Interference mitigation and adaptive routing in wireless ad-hoc packet-switched networks

Abstract

Described are an apparatus and method for routing packets through a multiple-hop wireless communications network. Interference with packet switched communications carried by radio frequency (RF) over the multiple-hop wireless communications network is detected. In response to information related to the detected interference, a route is adaptively determined for transmitting packets through the multiple-hop wireless communications network that mitigates the effect of the interference on the packets.

1 . A protocol stack for use by a device to communicate over a wireless communications network, the protocol stack comprising:
 at least one detection protocol layer for detecting an interference that is attempting to interfere with packet switched communications in the wireless network, wherein the at least one detection protocol layer is configured to produce a message that indicates that the interference has been detected; and   at least one transmitting protocol layer for transmitting at least one wireless environment characteristic that identifies the interference that is attempting to interfere with packet switched communications in the wireless communications network.   
     
     
         2 . The protocol stack of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a routing protocol layer for determining a route for packets to traverse through the wireless communications network in response to the message that indicated that the interference has been detected.   
     
     
         3 . The protocol stack of  claim 2 , wherein the routing protocol layer is a network layer in the protocol stack and the at least one detection protocol layer is a physical layer. 
     
     
         4 . The protocol stack of  claim 1 , wherein the wireless communications network is a multiple-hop wireless communications network. 
     
     
         5 . The protocol stack of  claim 1 , wherein the interference includes a link failure. 
     
     
         6 . The protocol stack of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 disseminating to other devices in the wireless communications network an identity of at least one device associated with the interference.   
     
     
         7 . A method for use by a device to mitigate an interference in a wireless communications network, the method comprising:
 detecting the interference that is attempting to interfere with packet switched communications that are carried by radio frequency over the wireless communications network;   transmitting at least one wireless environment characteristic that identifies the detected interference that is attempting to interfere with packet switched communications in the wireless communications network.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 determining, in response to the detected interference, a route for transmitting packets through the wireless communications network that mitigates an effect of the detected interference on the packets.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising;
 transmitting, over the wireless communications network, the packets via the route that mitigates the effect of the detected interference on the packets.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 transmitting information related to the detected interference that describes managing radio resources in the wireless communications network.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 disseminating to other devices in the wireless communications network an identity of at least one device associated with the detected interference.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the detected interference originates from a source outside the wireless communications network. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the wireless communications network is a multiple-hop wireless communications network. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one wireless environment characteristic includes a link failure. 
     
     
         15 . A method for use by a node to determine a route policy for packets in a wireless communications network, the method comprising:
 receiving, in response to a detection of an interference, information related to managing radio resources in the wireless communications network; and   determining the route policy for transmitting packets through the wireless communications network that mitigates an effect of the interference on the packets in the wireless communications network.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the route policy includes a frequency hopping within a radio frequency range. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 disseminating to other nodes in the wireless communications network an identity of at least one node associated with the interference.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the interference originates from a source outside the wireless communications network. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the wireless communications network is a multiple-hop wireless communications network. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the information related to managing radio resources includes a link failure.