second RF unit configured to define a frequency range of radio signals for the second communication module, and a second antenna unit configured to generate a second extremely-narrow beam that facilitates exchange of radio signals with at least one other wireless communication node.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system comprising a set of wireless communication nodes that are configured to operate as part of a wireless mesh network. Each respective wireless communication node may be directly coupled to at least one other wireless communication node via a respective short-hop wireless link, and at least a first pair of wireless nodes may be both (a) indirectly coupled to one another via a first communication path that comprises one or more intermediary wireless communication nodes and two or more short-hop wireless links and (b) directly coupled to one another via a first long-hop wireless link that provides a second communication path between the first pair of wireless communication nodes having a lesser number of hops than the first communication path. A fiber access point may be directly coupled to a first wireless communication node of the set of wireless communication nodes.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods that relate to wireless communication mesh network design and operation.

Abstract: A wireless communication node of a wireless communication system may include a wireless communication module that is configured to communicate with a satellite (e.g., a low earth orbit satellite) and a mounting unit for mounting the wireless communication module at a ground-based installation site, where the mounting unit is configured to mechanically rotate the wireless communication module in response to receiving a command signal. Further, in at least some implementations, the wireless communication module may have electronic beamsteering capability.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an architecture for an edge computing platform based on an underlying wireless mesh network. The architecture includes nodes installed with equipment for operating as part of a wireless mesh network, including (1) a first tier of one or more Point of Presence (PoP) node, (2) a second tier of one or more seed nodes that are each directly connected to at least one PoP node via a PoP-to-seed wireless link, and (3) a third tier of one or more anchor nodes that are each connected to at least one seed node either (i) directly via a seed-to-anchor wireless link or (ii) indirectly via one or more intermediate anchor nodes, one or more anchor-to-anchor wireless links, and one seed-to-anchor wireless link, where at least one node in each of these tiers is further installed with equipment for operating as part of an edge computing platform.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods relating to wireless communication mesh networks. In one aspect, the disclosed systems and methods may involve (1) a preexisting fiber network associated with a geographical area that includes buildings, where the preexisting fiber network comprises preexisting fiber links, (2) a first fiber link that is spliced into a given one of the preexisting fiber links coupled to the preexisting fiber network at a given location that was identified as being convenient for extending the preexisting fiber network, (3) a second fiber link that is deployed between the given location and a given building that is closest to the given location, where the given building is configured to serve as a seed node of a wireless communication mesh network that has backhaul connectivity through the preexisting fiber network, and (4) one or more point-to-point or point-to-multipoint communication links that originate from the seed node.

Abstract: A radio module for a wireless communication node comprises (i) a phased antenna array comprising a first set of antenna elements having a first polarization and a second set of antenna elements having a second polarization, (ii) a radio frequency (RF) module comprising a plurality of RF chains that are configured to feed the first and second sets of antenna elements in the phased antenna array, and (iii) a control unit that is configured to control an activation state of each antenna element in the phased antenna array. The radio module further comprises at least one beam narrowing module that is configured to (i) receive signals emitted by any active antenna element in the phased antenna array and (ii) consolidate the received signals into a respective narrow beam composite signal.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a wireless mesh network comprised of ultra-high-capacity nodes that are capable of establishing ultra-high-capacity links (e.g., point-to-point or point-to-multipoint bi-directional communication links) using a millimeter wave spectrum, including but not limited to 28 Ghz, 39 Ghz, 37/42 Ghz, 60 Ghz (including V band), or E-band frequencies, as examples. The higher capacity and/or extended range of these ultra-high-capacity nodes/links may be achieved via various advanced signal processing techniques. Further, these ultra-high-capacity nodes/links may be used in conjunction with other types of point-to-point and/or point-to-multipoint links to build a multi-layer wireless mesh network.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system comprising a set of wireless communication nodes that are configured to operate as part of a wireless mesh network. Each respective wireless communication node may be directly coupled to at least one other wireless communication node via a respective short-hop wireless link, and at least a first pair of wireless nodes may be both (a) indirectly coupled to one another via a first communication path that comprises one or more intermediary wireless communication nodes and two or more short-hop wireless links and (b) directly coupled to one another via a first long-hop wireless link that provides a second communication path between the first pair of wireless communication nodes having a lesser number of hops than the first communication path. A fiber access point may be directly coupled to a first wireless communication node of the set of wireless communication nodes.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods related to wireless communication mesh network design, installation, and deployment. In one aspect, a wireless communication node may be located at a building to include one or more antenna mounts, one or more wireless communication radios mounted on the one or more antenna mounts, and a portable power supply coupled to each of the one or more wireless communication radios via a respective cable, where the portable power supply is configured to provide power to each of the one or more wireless communication radios. In another aspect, a wireless communication node located at a building may include a coaxial interface coupled to a power supply installed at the building via a pre-existing cable for a satellite dish, where the coaxial interface may receive power from the power supply via the pre-existing cable and supply the received power to one or more wireless communication radios.

Abstract: An example mounting apparatus for a wireless communication node may comprise: a first weighting-element enclosure having a first set of connectors that extend from the first weighting-element enclosure; a second weighting-element enclosure having a second set of connectors that extend from the second weighting-element enclosure, and wherein the first weighting-element enclosure is connected to the second weighting-element enclosure via two joints that are disposed between the first set of connectors and the second set of connectors; a post that is affixed to either the first weighting-element enclosure or the second weighting-element enclosure; one or more communication-equipment enclosures that are each attached to the post and are each adapted to house respective equipment for the wireless communication node; and at least a first support strut that is connected between the post and a first one of the two joints disposed between the first weighting-element enclosure and the second weighting-element enclosure

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a first wireless communication node comprising a first communication module that includes a first baseband unit configured to handle baseband processing for the first communication module, a first RF unit configured to define a frequency range of radio signals for the first communication module, and a first antenna unit configured to generate a first extremely-narrow beam that facilitates exchange of radio signals with at least one other wireless communication node. The first wireless communication node may also comprise a second communication module that includes a second baseband unit configured to handle baseband processing for the second communication module, a second RF unit configured to define a frequency range of radio signals for the second communication module, and a second antenna unit configured to generate a second extremely-narrow beam that facilitates exchange of radio signals with at least one other wireless communication node.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an architecture for an edge computing platform based on an underlying wireless mesh network. The architecture includes nodes installed with equipment for operating as part of a wireless mesh network, including (1) a first tier of one or more Point of Presence (PoP) node, (2) a second tier of one or more seed nodes that are each directly connected to at least one PoP node via a PoP-to-seed wireless link, and (3) a third tier of one or more anchor nodes that are each connected to at least one seed node either (i) directly via a seed-to-anchor wireless link or (ii) indirectly via one or more intermediate anchor nodes, one or more anchor-to-anchor wireless links, and one seed-to-anchor wireless link, where at least one node in each of these tiers is further installed with equipment for operating as part of an edge computing platform.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system comprising a set of wireless communication nodes that are configured to operate as part of a wireless mesh network. Each respective wireless communication node may be directly coupled to at least one other wireless communication node via a respective short-hop wireless link, and at least a first pair of wireless nodes may be both (a) indirectly coupled to one another via a first communication path that comprises one or more intermediary wireless communication nodes and two or more short-hop wireless links and (b) directly coupled to one another via a first long-hop wireless link that provides a second communication path between the first pair of wireless communication nodes having a lesser number of hops than the first communication path. A fiber access point may be directly coupled to a first wireless communication node of the set of wireless communication nodes.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a wireless communication node that includes (1) at least one small cell sub-node that is configured to communicate with multiple CPE sub-nodes outside of the wireless communication node via multiple first wide-beam-width communication links and (2) at least one CPE sub-node that is configured to communicate with one small cell sub-node outside of the wireless communication node via a second wide-beam-width communication link, where the at least one small cell sub-node and the at least one CPE communication sub-node are housed within a single enclosure. In some implementations, the wireless communication node may also support multiple carriers operating at different frequencies.