Abstract: Described are methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for optimizing solutions using local attractive and/or repulsive virtual forces. In one aspect, a first virtual force is defined that is associated with an attractive characteristic and has a weighting parameter. A second virtual force is defined that is associated with a repulsive characteristic and has a weighting parameter. A detected virtual force is received that includes the first virtual force, the second virtual force, or a combination thereof. At an element associated with receiving the detected virtual force, a path is selected from a plurality of available paths based on the detected virtual force.

Abstract: The systems and methods described herein include, among other things, processes for providing low latency packet transport in ad hoc networks. To this end, the systems, in certain embodiments, employ an architecture for communication nodes in MANETs, in which the delay introduced in “routing” or “relaying” the packet is reduced. In these systems invention, the data plane of the OSI stack at relay nodes is collapsed so that bits entering the node are re-energized “on-the-fly”, with only a brief pause. A transit key in each packet, inserted by the originator of the packet, is used to index into a transit table to determine one of three actions to perform—drop, keep, or retransmit the packet. A control plane determines, for each packet, whether it should be re-energized or not. The control algorithm ensures that only nodes along the path from the source to the destination re-energize (relay) the packet.

Abstract: A communication system has stations arranged in clusters of member stations, each of which communicates with the other member stations. One member station is a head station of the cluster that communicates with head stations of other clusters. The stations are configured by determining the communication state between a station and one or more cluster head stations. The station is assigned to at least one cluster when a prescribed communication state has been determined between the station and the cluster head station. The station is set to be in independent communication with the one or more cluster head stations which have the prescribed communication state with the station.

Abstract: In the communications network disclosed herein, each of a plurality of similar stations is operated so that the group automatically organizes or configures itself into a multi-layered network for relaying messages from station to station, with some of the stations operating at a relatively high power level as message gateways for a cluster of stations operating at lower power thereby to form, through the gateways, a network backbone providing longer distance network links. Initially, individual stations attempt to affiliate at a lower power level with an existing cluster gateway and, if that attempt is unsuccessful, the station switches to a higher power level and commences operation as a cluster gateway. Each cluster gateway periodically communicates data at least identifying to other cluster gateways the non-gateway stations which are affiliated with it.

Abstract: This disclosure describes systems and methods for transmitting data over transmission bandwidth in a communication channel over a wireless network through asynchronous, reservation-oriented, multiple access to support real-time multimedia. The access to a transmission bandwidth in a communications channel is guaranteed (or reserved) from a terminal to a server by establishing a reserved bandwidth for a transmission in an on-demand, as-desired manner. A terminal reserves bandwidth with a server by corresponding with the server to reserve a finite bandwidth for transmissions of a data packet. A server recognizes the request for a finite bandwidth and approves the request, if capacity permits. Once a request has been approved, the systems and methods consist with this disclosure provide for reserved access to transmission bandwidth in a communications channel to support real-time network applications, including transactions involving wireless local area networks, cellular networks, and ad hoc networks.

Abstract: In the communications network disclosed herein, each of a plurality of similar stations is operated so that the group automatically organizes or configures itself into a multi-layered network for relaying messages from station to station, with some of the stations operating at a relatively high power level as message gateways for a cluster of stations operating at lower power thereby to form, through the gateways, a network backbone providing longer distance network links. Initially, individual stations attempt to affiliate at a lower power level with an existing cluster gateway and, if that attempt is unsuccessful, the station switches to a higher power level and commences operation as a cluster gateway. Each cluster gateway periodically communicates data at least identifying to other cluster gateways the non-gateway stations which are affiliated with it.

Abstract: In the communications network disclosed herein, each of a plurality of similar stations is operated so that the group automatically organizes or configures itself into a multi-layered network for relaying messages from station to station, with some of the stations operating at a relatively high power level as message gateways for a cluster of stations operating at lower power thereby to form, through the gateways, a network backbone providing longer distance network links. Initially, individual stations attempt to affiliate at a lower power level with an existing cluster gateway and, if that attempt is unsuccessful, the station switches to a higher power level and commences operation as a cluster gateway. Each cluster gateway periodically communicates data at least identifying to other cluster gateways the non-gateway stations which are affiliated with it.