Abstract: In a first participant in a network—such as an ad hoc wireless network—a facility performs peer regulation of the network. The facility monitors behavior of a second participant in the network that has appointed itself a routing participant for the network. Among the monitored behavior, the facility identifies behavior of the second participant that is inconsistent with its routing participant status. In response to this identifying, the facility sends a message to participants of the network including a third participant indicating that the second participant is no longer a routing participant.

Abstract: A facility for operating a first node in a mesh network having other nodes is described. The first node directly receives signals each encoding an identifier of one of the other nodes, at least a portion of the signals also encoding an indication that the node having the identifier has appointed itself a routing node. The facility determines a first value equal to the number of unique node identifiers encoded in signals received during a first period of time, and a second value equal to the number of unique node identifiers encoded by signals received during the first period of time that also encode the indication. The facility determines a routing score for the first node based at least upon the first value and the second value that reflects the first node's suitability as a routing node in the mesh network.

Abstract: A facility for operating a first node in a mesh network having other nodes is described. The first node directly receives signals each encoding an identifier of one of the other nodes, at least a portion of the signals also encoding an indication that the node having the identifier has appointed itself a routing node. The facility determines a first value equal to the number of unique node identifiers encoded in signals received during a first period of time, and a second value equal to the number of unique node identifiers encoded by signals received during the first period of time that also encode the indication. The facility determines a routing score for the first node based at least upon the first value and the second value that reflects the first node's suitability as a routing node in the mesh network.

Abstract: In a first participant in a network—such as an ad hoc wireless network—a facility performs peer regulation of the network. The facility monitors behavior of a second participant in the network that has appointed itself a routing participant for the network. Among the monitored behavior, the facility identifies behavior of the second participant that is inconsistent with its routing participant status. In response to this identifying, the facility sends a message to participants of the network including a third participant indicating that the second participant is no longer a routing participant.

Abstract: A facility for operating a first node in a mesh network having other nodes is described. The first node directly receives signals each encoding an identifier of one of the other nodes, at least a portion of the signals also encoding an indication that the node having the identifier has appointed itself a routing node. The facility determines a first value equal to the number of unique node identifiers encoded in signals received during a first period of time, and a second value equal to the number of unique node identifiers encoded by signals received during the first period of time that also encode the indication. The facility determines a routing score for the first node based at least upon the first value and the second value that reflects the first node's suitability as a routing node in the mesh network.

Abstract: A facility for operating a communication device is described. The facility joins a network to which one or more other communication devices are connected, and identifies a type of network service not being provided in the network. In response, the facility determines to provide the identified type of network service in the network, and proceeds to provide the identified type of network service in the network.

Abstract: A facility for generating a network announcement message for a first communication device is described. In the message generated by the facility, first data encodes values determined for the first communication device of standard attributes specified by a wireless networking standard. Second data encoded values determined for the first communication device of expanded attributes including at least one expanded attribute characterizing the first communication device's connection to an internetwork. The message is usable by a second communication device that receives the message to compare the first communication device to other communication devices to which the second communication device is capable of connecting.