Methods and systems for a mobile, broadband, routable internet

Abstract

In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for a mobile broadband routable internet (MBRI) providing for carrier-grade, networked, broadband, IP-routable communication among a plurality of mobile devices, where the mobile devices may represent a plurality of nodes that are linked together through a mobile ad-hoc network (MANET). Mobile devices may operate as peers in a peer-to-peer network, with full IP routing capabilities enabled within each mobile device, thereby allowing routing of IP-based traffic, including deployment of applications, to the mobile device without need for infrastructure conventionally required for mobile ad hoc networks, such as cellular telephony infrastructure. Full IP-routing to mobile devices may allow seamless integration to the fixed Internet, such as through fixed or mobile access points, such as for backhaul purposes. Thus, the MBRI may function as a standalone mobile Internet, without connection to the fixed Internet, or as an IP-routable extension of another network, whether it be the Internet, a local area network, a wide area network, a cellular network, a personal area network, or some other type of network that is capable of integration with an IP-based network.

1 . A method of operating a node in a mobile ad hoc network (MANET), comprising: providing a mobile, broadband, routable internet (MBRI), in which a plurality of mobile devices interact as nodes in the MANET and in which packets are IP routable to the individual device independent of fixed infrastructure elements, wherein the nodes provide functional interaction with other nodes within the MANET to enhance MBRI operability. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the functional interaction is the use of dynamic adaptation of the operating spectrum and disseminating spectrum access decisions through use of a logical control channel. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the functional interaction is by adjusting transmit power levels. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the functional interaction is adapting link data rate. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the functional interaction is to transport multimedia, multi-session application data by providing a hybrid TDMA slot structure that contains a plurality of slot lengths and slot widths forming logical sub-channels. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the functional interaction is peer-to-peer communications support. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the functional interaction is support for multiple transmission channel access structure types. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the functional interaction is a facility to allow the nodes to gracefully enter and exit the MANET and to retrieve their IP addresses upon first time entry into the MANET. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the functional interaction is providing logical layer to physical layer segmentation and reassembly functions to pack control and data payload efficiently in the air interface payload time slots and frequency segments or sub-channels. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the functional interaction is providing MAC level algorithms that warrant statistical fairness amongst all cooperating nodes within a particular access point domain for access to payload transmission time slots and frequency segments or sub-channels within the access point domain. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the functional interaction is providing facilities to simultaneously support unicast and multicast data streams peer-to-peer, peer-to-network, and network-to-peer in the MANET. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the functional interaction is providing remote download capabilities for seamless upgrade of node and access point software during MANET operations. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the functional interaction is providing logical layer and data link layer control functions and algorithms that set a node transmit power level for at least one payload characteristic. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the functional interaction is providing load level peer-to-network traffic amongst the available backhaul access points through traffic based link scheduling within access point domains and across domains that subtend a backhaul access point. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the functional interaction is providing node level metrics that use neighbor RF information and link level routing information to allow nodes to asynchronously optimize for the maximum throughput and transmit opportunities within an access point domain on a per slot schedule basis. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the functional interaction is providing at least one of signaling, network routing, link scheduling, and slot scheduling intelligence to allow the node to self-route and self-manage air interface resources. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the functional interaction is providing differentiated quality of service in the MBRI through prioritization. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the functional interaction is dividing application data into smaller fragments for transmission over the MBRI, including a timer to eliminate partial fragments when one of the fragments is lost or delayed beyond a tolerable amount. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the functional interaction is using a waveform definition in association with the MBRI physical layer, wherein each piece of configuration information is defined independently on pairs of consecutive slots such that there is complete independence, and specifying the waveform parameters in a manner that allows implementation of an adaptive modulation capability. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the functional interaction is exchanging data-link control messages to develop and maintain neighborhood and RF environmental information for all one-hop and two-hop lists of nodes within direct communication range of the first node, and making routing, adaptive data rate, and modulation decisions based on the information in at least one of the one-hop list and two-hop list. 
     
     
         21 - 40 . (canceled)