Metropolitan area mesh network with adaptive load-balanced nodes

A system comprising:

• a processor included in a vehicle configured to:
• operate a first communications device in the vehicle to scan for wireless networks;
• use a steering wheel position sensor to detect turn information relating to a turn of the vehicle in which the first communications device is located;
• identify one or more available access points based on wireless network identifiers received during said scanning, said identified access points including a first access point;
• prioritize individual identified access points, said step prioritizing individual access points including prioritizing the first access point based on signal strength of a signal received from the first access point and one or more of:
• i) whether the first access point is a fixed or mobile wireless access point or ii) first access point motion information;
• determine, based on the detected turn information, that a connection with an access point is likely to be lost in the near future;
• and
• control the first communications device to perform a scan for wireless networks in response to determining that the connection with said access point is likely to be lost in the near future.

A non-transitory computer readable medium including computer executable instructions which when executed by a processor of a vehicle control the processor to:

• control a first communications device located in the vehicle to scan for wireless networks;
• use a steering wheel position sensor to detect turn information relating to a turn of the vehicle in which the first communications device is located;
• identify one or more available access points based on wireless network identifiers received during said scanning, said identified access points including a first access point;
• prioritize individual identified access points, said step of prioritizing individual access points including prioritizing the first access point based on signal strength of a signal received from the first access point and one or more of:
• i) whether the first access point is a fixed or mobile wireless access point or ii) first access point motion information;
• and
• determine based on the detected turn information, that a connection with an access point is likely to be lost in the near future;
• and
• control the first communications device to scan for wireless networks in response to determining that the connection with said access point is likely to be lost in the near future.