Method for utilization-based traffic throttling in a wireless mesh network

A non-transitory computer readable medium for controlling a programmable automated device to manage congestion in a node of a multi-hop wireless network comprising a plurality of communication devices communicating packets through a communication medium, comprising:

• executable instructions for determining a self-congestion parameter at a Medium Access Control (MAC) layer of a respective communication device representing congestion in the multi-hop wireless network;
• executable instructions for receiving a neighbor congestion parameter from a neighbor communication device of the multi-hop wireless network;
• executable instructions for propagating information comprising the determined self-congestion parameter of the respective communication device and neighbor congestion parameter from the neighbor communication device through the Medium Access Control (MAC) layer of the respective communication device to the communication medium of the multi-hop wireless network;
• executable instructions for determining, dependent on the propagated information comprising the neighbor congestion parameter, at a Transport Layer (TL) of the respective communication device, that the respective communication device in the multi-hop wireless network is generating excessive traffic of packets in the communication medium of the multi-hop wireless network, according to at least one criterion;
• and
• executable instructions for modulating a flow of packets in the communication medium of the multi-hop wireless network from the respective communication device, dependent on the determining of the excessive traffic of packets,
• to thereby regulate traffic in the multi-hop wireless network.

A node of a multi-hop wireless network, the multi-hop wireless network comprising a plurality of communication devices communicating packets through a communication medium, the node comprising:

• a transceiver configured to communicate through the communication medium, under control of a Medium Access Control (MAC) layer and a Transport Layer (TL);
• and
• an automated controller which controls the Medium Access Control (MAC) layer, and the Transport Layer (TL), the automated controller being configured to:
• determine a self-congestion parameter at the Medium Access Control (MAC) layer of the node representing congestion in the multi-hop wireless network;
• receive a neighbor congestion parameter from a neighbor communication device of the multi-hop wireless network through the transceiver;
• propagate information comprising the determined self-congestion parameter of the node and neighbor congestion parameter from the neighbor communication device through the Medium Access Control (MAC) layer through the transceiver to the communication medium of the multi-hop wireless network;
• determine, dependent on the propagated information comprising the neighbor congestion parameter, at the Transport Layer (TL) of the node, that the node is generating excessive traffic of packets in the communication medium of the multi-hop wireless network, according to at least one criterion;
• and
• modulate a flow of packets in the communication medium of the multi-hop wireless network from the node, dependent on the determining of the excessive traffic of packets,
• to thereby regulate traffic in the multi-hop wireless network.