Utilizing Multiple Mesh Network Gateways in a Shared Access Network

Abstract

A mesh network, operating as a virtual Ethernet switch, includes multiple nodes operating as Mesh Network Gateway Interfaces (mesh NGIs) enabled for communication with one or more shared access networks. Selectively coupling the multiple NGIs to the same shared access network provides redundancy and load balancing aimed at improving the reliability and performance of the network. A first architecture is based on a gateway group, including a plurality of NGIs enabled to communicate with a single shared access network via a designated broadcast server elected from among the NGIs. A second architecture is based on a plurality of (physical) NGIs enabled to communicate with a single shared access network via one or more designated nodes in the shared access network. The designated nodes, or Mesh Servers (MSs), operate as virtual NGIs, and traffic entering or exiting the mesh flows through one of the MSs, thus improving packet broadcast efficiency.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A system comprising:
 a means for identifying a node in a shared access network as a mesh server;   a means for forwarding traffic between a wireless mesh network and the shared access network via at least one of a plurality of gateway mesh nodes and the mesh server, the gateway mesh nodes enabled to operate in the wireless mesh network; and   wherein the means for forwarding comprises a means for transit via a respective virtual mesh link associated with each of the gateway mesh nodes.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the shared access network is a wired network. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the virtual mesh links are implemented via respective point-to-point tunnels enabled to operate in part with respective wired links coupled to the mesh server. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the mesh server comprises a means for tagging broadcast packets provided to the gateway mesh nodes. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the gateway mesh nodes and all other nodes of the wireless mesh network comprise a respective means for examining at least some results of the means for tagging in part to eliminate redundant transmission of the broadcast packets. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the mesh server is an active mesh server, and further comprising a means for identifying another node in the shared access network as a backup mesh server. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , further comprising a means for detecting a failure of the active mesh server. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , further comprising a means for forwarding traffic between the wireless mesh network and the shared access network via the backup mesh server after the failure. 
     
     
         10 . A method comprising:
 identifying a node in a shared access network as a mesh server;   forwarding traffic between a wireless mesh network and the shared access network via at least one of a plurality of gateway mesh nodes and the mesh server;   operating the gateway mesh nodes in the wireless mesh network; and   wherein the forwarding comprises transiting via a respective virtual mesh link associated with each of the gateway mesh nodes.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the shared access network is a wired network. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising implementing the virtual mesh links via respective point-to-point tunnels operating in part with respective wired links coupled to the mesh server. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising via the mesh server, tagging broadcast packets provided to the gateway mesh nodes. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising via the gateway mesh nodes and all other nodes of the wireless mesh network, examining at least some results of the tagging in part to eliminate redundant transmission of the broadcast packets. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the mesh server is an active mesh server, and further comprising identifying another node in the shared access network as a backup mesh server. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising detecting a failure of the active mesh server. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising forwarding traffic between the wireless mesh network and the shared access network via the backup mesh server after the detecting. 
     
     
         18 . A system comprising:
 a shared access network;   a server node comprised in the shared access network;   wherein the shared access network is enabled to select the server node from among a plurality of nodes comprised in the shared access network; and   wherein the server node is enabled to forward traffic between a wireless mesh network and the shared access network at least in part via at least one of a plurality of gateway nodes of the wireless mesh network, and further at least in part via a respective virtual link associated with each of the gateway nodes.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , further comprising the at least one gateway node. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , further comprising the respective virtual link associated with the at least one gateway node. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the respective virtual link associated with the at least one gateway node is implemented via a point-to-point tunnel enabled to operate in part with a wired link coupled to the server node. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the server node is enabled to tag broadcast packets provided to the at least one gateway node. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the server node is an active server node, and wherein the shared access network is further enabled to select a backup server node from among the plurality of nodes. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the shared access network is further enabled to detect a failure of the active server node. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the backup server node is enabled to forward traffic between the wireless mesh network and the shared access network after the failure. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 18 , further comprising the wireless mesh network. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the shared access network is a wired network. 
     
     
         28 . A system comprising:
 a wireless mesh network;   a gateway node comprised in the wireless mesh network; and   wherein the gateway node is enabled to forward traffic between a shared access network and the wireless mesh network at least in part via at least one server node comprised in the shared access network, and further at least in part via a virtual link enabled to communicate with the gateway node.   
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 28 , further comprising the at least one server node. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 28 , further comprising the shared access network. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the gateway node and other nodes of the wireless mesh network are enabled to examine respective tags associated with broadcast packets received via the at least one server node to eliminate redundant transmission of the broadcast packets. 
     
     
         32 . A computer readable medium having a set of instructions stored therein which when executed by a processing element causes the processing element to perform functions comprising:
 selecting a server node from a plurality of nodes of a shared access network; and   controlling forwarding of traffic between a wireless mesh network and the shared access network via at least one of a plurality of gateway nodes of the wireless mesh network, and further at least in part via a respective virtual link associated with each of the gateway nodes.   
     
     
         33 . The computer readable medium of  claim 32 , further comprising tagging broadcast packets provided to the at least one gateway node. 
     
     
         34 . The computer readable medium of  claim 32 , wherein the server node is an active server node and further comprising selecting a backup server node from the plurality of nodes. 
     
     
         35 . The computer readable medium of  claim 34 , further comprising detecting a failure of the active server node.