Abstract: A system includes a transmitter node and a receiver node. Each node of the transmitter node and the receiver node include a communications interface and a controller operatively coupled to the communications interface. The controller includes one or more processors. Each node of the transmitter node and the receiver node are in motion relative to each other and to a common reference frame. Each node of the transmitter node and the receiver node are time synchronized to apply Doppler corrections associated with said node's own motions relative to the common reference frame. The receiver node is configured to determine a bearing and a range each between the receiver node and the transmitter node. The receiver node is automatically maintained within a formation relative to the transmitter node based on the bearing and range in the station keeping mode.

Abstract: A system is disclosed. The system may include a receiver or transmitter node. The receiver or transmitter node may include a communications interface with an antenna element and a controller. The controller may include one or more processors and have information of own node velocity and own node orientation relative to a common reference frame. The receiver or transmitter node may be time synchronized to apply Doppler corrections to signals, the Doppler corrections associated with the receiver or transmitter node's own motions relative to the common reference frame, the Doppler corrections applied using Doppler null steering along Null directions. The receiver node may comprise a correlator configured to process the signals which are based on the Doppler null steering.

Abstract: A system may include a mobile ad-hoc network (MANET) including nodes. The nodes may include beacon-based clusterhead (BB-CH) nodes and members. Each of the nodes may be configured to transmit communication data packets and transmit beacons. Each of the nodes may have passive spatial awareness. For each of at least some of the BB-CH nodes having members, a BB-CH node may be configured to compile spatial awareness information of all members of the BB-CH node. The compiled spatial awareness information may include a BB-CH node identification, position-location information (PLI) of the BB-CH node, a quantity of the members, and a member list with PLI. For each of the at least some of the BB-CH nodes, the BB-CH node may be configured to broadcast, via efficient flooding, some or all of the compiled spatial awareness information to every connected node.

Abstract: A system and method for frequency offset determination in a MANET via Doppler nulling techniques is disclosed. In embodiments, a receiving (Rx) node of the network monitors a transmitting (Tx) node of the network, which scans through a range or set of Doppler nulling angles adjusting its transmitting frequency to resolve Doppler frequency offset at each angle, the Doppler frequency shift resulting from the motion of the Tx node relative to the Rx node. The Rx node detects the net frequency shift at each nulling direction and can thereby determine frequency shift points (FSP) indicative of the relative velocity vector between the Tx and Rx nodes. If the set of Doppler nulling angles is known to it, the Rx node can determine frequency shift profiles based on the FSPs, and derive therefrom the relative velocity and angular direction of motion between the Tx and Rx nodes.

Abstract: A system may include a transmitter node and a receiver node. Each node may include a communications interface including at least one antenna element and a controller operatively coupled to the communications interface, the controller including one or more processors. Each node may be time synchronized to apply Doppler corrections to said node's own motions relative to a stationary common inertial reference frame. The stationary common inertial reference frame may be known to the transmitter node and the receiver node prior to the transmitter node transmitting signals to the receiver node and prior to the receiver node receiving the signals from the transmitter node.

Abstract: A system may include a transmitter node and a receiver node. Each node may include a communications interface including at least one antenna element and a controller operatively coupled to the communications interface, the controller including one or more processors. Each node may be time synchronized to apply Doppler corrections to said node's own motions relative to a stationary common inertial reference frame. The stationary common inertial reference frame may be known to the transmitter node and the receiver node prior to the transmitter node transmitting signals to the receiver node and prior to the receiver node receiving the signals from the transmitter node.

Abstract: A system may include a mobile ad-hoc network (MANET) including a plurality of nodes. Each of the plurality of nodes is configured to transmit communication data packets and transmit beacons. Each of the plurality of nodes has passive spatial awareness. A first node has information of own node velocity, own node orientation, and a destination. The first node may be configured to: calculate a direct line or an arc from the first node to the destination; utilize passive spatial awareness; assess possible relay routes beyond the communication range and within the beacon range of the first node; determine a next relay node that is on one of the possible relay routes wherein the one of the possible relay routes may be closest to the direct line or the arc without being determined to be part of a dead-end route; and transmit a communication data packet to the next relay node.

Abstract: A system may include a mobile ad-hoc network (MANET) including nodes. The nodes may include beacon-based clusterhead (BB-CH) nodes and members. Each of the nodes may be configured to transmit communication data packets and transmit beacons. Each of the nodes may have passive spatial awareness. For each of at least some of the BB-CH nodes having members, a BB-CH node may be configured to compile spatial awareness information of all members of the BB-CH node. The compiled spatial awareness information may include a BB-CH node identification, position-location information (PLI) of the BB-CH node, a quantity of the members, and a member list with PLI. For each of the at least some of the BB-CH nodes, the BB-CH node may be configured to broadcast, via efficient flooding, some or all of the compiled spatial awareness information to every connected node.

Abstract: A system may include a transmitter node and a receiver node. Each node may include a communications interface including at least one antenna element and a controller operatively coupled to the communications interface, the controller including one or more processors, wherein the controller has information of own node velocity and own node orientation. Each node of the transmitter node and the receiver node may be in motion. Each node may be time synchronized to apply Doppler corrections associated with said node's own motions relative to a common reference frame. The common reference frame may be known to the transmitter node and the receiver node prior to the transmitter node transmitting signals to the receiver node and prior to the receiver node receiving the signals from the transmitter node.

Abstract: A system and method for frequency offset determination in a MANET via Doppler nulling techniques is disclosed. In embodiments, a receiving (Rx) node of the network monitors a transmitting (Tx) node of the network, which scans through a range or set of Doppler nulling angles adjusting its transmitting frequency to resolve Doppler frequency offset at each angle, the Doppler frequency shift resulting from the motion of the Tx node relative to the Rx node. The Rx node detects the net frequency shift at each nulling direction and can thereby determine frequency shift points (FSP) indicative of the relative velocity vector between the Tx and Rx nodes. If the set of Doppler nulling angles is known to it, the Rx node can determine frequency shift profiles based on the FSPs, and derive therefrom the relative velocity and angular direction of motion between the Tx and Rx nodes.

Abstract: A multi-node communication network and method for sending data within a multi-node communication network are disclosed. The network includes a source communication node, a destination communication node, and one or more relay communication nodes. The communication nodes include a communication interface and a controller communicatively coupled to the communication interface configured to transmit, receive, or relay a data packet. The data packet includes a route request and a route request priority index, which is configured to provide a determining factor indicating that a route response may be combined with a position location transmission. Once received by the destination communication node, a route response may be combined with a PLI transmission and transmitted, depending on the indication by the route request priority index.

Abstract: A communications node of a multi-node communications network is disclosed. In embodiments, the node transmits to its one-hop neighbors (e.g., via beacon signals or regular hello messages) outbound neighbor lists identifying its neighboring clusterhead and gateway nodes only. Similarly, the communications node receives inbound neighbor lists from its one-hop neighbor nodes, including identifiers and node statuses for all clusterhead and gateway nodes that are one-hop neighbors to the sending node. By comparing the received inbound neighbor lists, the communications node determines whether it is on a critical path of the network, e.g., whether the multi-node communications network would be partitioned into disconnected portions without the communications node. Based on the determination, the communications node may transition its node clustering status.

Abstract: A system and method for efficient collection and distribution of mission-critical information (MCI) throughout a multi-node communication network is disclosed. In embodiments, the multi-node communication network may include a clusterhead node including a communication interface and a controller. In embodiments, the controller transmits an MCI request packet to neighbor nodes of its cluster. The controller receives MCI report packets from the neighbor nodes (or a subset thereof) throughout a first time interval. The controller rebroadcasts the MCI request packet to the neighbor nodes through increasingly shorter time intervals as MCI report packets continue to be transmitted in response. When the controller determines that no MCI report packets have been transmitted during the most recent time interval, the controller generates and transmits an MCI publish packet including the MCI information collected from each neighbor node.

Abstract: A communications node of a multi-node communications network is disclosed. In embodiments, the communications node includes a communications interface and controller. The controller transitions the clustering status of the communications node to a clusterhead node status. The clusterhead node identifies a cluster of neighboring nodes with which it is in communication by transmitting hello messages identifying the clusterhead node and its status but omitting a one-hop neighbor list. The clusterhead node refines link discovery to the nodes of the multi-node communications network by flooding the network (e.g., via its cluster of neighboring nodes) with routing status messages, which network nodes not part of the dominating set of clusterhead nodes are restricted from sending.

Abstract: A system may include a mobile ad-hoc network (MANET) including nodes. The nodes may include beacon-based clusterhead (BB-CH) nodes and members. Each of the nodes may be configured to transmit communication data packets and transmit beacons. Each of the nodes may have passive spatial awareness. For each of at least some of the BB-CH nodes having members, a BB-CH node may be configured to compile spatial awareness information of all members of the BB-CH node. The compiled spatial awareness information may include a BB-CH node identification for the BB-CH node, position-location information (PLI) of the BB-CH node, a quantity of the members of the BB-CH node, and a member list including member identifications. For each of the at least some of the BB-CH nodes, the BB-CH node may be configured to broadcast, via efficient flooding, some or all of the compiled spatial awareness information to every connected node.

Abstract: A system and method for managing acknowledgments and retransmissions in a distributed manner in a MANET with 2-hop clustering structure. Clusterheads are in charge of assuring delivery of flooding packets to their members. After receiving acknowledgments from associated nodes in the cluster, and clusterheads perform retransmission when necessary with a list of acknowledging nodes. The non-clusterhead nodes receive the retransmissions and determine if that node's acknowledgment was received based on a list of node IDs included in the retransmission. If the node ID is not listed, the node resends the acknowledgment. The process continues until all acknowledgments are received and listed.

Abstract: A communications node of a multi-node communications network is disclosed. In embodiments, the communications node includes a communications interface and controller. The controller transitions the clustering status of the communications node to a clusterhead node status. The clusterhead node identifies a cluster of neighboring nodes with which it is in communication by transmitting hello messages identifying the clusterhead node and its status but omitting a one-hop neighbor list. The clusterhead node refines link discovery to the nodes of the multi-node communications network by flooding the network (e.g., via its cluster of neighboring nodes) with routing status messages, which network nodes not part of the dominating set of clusterhead nodes are restricted from sending.

Abstract: A system and method for efficient collection and distribution of mission-critical information (MCI) throughout a multi-node communication network is disclosed. In embodiments, the multi-node communication network may include a clusterhead node including a communication interface and a controller. In embodiments, the controller transmits an MCI request packet to neighbor nodes of its cluster. The controller receives MCI report packets from the neighbor nodes (or a subset thereof) throughout a first time interval. The controller rebroadcasts the MCI request packet to the neighbor nodes through increasingly shorter time intervals as MCI report packets continue to be transmitted in response. When the controller determines that no MCI report packets have been transmitted during the most recent time interval, the controller generates and transmits an MCI publish packet including the MCI information collected from each neighbor node.

Abstract: A multi-node communication network may include a plurality of nodes, which may include normal value nodes, a clusterhead node, and a high value node. Each of the plurality of nodes may include a communication interface and a controller. The high value node may be defined as high value relative to the normal value nodes during mission data fill. The high value node may be configured to locate the clusterhead node, register the high value node's membership to the clusterhead node, and send position-location information (PLI) to the clusterhead node during registration. Upon receipt of a PLI request, each of the normal value nodes may be configured to send current PLI to the clusterhead node. Upon receipt of the PLI request, the high value node may remain silent.

Abstract: A multi-node communication network may include a plurality of nodes, which may include normal value nodes, a clusterhead node, and a high value node. Each of the plurality of nodes may include a communication interface and a controller. The high value node may be defined as high value relative to the normal value nodes during mission data fill. The high value node may be configured to locate the clusterhead node, register the high value node's membership to the clusterhead node, and send position-location information (PLI) to the clusterhead node during registration. Upon receipt of a PLI request, each of the normal value nodes may be configured to send current PLI to the clusterhead node. Upon receipt of the PLI request, the high value node may remain silent.