Route discovery in networks with combo nodes

A wireless network node (WN2) for use in a wireless mesh network, the wireless network node arranged to operate as a proxy in the wireless mesh network, the wireless network node comprising:

• a first transceiver (XCV1) to communicate using a first wireless communication protocol, and
• a second transceiver (XCV2) to communicate using a second wireless communication protocol for wireless mesh networking, and wherein the wireless network node is arranged to:
• communicate with a mobile wireless device using the first communication protocol;
• communicate with wireless nodes in the wireless network using the second wireless communication protocol;
• and
• in response to a receipt of a many-to-one-route-request using the wireless mesh network, store an entry into the receiving wireless network node's routing table indicating that the node issuing the many-to-one-route-request is a concentrator node;
• and wherein the wireless network node is arranged to:
• in preparation for communication using the second wireless communication protocol as a concentrator, regularly sends out many-to-one-route-requests, MTORRs, in the wireless mesh network at randomized intervals with an average delay above a predetermined value, to spread out the many-to-one-route-requests in the wireless mesh network over time.

A wireless mesh network comprising a first plurality of wireless network nodes,

• each wireless network node of the first plurality arranged to operate as a proxy comprising a first transceiver to communicate using a first wireless communication protocol, and to communicate using a second wireless communication protocol for wireless mesh networking, wherein each of the first plurality of wireless network nodes is arranged to:
• communicate with a mobile wireless device using the first communication protocol;
• communicate with wireless nodes in the wireless network using the second wireless communication protocol;
• and
• in response to receipt of a many-to-one-route-request using the wireless mesh network, store an entry into the receiving wireless network node's routing table indicating that the node issuing the many-to-one-route-request is a concentrator node;
• wherein each wireless network node of the first plurality is arranged to operate as both a proxy and a concentrator and;
• in preparation for communication using the second wireless communication protocol as a concentrator, regularly send out many-to-one-route-requests in the wireless mesh network at randomized intervals with an average delay above a predetermined value, to spread out the many-to-one-route-requests in the wireless mesh network over time.

A wireless mesh network comprising a first plurality of wireless network nodes,

• each wireless network node of the first plurality arranged to operate as a proxy comprising:
• a first transceiver to communicate using a first wireless communication protocol, and
• a second transceiver to communicate using a second wireless communication protocol for wireless mesh networking, wherein each of the first plurality of wireless network nodes is arranged to:
• communicate with a mobile wireless device using the first communication protocol;
• communicate with wireless nodes in the wireless network using the second wireless communication protocol and
• in response to receipt of a many-to-one-route-request using the wireless mesh network, store an entry into the receiving wireless network node's routing table indicating that the node issuing the many-to-one-route-request is a concentrator node;
• wherein each wireless network node of the first plurality is arranged to operate as both a proxy and a concentrator and;
• in preparation for communication using the second wireless communication protocol as a concentrator, regularly send out many-to-one-route-requests over the wireless mesh network at randomized intervals with an average delay above a predetermined value, to spread out the many-to-one-route-requests in the wireless mesh network over time.