Automatic route configuration in hierarchical wireless mesh networks
AssigneeCisco Technology, Inc.
InventorsNeal Castagnoli, Robert Friday
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Abstract
Methods, apparatuses and systems directed to routing configuration in a hierarchical wireless mesh network. In one implementation, the present invention uses neighbor messages to allow routing nodes to discover one another and configure a hierarchical routing configuration. In one implementation, the present invention provides a neighbor and adjacency protocol that provides for automatic mesh configuration and loop-free mesh topologies.
Claims38
A wireless routing node for use in a hierarchical wireless mesh network, comprising
- a wireless network interface for communicating with one or more routing nodes;
- a processor;
- a memory storing an adjacency data structure comprising path information for at least one neighboring routing node;
- a routing node application, stored in the memory, comprising instructions operable to cause the processor and the wireless routing node to
- discover neighboring routing nodes;
- exchange path information -with discovered routing nodes;
- and
- select, from the discovered routing nodes, a parent routing node based at least in part on the path information.
In a wireless routing node operable in a hierarchal mesh network, the hierarchical mesh network comprising a root routing node, a method comprising
- discovering neighboring routing nodes;
- exchanging path information with the discovered neighboring routing nodes, wherein the path information comprises signal attribute information corresponding to the respective links between the wireless routing node and the discovered neighboring routing nodes, and routing information characterizing the path from a given routing node to the root routing node;
- and
- selecting, based on the path information, a parent routing node from the discovered routing nodes.
A wireless routing node for use in a hierarchical wireless mesh network, comprising
- means for wirelessly communicating with one or more routing nodes;
- means for discovering neighboring routing nodes;
- means for exchanging path information with the discovered neighboring routing nodes, wherein the path information comprises signal attribute information corresponding to the respective links between the wireless routing node and the discovered neighboring routing nodes, and routing information characterizing the path from a given routing node to the root routing node;
- and
- means for selecting, based on the path information, a parent routing node from the discovered routing nodes.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.