Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus and method of client device roaming from a home subnet to a foreign subnet of a network. The method includes the client device accessing the network through a first access node of the home subnet, and the client device roaming to a second access node of the foreign subnet, the client device accessing the network through the second access node, the client device maintaining a fixed client IP address, default gateway IP address and IP subnet attachment as the client device roams from the first access node to the second access node.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of a gateway selecting transmission channels of a cluster of a wireless mesh network is disclosed. The cluster includes the gateway and a plurality of access nodes. The method includes the gateway cycling through a plurality of available transmission channels, evaluating channel each of the available transmission channels, and selecting a cluster transmission channel based on the channel evaluations. An apparatus and method of a node within a wireless mesh network selecting a transmission channel is also disclosed. The method includes the node cycling through a plurality of available transmission channels, measuring a persistence of successfully received routing packets from upstream devices at each of the available transmission channels, evaluating noise of each of the available transmission channels, and selecting one of the available transmission channels based on the persistence of successfully received routing packets and the noise.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of determining link qualities of a plurality of links between an access point and a plurality of client devices is disclosed. The method includes detecting all client devices associated with the access point. A list of the associated client devices is generated. The access point transmits keep alive packets according to the list. The access point counts responds to the keep alive packets from each of the client devices. The access point estimates a link quality between the access point and each client device based on the counted responses. An apparatus and method of determining link qualities of a plurality of links between an access node of a wireless mesh network and a plurality of client devices is also disclosed. The method includes detecting all client devices associated with the access node. A list of the associated client devices is generated. The access node transmits keep alive packets to each of the associated client devices according to the list.

Abstract: A method of adaptively setting a transmission power level of a node within a wireless mesh network is disclosed. The method includes monitoring a quality of a plurality of reverse direction links between the node and downstream nodes, and between the node and an upstream node, of the wireless mesh network. At least one worst quality reverse direction link is identified. If the at least one worst quality link is greater than a high threshold, then the transmission power level of the node is decreased. If the at least one worst quality link is less than a low threshold, then the transmission power level of the node is increased. A method of adaptively selecting transmission power of gateway nodes of a wireless mesh network is also disclosed. The method includes each gateway node monitoring a quality of a plurality of reverse direction links between the gateway node and downstream nodes of the wireless mesh network. Each gateway node identifies at least one worst quality reverse direction link.

Abstract: A wireless access node includes a first radio operable to transmit/receive on one of at least N transmission channels. A second radio is operable to transmit/receive on another one of the at least N transmission channels. A first filter bank, of less than N filters, filters a first transmit/receive signal of the first radio. A second filter bank, of less than N filters, filters a second transmit/receive signal of the second radio. Generally, N is greater than 2.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of propagating a size of a cluster within a wireless mesh network is disclosed. The method includes a gateway within the cluster maintaining information of access nodes within the cluster. The gateway determines a cluster size based on the maintained information, and transmits routing packets that include the cluster size of the gateway. An apparatus and method of balancing clusters of a wireless mesh network is also disclosed. The method includes the gateway of each cluster originating beacons, wherein the beacons include a size of the cluster of the gateway. The access nodes of each cluster, re-broadcasts beacons received from the gateway of the cluster. A connecting access node selects which cluster to connect to at least in part based on the size of each of the clusters.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of a wireless network timing transmission of multiple BSSID beacons is disclosed. The method includes identifying multiple personalities of the wireless network, wherein a separate MAC address corresponding with each of the personalities. A beacon type is assigned for each of the personalities. During each transmission interval, a plurality of the beacon types are consecutively transmitted, wherein the different beacon types are consecutively spaced during transmission by a predetermined inter-frame spacing, wherein the predetermined inter-frame spacing is substantially less than an air-time duration of each transmission interval.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of determining coverage of a wireless network is disclosed. The method includes traveling to multiple locations around access points of the wireless network, and for a plurality of client applications, measuring a performance parameter between a test client device and nodes of the wireless network, at a plurality of the multiple locations.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling transmission air-time available to a wireless node within a wireless network is disclosed. The method includes occupied by transmission packets. The method includes the wireless node monitoring air-time available to the wireless node for wireless transmission. The wireless node controls wireless transmission of neighboring wireless devices if the air-time available is detected to be lower than a threshold.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of pre-qualifying a potential customer of a wireless network is disclosed. The prequalification includes obtaining a location input by the potential customer, and accessing a wireless network performance database. An expected level of wireless connection performance of the potential customer is estimated based upon the location input by the potential customer, and wireless network performance stored within the network performance database. The expected level of performance is communicated to the potential customer.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of identifying long links within a wireless network is disclosed. The method includes identifying long links within a wireless network. The method includes a first node estimating a link quality of a wireless link between the first node and a second node of the wireless network. The first node uni-casts packets to the second node. The first node monitors a packet acknowledgment success rate. The first node identifies the wireless link to be a long link if the link quality is above a link threshold, and the packet acknowledgment success rate is below an acknowledgment threshold.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of a mobile access node selecting a data transmission rate is disclosed. The method includes the mobile access node receiving beacons from a plurality of wireless clusters. Each beacon advertises a data transmission rate a gateway of the wireless cluster that originates the beacon. The mobile access node identifies at least one qualified routing path. The at least one qualified routing path includes a best quality routing path, and other routing paths having a quality within a predetermined margin of the best quality routing path. The mobile access node selects the data transmission rate of the mobile access node to be the lowest data transmission rate advertised by beacons of the at least one qualified routing path.

Abstract: A method of selecting at least one routing path between an access node and a gateway is provided. The method includes the access node receiving over a plurality of channels, indicators from at least one upstream access node, the indicators providing information of selected upstream paths between each of the upstream access nodes and upstream gateways. The access node determines an optimal set of routing paths between the access node and at least one upstream gateway, based upon the indicators, the optimal set of routing paths including a combination of paths over multiple channels.

Abstract: A method of wirelessly routing based on data packet type is disclosed. The method includes a wireless access node wirelessly receiving a data packet. The wireless access node classifies the data packet, and selects one of multiple node interfaces based on the classification of the data packet, and/or characteristics of the node interfaces. The wireless access node forwards the data packet over the selected node interface.

Abstract: A method of optimizing link transmission parameters between access nodes within a mesh network is disclosed. The method includes each access node within the mesh transmitting packets at N different combinations of data rates and power levels. Each receiving node that receives the data packets at one or more of the N combinations, selects a most desirable one of the received combinations. The receiving nodes indicate to the transmitting nodes the selected most desired combination for transmitting to the receiving node.

Abstract: The invention includes an apparatus and method for displaying path metrics associate with nodes and links within a network. The method includes determining path metric values associated with the network. The method further includes displaying only the path metric values that fall within a predetermined set. The predetermined set can be adjustable by a network manager. The predetermined set can include an initial default value and be additionally adjusted by a network manager. The predetermined set associated with a particular node can be based upon a redundancy of paths available to the particular node.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of selecting a routing path through a mesh network that includes a mobile access node is disclosed. The method includes each access node of the mesh network capable of receiving routing beacons from at least one upstream access node. The routing beacons including information of all upstream access nodes along a path to a gateway access node. The mobile access node selecting a route through an upstream access node based upon a quality of beacons received from at least one upstream access node, and whether the at least one upstream access node is a fixed access node or another mobile access node.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus and method of client device roaming from a home subnet to a foreign subnet of a network. The method includes the client device accessing the network through a first access node of the home subnet, and the client device roaming to a second access node of the foreign subnet, the client device accessing the network through the second access node, the client device maintaining a fixed client IP address, default gateway IP address and IP subnet attachment as the client device roams from the first access node to the second access node.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of a mobile access node selecting a routing path through a mesh network is disclosed. The method includes receiving routing packets from at least one upstream access node, the routing packets including information of at least one upstream access node along a path to a gateway access node. A weight is assigned to each received routing packet, wherein the weight is dependent on how recently the routing packet is received. A packet success rate is calculated for each upstream access node by summing routing packets weights over a period of time for each upstream access node. The mobile node selecting the routing path through one of the at least one upstream access node based upon the packet success rate of routing packets received from each upstream access node.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating connectivity is described. The method includes a server broadcasting a beacon including the server's address. The method further includes each client that receives the beacon rebroadcasting the beacon. The result is that each client receiving the beacon knows a way to reach the server.