High performance wireless networks using distributed control and switch-stack paradigm

Abstract

The invention describes a method of routing voice and data traffic within a hierarchical node-based mesh network. The steps include storing data as individual data packets, then including in each data packet a destination node of the data packet. Thereafter, sending the data from the data packet's source node to the source node's parent node and processing the data by the parent node. Finally, identifying the destination node of the data and sending the data from the parent node toward the destination node.

The embodiment of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed is defined as follows: 
     
         1 . A method of routing voice and data traffic within a hierarchical node-based mesh network comprising:
 storing data as individual data packets;   including in each data packet a destination node of the data packet;   sending the data from the data packet's source node to the source node's parent node;   processing the data by the parent node;   identifying the destination node of the data;   sending the data from the parent node toward the destination node.   
     
     
         2 . The method of routing data of  claim 1  further comprising selecting the destination node on the basis of the destination information contained in the data packet. 
     
     
         3 . The method of routing data of  claim 2  wherein the destination is selected by said parent node to be a destination child node if the destination information identifies the destination child node or if the destination information identifies the destination as a descendant of said child node; wherein the destination is selected to be the parent node if the destination information identifies the parent node; and wherein the destination is selected to be the parent node's parent otherwise. 
     
     
         4 . The method of routing data of  claim 3  further comprising sending data from the parent node to its parent node on a first wireless frequency and a first wireless radio. 
     
     
         5 . The method of routing data of  claim 4  further comprising sending data from the parent node to its child node on a second wireless frequency and a second wireless radio. 
     
     
         6 . The method of routing data of  claim 1  further comprising a node communicating with one or more client devices in wireless communication with the node. 
     
     
         7 . The method of routing data of  claim 1  wherein each node maintains a counter of child nodes in communication with the node; and the node maintains an identification of its parent node. 
     
     
         8 . The method of routing data of  claim 7  wherein a subset of nodes further comprise a connection to an external network. 
     
     
         9 . The method of routing data of  claim 8  wherein the external network comprises an Ethernet link. 
     
     
         10 . A method of routing voice and data traffic within a hierarchical node-based mesh network comprising:
 storing data as individual data packets;   including in each data packet a destination node of the data packet;   receiving a data packet at a network node, wherein each network node has only one parent node, and said packet originates at said single parent of said network node;   determining if the packet destination is the network node itself or a descendant of the network node;   if the destination is the network node itself, processing the packet by said node;   if the destination is a child of said network node, sending the packet to the child node for processing by said child node; and   if the destination is a descendant of a child node of said network node, sending the packet to the child node that has the destination node as its descendant.   
     
     
         11 . A method of routing voice and data traffic within a hierarchical node-based mesh network wherein each node has only one parent node, comprising:
 storing data as individual data packets;   including in each data packet a destination node of the data packet;   receiving at a node a packet from a child node of said node;   determining if the packet destination is the node itself or a descendant of the node;   if the destination is the node itself, processing the packet by said node;   if the destination is a descendant of said node, sending the packet to the child node that is either the destination or has the destination node as its descendant; and   if the destination node is neither the node itself nor a descendant of said node, sending the packet to the parent of said node.