Abstract: A spontaneous data communication network includes antenna/transceiver sets located in mobile (e.g., vehicles such as cars, buses, trucks, ferries, etc.) or stationary units (e.g., computers, manufacturing equipment, office furniture, office equipment, road signs, overpasses, bridges, etc.). Each antenna/transceiver set directs network traffic based on optimizing a merit function or penalty function to reduce costs of congestion for stochastically changing demands and flows in a data communication system. The routers exchange values with neighboring routers. Based on the exchanged values and values local to a router, flow conditions are checked and if necessary the local values are adjusted until the flow conditions are satisfied or a time period expires. Adjustments are associated with optimizing a merit function or penalty function.

Abstract: A link quality agent running in a computer embedded in a device, such as an optical communication transceiver, to monitor an optical signal quality of the link. In one embodiment, avalanche photodiode (APD) and filter wheel values on each side of the free space link as well as packet errors from a distribution switch are monitored. When the link quality agent determines that the free space link is marginal (based on the monitored optical signal quality), the link quality agent configures down the port between the distribution switch and the router on the receive end of the free space link, and forces customer traffic over a backup link. When both ends of the free space link are again functional, the link quality agent configures the port up and routes customer traffic to the free space link.

Abstract: A link quality agent running in a computer embedded in a device, such as an optical communication transceiver, to monitor avalanche photodiode (APD) and filter wheel values on each side of the free space link as well as packet errors from a distribution switch. When the link quality agent determines that the free space link is marginal, the link quality agent configures down the port between the distribution switch and the router on the receive end of the free space link, and forces customer traffic over a backup link. When both ends of the free space link are again functional, the link quality agent configures the port up and routes customer traffic to the free space link.

Abstract: A link quality agent running in a computer embedded in a device, such as an optical communication transceiver, to monitor avalanche photodiode (APD) and filter wheel values on each side of the free space link as well as packet errors from a distribution switch. When the link quality agent determines that the free space link is marginal, the link quality agent configures down the port between the distribution switch and the router on the receive end of the free space link, and forces customer traffic over a backup link. When both ends of the free space link are again functional, the link quality agent configures the port up and routes customer traffic to the free space link.

Abstract: In a data communication system having network traffic with flows, a network traffic director system using router modules. The router modules direct traffic based on optimizing a merit function or penalty function to reduce costs of congestion for stochastically changing demands and flows in the data communication system. The router modules exchange values with neighboring router modules. Based on the exchanged values and values local to a router module, flow conditions are checked and if necessary the local values are adjusted until the flow conditions are satisfied or a time period expires. Adjustments are associated with optimizing a merit function or penalty function. Based on the adjusted values, the router module adjusts parameters to be used to direct packets of the network traffic flows to other router modules or other destinations within the data communication system. An aggregation scheme is used for reducing the number of values stored in a single router module.