Abstract: A method provides for differentiating usage permissions between different categories of communication traffic within a given network. The method includes ensuring one or more categories of traffic never transits communication radios, link, and/or spectrums dedicated to a different category of traffic. A combined routing metric is calculated using a scaling factor for discouraging usage of restricted communication links and encouraging usage of non-restricted communication links.

Abstract: A method provides for differentiating usage permissions between different categories of communication traffic within a given network. The method includes ensuring one or more categories of traffic never transits communication radios, link, and/or spectrums dedicated to a different category of traffic. A combined routing metric is calculated using a scaling factor for discouraging usage of restricted communication links and encouraging usage of non-restricted communication links.

Abstract: A method is provided to determine optimal data rate and packet length in mobile networks. The method directly determines the optimal packet length (L) and data rate (D), which allows fast convergence in the mobile channel. The method automatically identifies and quantifies channel conditions, as well as adjusts parameters according to changes of channel conditions. A variable (Channel condition Index (CCI)) is abstracted from simulations and then used to describe and quantify the impact of three components of channel conditions: signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), multipath environment and velocity. Based on packet completion rate (PCR) status, the channel condition is identified in terms of CCI value. Once CCI is identified, the model of effective throughput G is directly optimized to locate the best packet length (L) and data rate (D).

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for dynamically identifying locations of a plurality of mobile nodes in a time division multiple access (TDMA) based ad hoc communication network, wherein one or more mobile nodes are being moved in and out of a predefined region. The method comprises allocating a hello slot in a dedicated channel of the TDMA based ad hoc communication network to each of the mobile nodes and announcing the allocation to the mobile nodes through hello slot allocation map, receiving location information from each of the mobile nodes during their hello slot and determining mobile nodes that are inside the predefined region based on the received location information, allocating a data slot to each determined mobile nodes inside the predefined region and announcing the allocation to the mobile nodes through data slot allocation map, and receiving updated location information from each determined mobile nodes during their data slot.

Abstract: In a network comprising a source, a destination, and intermediate nodes along a route between the source and the destination, techniques are provided for allocating one or more time slots to transmit a particular data stream along the route based on the QoS requirements to transmit the particular data stream. In one implementation, a Scout Request message (SRM) is sent from the source to the destination to allocate time slots along the route to transmit a particular data stream to the destination. The SRM can include QoS requirements to transmit the particular data stream. Each intermediate node along the route can allocate one or more time slots to transmit the particular data stream based on the QoS requirements needed to transmit the particular data stream along the route.

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.

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.

Abstract: A system and method for distributing proxying error information in wireless networks is provided. The includes associating a proxy node with a non-routable node; sending a data packet from an initiator node to the proxy node for delivery to the non-routable node; determining by the proxy node that the non-routable device has disassociated from the proxy node; sending a proxy error message from the proxy node to the initiator node to inform the initiator node that the non-routable node is no longer proxied by the proxy node; and starting a route discovery process for the non-routable device by the initiator node.

Abstract: A hybrid TDMA-CSMA MAC protocol is provided for allocating time slots within a frame having a structure in which transmission time is divided into a first number of actual TDMA time slots and a second number of “virtual” CSMA time slots. Each of the nodes in a multi-hop network can transmit a Highest Slot Number (HSN) field. Each time one of the Hello messages is received from a neighbor node, a given node can calculate variables based on the HSN field. The given node can use these variables to calculate a ratio of the first number to the second number. This ratio can be dynamically adjusted depending upon the traffic conditions observed by nodes within the multi-hop ad hoc network at any particular time to thereby change the relative percentages of the frame which are allocated for a TDMA portion and a CSMA portion of the frame.

Abstract: A method provides for differentiating usage permissions between different categories of communication traffic within a given network. The method includes ensuring one or more categories of traffic never transits communication radios, link, and/or spectrums dedicated to a different category of traffic. A combined routing metric is calculated using a scaling factor for discouraging usage of restricted communication links and encouraging usage of non-restricted communication links.

Abstract: A method provides for selecting a communication interface towards an access point by a wireless communication device. The method includes receiving one or more HELLO messages from the access point; determining whether any of a plurality of communication links is being used to reach the access point by evaluating at least one field of each of the received HELLO messages; penalizing a link metric of a communication link when the communication link is being used; and selecting a communication interface towards the access point, wherein the selected communication interface is coupled to a best communication link having a best link metric.

Abstract: In a network comprising a source, a destination, and intermediate nodes along a route between the source and the destination, techniques are provided for allocating one or more time slots to transmit a particular data stream along the route based on the QoS requirements to transmit the particular data stream. In one implementation, a Scout Request message (SRM) is sent from the source to the destination to allocate time slots along the route to transmit a particular data stream to the destination. The SRM can include QoS requirements to transmit the particular data stream. Each intermediate node along the route can allocate one or more time slots to transmit the particular data stream based on the QoS requirements needed to transmit the particular data stream along the route.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for determining a link metric for a communication link along a path between a source node to a destination node is provided. A node can generate a link metric (LM) for the communication link between the particular node and next-hop node towards the destination node in the path based on a plurality of variables. The node can determine the LM for the communication link based on a plurality of variables including: bandwidth on the communication link, a number of spatial streams used to transmit over the communication link, and a guard interval used used to transmit over the communication link.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for determining a number of spatial channels to use to transmit a data packet from a source node to a destination node. This determination can be made based on a Probability of Channel non-Correlation (PCC) function that is generated and updated by the source node based on feedback from the destination node. The PCC function indicates a probability of whether a plurality of spatial channels are non-correlated.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for multihop packet forwarding within a multihop wireless communication network. The method uses a data frame format including at least the four address fields to forward packets in a multihop wireless network. The method includes generating a route request packet at a routable device in response to receiving a packet destined for an unknown destination. The route request packet includes an originating device field including an address of an originating device, wherein the originating device generated the packet originally; and a source field, wherein the source field includes an address of the first routable device which generated the route request packet.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for improving efficiency and reliability of broadcast transmission in a multi-hop wireless mesh communication network. In some implementations, systems and methods are provided for a leaf mesh node to acknowledge reception of a broadcast packet broadcast by an Intelligent Access Point (IAP), and for allowing the IAP to determine whether to re-communicate the broadcast packet that it had previously re-transmitted when no acknowledgment is received from a leaf mesh node.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for improving efficiency and reliability of broadcast transmission in a multi-hop wireless mesh communication network. When an intelligent access point (IAP) receives a broadcast packet (BP), the IAP can determine a list of downlink child mesh nodes (DLCMNs) of the IAP based on route information provided in its routing table. After the IAP knows its DLCMNs, the IAP can determine a first lowest data rate (LDR) between the IAP and each of its DLCMNs, and then re-transmit the BP at the first LDR. The BP is then received by at least one “parent” mesh node, which can then perform similar processing, and can then re-transmit the BP to its DLCMNs. This process repeats until the BP reaches a leaf mesh node. In other words, each mesh node can determine its DLCMNs, determine the LDR between itself and each of its DLCMNs, and can then re-transmit the BP at this LDR.

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.

Abstract: A node (200) includes a processor (201) for determining neighbor nodes in a routing path to a destination based on a routing table associated with the node (200). The node (200) includes a memory for storing a first authenticated tokens. The node includes a transmitter (203) for transmitting a first request-to-route (RTR) message including an indication specifying information units (IUs) from the first node to the neighbor nodes in a routing path from the first node to the destination. The node (200) includes a receiver (205) for receiving a neighbor reply message from one of the neighbor nodes to the first node which indicates that the neighbor node will route the information units (IUs). The transmitter (203) transmits a second authenticated tokens from the first node to one of the neighbor nodes. The second authenticated tokens are converted into a tradable entity and provide compensation to the neighbor node selected.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for allowing a node (300) in an ad hoc network to deterministically decide whether to relay broadcast information to another node in the ad hoc network. The node (300) receives broadcast information and measures received signal strength (RSS) of the broadcast information. The node (300) may determine if the measured RSS is below a low threshold, and if so, can relay the broadcast information to neighbor nodes. Otherwise, the node (300) can also determine if the measured RSS is above a high threshold, and if not, wait for a waiting period before relaying the broadcast information to the neighbor nodes. The node (300) may dynamically adjust the low threshold by decreasing the low threshold as the number of neighbor nodes increases and may dynamically adjust the high threshold by increasing the high threshold as the number of neighbor nodes decreases.