Abstract: A controller of a wireless access node is operative to estimate an adjacent one of a plurality of wireless channels while the access node is communicating over a present one of the plurality of wireless channels, comprising the controller, determining a difference between a measured signal quality of a signal communicated over the present wireless channel and a measured signal quality of a signal communicated over the adjacent channel, estimate a difference between a packet success rate of the present channel and a packet success rate of the adjacent channel based on the determined difference, and estimating a packet success rate of the adjacent channel based on a packet success rate of the present channel and the estimated difference between the packet success rate of the present channel and the packet success rate of the adjacent channel.

Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatuses of supporting multicast traffic of a wireless mesh network are disclosed. One apparatus includes an access node that includes one or more transceivers for communicating with other devices of a wireless mesh network, and a processor. The processor is operative to receive multicast traffic from a multicast traffic source through the one or more transceivers, associate the multicast traffic with a multicast group ID, and encapsulate the received multicast traffic in unicast IP packets that include a special destination IP address associated with the multicast group ID.

Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatuses for supporting broadcast traffic through a wireless mesh network are disclosed. One method includes obtaining broadcast listening information of a broadcast listening access node, wherein the broadcast listening information includes an identifier of the broadcast listening access node, and a broadcast identifier of the broadcast listening device. The method further includes obtaining broadcast sourcing information of a broadcast sourcing access node, wherein the broadcast sourcing information includes an identifier of the broadcast sourcing access node, and a broadcast identifier of the broadcast sourcing device. The method further includes providing broadcast listening information of the broadcast listening access node to the broadcast sourcing access node upon determining the broadcast identifier of the broadcast sourcing device matches the broadcast identifier of the broadcast listening device.

Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatuses for distributing multicast traffic through a wireless mesh network are disclosed. One apparatus includes an access node that includes one or more transceivers for communicating with other devices of a wireless mesh network, and a processor. The processor is operative to receive a unicast IP packet that includes a special destination IP address through at least one of the one or more transceivers, determine, based on the special destination IP address and a multicast group ID of a multicast distribution table, whether to forward the unicast IP packet to a downstream device, and route the unicast IP packet to the downstream device based on the determination.

Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatuses of establishing an IPsec (Internet Protocol Security) VPN (Virtual Private Network) tunnel are disclosed. One method includes receiving, by a wireless mesh network access point, a user configuration, wherein the user configuration includes a type of traffic, determining an internal interface of the wireless mesh network access node based on the type of traffic, dynamically determining a local endpoint address for the IPsec VPN tunnel based on the selected internal interface, establishing the IPsec VPN tunnel through the selected internal interface of the wireless mesh network access node, and encapsulating non-IP packets of non-IP traffic within IP packets.

Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatuses of establishing an IPsec (Internet Protocol Security) VPN (Virtual Private Network) tunnel are disclosed. One method includes receiving, by a wireless mesh network access point, a user configuration, wherein the user configuration includes a type of traffic, determining an internal interface of the wireless mesh network access node based on the type of traffic, dynamically determining a local endpoint address for the IPsec VPN tunnel based on the selected internal interface, and establishing the IPsec VPN tunnel through the selected internal interface of the wireless mesh network access node.

Abstract: A method of selecting access points of a wireless network as redundant aggregation devices is disclosed. The method includes monitoring parameters of the access points. A plurality of the access points are selected as redundant aggregation devices based upon the monitored access point parameters. Each of the redundant aggregation devices maintains client information parameters of clients associated with the wireless network.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of supporting peer-to-peer communication of a wireless mesh network is disclosed. The method includes a node within the wireless mesh network maintaining a routing table that indicates a first route to a client device. If the node receives a better route to the client device, the node deletes the first route, and sends a route delete to a next hop device of the first route of the client device.

Abstract: Methods of correlating wireless network performance of a wireless network are disclosed. One method includes collecting wireless network performance parameters at a location of the network, observing at least one of activities and conditions of the wireless network over the period of time, and correlating the wireless network performance parameters with at least one of the activities and conditions of the wireless network. The wireless network performance parameters can be collected by one or more test devices operating at nodes or clients within the wireless network.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of allowing client roaming between gateways of a wireless mesh network is disclosed. The gateways are connected through a layer 3 network to an aggregation router. The method includes a first gateway sending a first route update to the aggregation router when a client joins a first cluster of the first gateway, the first gateway aging the route, and a second gateway sending a second route update to the aggregation router when the client roams to a second cluster of the second gateway.

Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatuses of establishing an IPsec (Internet Protocol Security) VPN (Virtual Private Network) tunnel are disclosed. One method includes receiving, by a wireless mesh network access point, a user configuration, wherein the user configuration includes a type of traffic, determining an internal interface of the wireless mesh network access node based on the type of traffic, dynamically determining a local endpoint address for the IPsec VPN tunnel based on the selected internal interface, and establishing the IPsec VPN tunnel through the selected internal interface of the wireless mesh network access node.

Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatuses for updating multicast group information of a client device of a wireless mesh network are disclosed. One method includes an access node of the wireless mesh network determining multicast group information of the client device that is connected to the access node, and the access node providing routing updates to upstream access nodes and a first upstream gateway, wherein the multicast group information of the client device is included within the routing updates of the client device.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of a wireless node mitigating the effects of uncoordinated interference is disclosed. One embodiment of a method includes the wireless node monitoring uncoordinated interference affecting transmissions of the wireless node, and evaluating a plurality of wireless links, the evaluation influenced at least in part on the monitored uncoordinated interference.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of a wireless access node within a network characterizing uncoordinated interference is disclosed. One method includes the wireless node collecting air-time usage history as perceived by the wireless access node. The wireless access node receives air-time usage history as perceived by at least one neighboring wireless node. The wireless access node comparatively analyzes the collected air-time usage and the received air-time usage.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses and systems for characterizing transmission of access nodes within a wireless mesh network are disclosed. One apparatus includes an access node, wherein the access node is operative to determine a neighbor function based on how many neighboring nodes are affected by signals transmitted from the access node at varying power levels, determine an airtime per link occupied by transmission packets on links to each of the identified neighbor nodes of the neighbor function, determine an airtime metric based on the neighboring nodes and the airtime per link occupied by the transmission packets, calculate combinations of transmission power levels and transmission data rates that jointly minimize an air-time metric, and set a transmission power level and transmission data rate for transmission to a target node based on a path loss between the access node and the target node, and the calculated transmission power levels and data rates.

Abstract: A method of characterizing transmission of a node of a wireless network is disclosed. The method includes determining a neighbor function based on how many neighboring nodes are affected by a neighbor function based on how many neighboring nodes are affected by signals transmitted from the node at varying power levels. For a range of transmission path losses between the node and neighboring nodes, transmission power levels and transmission data rates are calculated that minimize an air-time metric, wherein the air-time metric is dependent on the neighbor function and an air-time occupied by transmission packets.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of a wireless network timing transmission of multiple BSSID beacons is disclosed. One method includes a method of a wireless access node within a wireless mesh network timing transmission of multiple BSSID beacons. The method includes the access node identifying multiple personalities of the wireless mesh network, wherein a separate MAC address corresponding with each of the personalities. The access node assigns a beacon type for each of the personalities. During each transmission frame, the access node consecutively transmits a plurality of the beacon types, wherein the different beacon types are consecutively spaced during transmission by a predetermined period. The predetermined period is substantially less than a time duration of each transmission frame.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for communicating link quality information between access nodes is disclosed. A first step includes a first access node transmitting first routing packets. A second step includes a second access node receiving at least one of the first routing packets over a first direction of a first link. A third step includes the second access node transmitting second routing packets. A fourth step includes the first access node receiving at least one of the second routing packets over a second direction of the first link, and determining a first direction link quality of the first link based upon the second routing packets.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of classifying data packets is disclosed. One method includes a wireless access node identifying a flow of data packets based on source and destination addresses of the data packets. The wireless access node classifies the data packets of the identified flow of data packets as requiring a predetermined quality of service by determining if the identified flow of data packets comprise an inter-arrival time less than a first inter-arrival threshold.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods of using multiple radios of a wireless access node of a wireless network are disclosed. One method includes selecting a 4.9 GHz radio exclusively for public safety data packets, selecting other radios for other types of data packets, and selecting other radios for public safety data packets depending upon specification by a network operator.