Patents Assigned to MeshNetworks, Inc.
  • Patent number: 8787350
    Abstract: A system and method for increasing the capacity of a wireless network (100, 300) including a plurality of access points (APs) (106, 305) and a plurality of nodes (200), at least one of said nodes (200) and at least one of said APs (106, 305) including multiple radios (310), the method comprising: (i) determining the routing metrics to one of said APs through each radio interface that is common between one of the nodes and that AP; (ii) selecting the radio interface whose routing metrics meet a desired criteria for packet stream transmission between the at least one node and the AP; and (iii) transmitting at least one packet stream from the node to the AP through the selected radio interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Meshnetworks, Inc.
    Inventors: Avinash Joshi, Shyamal Ramachandran
  • Patent number: 8514861
    Abstract: Techniques are provided for providing information to a group of nodes over a medium. Before transmitting information to the group of nodes, a source can analyze factors to determine transmission reliability of a first transmission technique and a second transmission technique and generate an analysis result. Based on the result of this analysis, the source can select one of the first transmission technique and the second transmission technique for providing the information to the group of nodes over the medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: MeshNetworks, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles R. Barker, Jr., Avinash Joshi
  • Patent number: 8325653
    Abstract: A system and method for providing security to a wireless network by using a mobile node's location as a parameter for deciding if access is to be given to the node. The system and method employ access points, wireless routers and mobile nodes, each including at least one transceiver adapted to transmit and receive communication signals to and from other wireless routers, mobile nodes and other mobile access points. Each access point is connected to a network management system which allows enhanced network monitoring and control. Each network node includes technology which may determine an absolute node location containing latitude, longitude and altitude of a node, or a relative node location containing the distance and angle between nodes, or a combination of both absolute and relative location data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: MeshNetworks, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric A. Whitehill, Eric D. White
  • Patent number: 8180351
    Abstract: An ad-hoc, peer-to-peer radio access system for cellular communications systems using time division duplex as a way of maximizing the bits/hz/km2 for cellular systems. The network architecture of the ad-hoc system allows the radio access to be integrated with the fixed components of a conventional cellular system, PSTN or ISP. The objective is to make the system of the invention transparent to the features and services provided by the external network. The advantages of such a system to a cellular operator are that significantly less infrastructure is required, and that the RF spectrum is more efficiently utilized resulting in much lower building and operating costs. The system architecture is comprised of remote terminals, routers, gateways, and at least one gateway controller that interfaces the ad-hoc system to a cellular network system. The ad-hoc system of the invention allows for both voice and data transmissions and receptions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: MeshNetworks, Inc.
    Inventor: Peter J. Stanforth
  • Patent number: 8068428
    Abstract: A system and method for performing topology control in a wireless network (100). The system and method operate to enable a node (102-1) to determine the link cost of a link between itself and another node (102-2), based on the number of nodes (102, 106, 107) that would be affected by message transmission by the node (102) and the other node (102-2), and the number of nodes (102, 106, 107) that would be affected by message reception by the node (102-1) and the other node (102-2). The number of nodes (102, 106, 107) affected by the message transmission and message reception at the node (102-1) and the other node (102-2) is affected by the transmit power of the control messages sent by the node (102-1) and the other node (102-2). The node (102-1) further bases routing decisions on the calculated link costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: MeshNetworks, Inc.
    Inventors: Guenael T. Strutt, Sebnem Z. Ozer, Shyamal Ramachandran
  • Patent number: 8037159
    Abstract: A system and method for allowing network users to securely administer and deploy network nodes (102). These networks (100) may comprise wired and/or wireless connections. Examples would include wired networks (104) with shared infrastructure in an office building, as well as ad-hoc multi-hopping peer-to-peer network applications for the home. The system and method provides a key (130) that allows new nodes (102) and thus new devices (124, 126, 132) to gain access to a network (100) via an existing node (122) of that network (100).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: MeshNetworks, Inc.
    Inventor: Peter J. Stanforth
  • Patent number: 8014415
    Abstract: Techniques are provided for communicating a data stream in a wireless communication network. A source divides the data stream into a first data sub-stream and a second data sub-stream. The first data sub-stream can be modulated using a first modulation technique to generate a first modulated data sub-stream, and the second data sub-stream can be modulated using a second modulation technique to generate a second modulated data sub-stream. A destination receives the first data sub-stream over a first frequency band, and receives the second data sub-stream over a second frequency band. The destination demodulates the first data sub-stream using a first demodulation technique to generate a first demodulated data sub-stream, and demodulates the second data sub-stream using a second demodulation technique to generate a second demodulated data sub-stream. The destination then combines the first demodulated data sub-stream and the second demodulated data sub-stream to generate the data stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: MeshNetworks, Inc.
    Inventor: Pertti O. Alapuranen
  • Patent number: 7929968
    Abstract: A system and method for facilitating inter-frequency handoff of a mobile node (102) in a wireless communication network (100). The system and method permit a mobile node (102), equipped with a single receiver, to perform handoffs seamlessly from one infrastructure node (106-1) to another infrastructure node (106-2) without having to scan through multiple frequencies and without having to interrupt the active communication session.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: MeshNetworks, Inc.
    Inventors: Avinash Joshi, Shyamai Ramachandran
  • Patent number: 7920586
    Abstract: A system and method for transmitting packets in a network (100). A node (102, 106, 107) in the network (100) accesses uses one of a plurality of medium access techniques for transmitting packets on the network (100). The node (102, 106, 107) separates packets to be transmitted into classes based on at least one characteristic of the packets and selects one of the medium access techniques for each class of packets based on whether the medium access technique provides improved transmission efficiency for the at least one characteristic of the packets in the class. The node (102, 106, 107) transmits the packets in each respective class using the respective selected medium access technique.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: MeshNetworks, Inc.
    Inventors: Pertti O. Alapuranen, Avinash Joshi
  • Patent number: 7904945
    Abstract: A system and method for providing secure communication between nodes (102, 106, 107) in a wireless multihopping communication network (100). The system and method achieve secure communication in a multihopping wireless network (100) by, for example, providing a transport medium for transmission of multihopping authentication messages (400) by the infrastructure devices, such as intelligent access points (106) or wireless routers (107), and user devices, such as mobile nodes (102). The authentication messages (400) are used to verify the identity of a node (102, 107) to thus permit the node (102, 107) to communicate within the network (100). The system and method further use, for example, encryption techniques for protecting the content data packet (1000) traffic being transmitted the nodes (102, 106, 107) within the wireless network (100).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: MeshNetworks, Inc.
    Inventor: Heyun Zheng
  • Patent number: 7830842
    Abstract: A system and method for determining the mobility of a node (102) in a wireless communication network (102). The system and method determine the distance between the node (102) and at least one stationary neighboring node (102, 106, 107) at at least two or more time points, using at least two moving average filters, to arrive at two distance values. The system and method then determine the relative velocity based on the at least two distance values, and thus determine whether the node (102) is mobile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: MeshNetworks, Inc.
    Inventors: Guenael Strutt, Shyamal Ramachandran
  • Publication number: 20100265891
    Abstract: A method for routing data packets from a source to a destination in a wireless communication network comprising a plurality of nodes, wherein each node is in uplink-downlink association with at least one neighboring node, and wherein each node comprises a registration table identifying all downlink nodes that are associated with the node, the method comprising: sending an Open Stream message from a source node which specifies a destination node; and receiving the Open Stream message at the uplink node of the source node, wherein the uplink node relays the Open Stream message to the destination node if the destination node is registered in the registration table of the uplink node.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Publication date: October 21, 2010
    Applicant: MESHNETWORKS, INC.
    Inventor: John M. Belcea
  • Patent number: 7796570
    Abstract: A system and method for performing continuous accounting on a mobile node within a wireless ad-hoc network, using a sparse matrix method for compaction of the accounting data when forwarding data to a core network. The system and method perform continuous accounting of network traffic on a mobile node, and collected data is periodically transmitted in summary report form to a core network when accessible. During periods when the core network is inaccessible, collected data is maintained for subsequent transmission to the core network once access is re-established.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Meshnetworks, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin L. Farley, Donald L. Joslyn, Michael A. Ruckstuhl, Darragh J. Nagle
  • Patent number: 7796573
    Abstract: A terminal for operation within an ad-hoc, peer-to-peer radio system wherein the system includes a series of radio terminals forming a service group. The terminal having a transceiver for communicating with terminals in the same service group, computer means, and memory for storing program software. Within the system, the terminal establishes a connection with one radio terminal based on time-division access; initiating an outgoing call from the radio terminal including registering with another radio terminal for serving as a node in the call connection by transmitting a registration request; and initially transmitting said registration request on a last time slot (TS) of a respective time frame (TF), said last time slot serving as a configuration channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Meshnetworks, Inc.
    Inventor: John M. Belcea
  • Patent number: 7773569
    Abstract: A method for routing data packets from a source to a destination in a wireless communication network comprising a plurality of nodes, wherein each node is in uplink-downlink association with at least one neighboring node, and wherein each node comprises a registration table identifying all downlink nodes that are associated with the node, the method comprising: sending an Open Stream message from a source node which specifies a destination node; and receiving the Open Stream message at the uplink node of the source node, wherein the uplink node relays the Open Stream message to the destination node if the destination node is registered in the registration table of the uplink node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: MeshNetworks, Inc.
    Inventor: John M. Belcea
  • Patent number: 7756041
    Abstract: A novel software architecture protocol stack with embedded routing algorithms under the Internet Protocol (IP) routing layer in order to provide high quality distribution of multimedia (voice, video, and data) services. These routing algorithms may include Logical Link Control, Adaptive Transmission Protocol, Neighbor Discovery, Traffic Control, Ad-Hoc Routing, Flow Processing, Intelligent Access and Admission Control. These routing algorithms when implemented further provide for advantages in speed of service, reliability of service, self-healing in case of catastrophic failure of an infrastructure component, load-balancing and geographic reuse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: MeshNetworks, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Whitehill, Eric White
  • Patent number: 7742446
    Abstract: A system and method for cognitive communication device operation. In accordance with the system and method, a node (102, 106, 107) that communicates in a wireless multihopping communication network (100) uses a receiver (302, 402, 502, 602) to acquire a digital sample of a communication signal, and extracts at least one feature of the digital sample. The node (102, 106, 107) employs a classifier (306, 406, 506) to determine the signal type, and a transmitter (108) to send feature vectors including information representing the signal type to other nodes (102, 106, 107) in the network (100).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: MeshNetworks, Inc.
    Inventor: Pertti O. Alapuranen
  • Patent number: 7733766
    Abstract: A system and method for providing a traffic control scheme for QoS provision and congestion control across multiple interfaces of wireless nodes (102, 106 and 107), such as wireless access points (107 and 106), communicating in a wireless multihopping communication network (100). The nodes (102, 106 and 107) can include multiple transceivers. The system and method detects bottleneck interfaces in these nodes (102,106, 107) to control the traffic along the path of the corresponding traffic flow. Different measurements and cross-layer feedback are used to differentiate the cause of the congestion, such as wireless link quality degradation due to fading or degradation due to congestion in a shared medium. The nodes (102, 106, 107) inform each other on the status of their congestion level. High and low level signaling and interruption mechanisms are used to control the interfaces of the congested node (102, 106 or 107) to adjust traffic flow and alleviate the congestion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: MeshNetworks, Inc.
    Inventors: Sebnem Z. Ozer, Surong Zeng, Charles R. Barker, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7734809
    Abstract: A system and method for data transmission using a multichannel medium access control (MAC) protocol to send small messages on the reservation channel directly without any RTS/CTS handshake or channel switching delays. The message is assigned a special type so that it can be distinguished from the RTS/CTS message. The message can also include information about congestion, activity, device type, mobility level, and so forth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: MeshNetworks, Inc.
    Inventors: Avinash Joshi, Surong Zeng, Guenael T. Strutt
  • Patent number: 7710986
    Abstract: A multicast architecture and method of operation for multi-hop wireless mesh networks is provided. The multicast architecture is above the network infrastructure to identify a group of clients. These clients share the same application and communicate to each other by using a common multicast address.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: MeshNetworks, Inc.
    Inventors: Surong Zeng, Heyun Zheng