# US 10,321,509 B2 · Backhaul fabric for wireless network > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,321,509 B2 - Document ID: US10321509B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/784,527 - Filed: 2017-10-16 - Published: 2018-02-22 - Granted: 2019-06-11 - Earliest claimed: 2007-12-14 - Assignees: Nant Holdings IP, LLC - Applicants: Nant Holdings IP, LLC - Inventors: Thomas Wittenschlaeger - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10321509B2 ## CPC - H04B 7/18504: {Aircraft used as relay or high altitude atmospheric platform} - H04B 7/1856: {for call routing} - H04B 7/18584: {Arrangements for data networking, i.e. for data packet routing, for congestion control (data switching networks H04L12/00)} - H04B 7/19: Earth-synchronous stations - H04L 41/12: Discovery or management of network topologies - H04W 36/12: Reselecting a serving backbone network switching or routing node - H04W 36/18: for allowing seamless reselection, e.g. soft reselection - H04W 76/20: Manipulation of established connections - H04L 41/042: comprising distributed management centres cooperatively managing the network - H04W 36/249: {according to timing information} - H04W 76/25: Maintenance of established connections - H04W 84/06: Airborne or Satellite Networks (space-based or airborne stations H04B7/185) - H04B: TRANSMISSION - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) ## Abstract A plurality of networking nodes provides a wireless network fabric that serves at least two devices. Each networking node stores global communication topology information for the wireless network fabric. One of the networking nodes performs global fabric management functions to maintain a communication channel among the at least two devices, and is responsive to a triggering event to identify a next global fabric manager from the other networking nodes. Upon detection of an attack, the global fabric management responsibilities migrate from the networking node to the next global fabric manager while maintaining connectivity between the at least two devices. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A networking node in a network fabric of networking nodes interconnected with each other through physical links; wherein the networking nodes include a plurality of wireless access points, each access point configured to allow a first wireless device to exchange data with a second wireless device through the network fabric, the networking node comprising: at least one physical port through which data packets are communicated with other networking nodes; and a network fabric manager configured to establish a network topology among the networking nodes; maintain a communication channel over the network topology between the first wireless device and the second wireless device regardless of relative movement with respect to the networking nodes; and migrate the network fabric manager to a different networking node while retaining connectivity. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The networking node of claim 1, wherein the network fabric manager is configured to retain connectivity between the first wireless device and the second wireless device over the communication channel upon a loss of an intervening physical link. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The networking node of claim 1, wherein the network fabric manager reconfigures the network topology upon a loss of an intervening physical link while maintaining the communication channel. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The networking node of claim 1, wherein the network fabric manager is configured to migrate in a deterministic fashion or a non-deterministic fashion. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The networking node of claim 4, wherein the deterministic fashion comprises migrating to a different networking node selected after a time period governed by a secret key. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The networking node of claim 4, wherein the non-deterministic fashion comprises at least one of a bidding process and an election process. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The networking node of claim 1 comprises at least one of a switch, a router, an access point, and a gateway. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The networking node of claim 1, wherein the network fabric comprises at least one of a peer-to-peer network, a mesh network, and a storage area network. ### Claim 9 In a networking node in a network fabric of networking nodes interconnected with each other through physical links, wherein the networking nodes include a plurality of wireless access points, each access point configured to allow a first wireless device to exchange data with a second wireless device through the network fabric, a non-transitory computer readable memory storing software instructions that cause, via execution, at least one processor to operate as a network fabric manager configured to at least: establish a network topology among the networking nodes; maintain a communication channel over the network topology between the first wireless device and the second wireless device regardless of relative movement with respect to the networking nodes; and migrate operations of the network fabric manager to a different networking node while retaining connectivity. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The non-transitory computer readable memory of claim 9, further configured to at least retain connectivity between the first wireless device and the second wireless device over the communication channel upon a loss of an intervening physical link. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The non-transitory computer readable memory of claim 9, further configured to at least reconfigure the network topology upon a loss of an intervening physical link while maintaining the communication channel. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The non-transitory computer readable memory of claim 9, wherein the fabric manager is configured to migrate in a deterministic fashion or a non-deterministic fashion. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The non-transitory computer readable memory of claim 12, wherein the deterministic fashion comprises migrating to a different networking node selected after a time period governed by a secret key. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The non-transitory computer readable memory of claim 12, wherein the non-deterministic fashion comprises at least one of a bidding process and an election process. ### Claim 15 A method of operating a networking node in a network fabric of networking nodes interconnected with each other through physical links, wherein the networking nodes include a plurality of wireless access points, each access point configured to allow a first wireless device to exchange data with a second wireless device through the network fabric, the method comprising: establishing a network topology among the networking nodes; maintaining a communication channel over the network topology between the first wireless device and the second wireless device regardless of relative movement with respect to the networking nodes; and migrating operations of the network fabric manager to a different networking node while retaining connectivity. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising retaining connectivity between the first wireless device and the second wireless device over the communication channel upon loss of an intervening physical link. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising reconfiguring the network topology upon a loss of an intervening physical link while maintaining the communication channel. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the migrating comprises at least one of migrating in a deterministic fashion and migrating in a non-deterministic fashion. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the migrating in the deterministic fashion comprises migrating to a different networking node selected after a time period governed by a secret key. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the migrating in the non-deterministic fashion comprises at least one of a bidding process and an election process.