Abstract: A system and method for identifying potential hidden node problems in a multi-hop wireless ad-hoc communication network, such as an 802.11 network. The system and method evaluates the relationship between the neighbors of each respective node to identify nodes of a wireless ad-hoc communication network whose capabilities of receiving data packets can be adversely affected by hidden node problems in order to avoid selecting paths containing those potentially problem nodes for routing data packets. Specifically, for each node, the system and method generates a node metric identifying the relationship between the neighbors of a node. Each node can then transmit its respective metric with its routing advertisement data, so that other nodes can assess the degree of potential hidden node problem that may be experienced by that node, and can choose to avoid using that potentially problem node for routing data packets to other nodes.

Abstract: An system and method for handling broadcast network requests for auto-configuration and discovery of IP to MAC address mappings and gateway presence in wireless peer-to-peer ad-hoc routing networks. The significant portion of a node's IP address is calculated by applying a hashing function to the six-byte hardware (MAC) address. The significant portion is appended to routing advertisements, and thereby propagates passively to other network nodes. DHCP and ARP requests, as well as other broadcast type requests, are handled by the local network stack of a node, without requiring a broadcast transmission over the wireless channel.