Multipoint relay (MPR) network and related methods

A node for a multi-point relay (MPR) wireless network comprising a plurality of spaced apart nodes, the node comprising:

• wireless transceiver circuitry, beacon circuitry, and a controller coupled to the wireless transceiver circuitry and beacon circuitry;
• the controller configured to cooperate with controllers of other nodes to
• operate the beacon circuitry to determine a respective link strength metric for each potential link between nodes,
• assign a set of nodes from among the plurality of nodes to function as gateway nodes and assign other individual nodes to communicate via respective gateway nodes based upon the respective link strength metrics to define the MPR network so that one-hop links have a strongest link strength metric, and
• operate the wireless transceiver circuitry for communications over the MPR network and reduce transmit power while meeting a desired data rate.

A method of operating a multi-point relay (MPR) wireless network comprising a plurality of spaced apart nodes, each node comprising wireless transceiver circuitry, beacon circuitry, and a controller coupled to the wireless transceiver circuitry and beacon circuitry;

• the method comprising:
• using the plurality of controllers to operate the beacon circuitry to determine a respective link strength metric for each potential link between nodes,
• assign a set of nodes from among the plurality of nodes to function as gateway nodes and assign other individual nodes to communicate via respective gateway nodes based upon the respective link strength metrics to define the MPR network so that one-hop links have a strongest link strength metric, and
• operate the wireless transceiver circuitry for communications over the MPR network and reduce transmit power while meeting a desired data rate.