Abstract: A method and apparatus in an ad hoc network, comprising: a node advertising a theoretical destination it is not currently connected to as part of a theoretical route; allocating to the theoretical destination a special metric value that gives a reduced likelihood of selection as a suitable route compared to conventionally available routes; determining that a message from a further node is to be transmitted via the theoretical route; the node receiving the message from the further node when the node is at a first location and storing the message; the node moving from the first location to a second location thereby transforming the theoretical route into a new real route; and the node transmitting the message to a second further node as part of the new real route.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for use in an ad hoc network, comprising: a node transmitting an extended allowable hold time value to a further node; the node changing its transmission behavior such that the further node stops receiving transmission from the node for an extended period, for example by pausing transmission at least in the direction of the further node; and the further node treating the link to the node as intact during the extended allowable hold time. The transmitting of the extended allowable hold time value may be performed earlier than a next routine transmission of routine allowable hold time value would have been sent. The method may further comprise the node being instructed to maintain topology information for an extended time.

Abstract: A data transfer method and system includes at least one switch device (102) configured, in use, to transfer data, directly or indirectly, between a plurality of computing devices (104). The at least one switch device is configured to provide a plurality of Virtual Local Area Networks (VLAN), each said VLAN being configured as a Virtual Channel (VC) by receiving data from a said computing device designated as a sole source of data over the VC. The VC data is transmitted from the sole source computing device as Ethernet frames (200) tagged with a VLAN tag (202). The VCs are routed through the at least one switch device according to a VLAN Id field of the VLAN tag of a said frame, with fixed and pre-determined routing of the frame being determined by configuration of the at least one switch device.