Method and apparatus for implementing path-based traffic stream admission control in a wireless mesh network

A wireless mesh network comprising:

• (a) a destination mesh point (MP);
• (b) at least one intermediate MP;
• and
• (c) a source MP, wherein the source MP is configured to originate a traffic stream (TS) with an initial resources/quality of service (QoS) requirement destined to the destination MP, the source MP includes a first transmitter which transmits a first add TS (ADDTS) request message to the intermediate MP, the intermediate MP includes an admission control unit which determines whether to admit or reject the TS, a second transmitter of the intermediate MP transmits a second ADDTS request message to the destination MP if the intermediate MP admits the TS with the initial resources/QoS requirement, and a third transmitter of the destination MP transmits a path admission (PA) response message to the source MP indicating that the source MP can begin a session with the destination MP.

In a wireless mesh network including a plurality of mesh points (MPs) and a centralized controller, a method of adding a traffic stream (TS), the method comprising:

• (a) a first one of the MPs transmitting an add TS (ADDTS) request message to the centralized controller;
• (b) the centralized controller selecting a route including the first MP;
• (c) the centralized controller transmitting an ADDTS commit message to the first MP, the ADDTS commit message identifying a TS and a resources/quality of service (QoS) requirement;
• (d) the centralized controller transmitting ADDTS commit messages identifying the TS and the resources/QoS requirement to other MPs included in the selected route, the other MPs including a destination MP;
• and
• (e) if the other MPs satisfy the resources/QoS requirement, establishing a session between the first MP and the destination MP via the selected route.

A mesh point (MP) configured to operate in a wireless mesh network, the MP comprising:

• an antenna;
• a transmitter coupled to the antenna for transmitting admission control messages;
• a receiver coupled to the antenna for receiving admission control messages;
• a processor for controlling the receiver and the transmitter;
• and
• an admission control unit coupled to the processor, the admission control unit comprising:
• a first message processor configured to generate add traffic stream (ADDTS) request messages, ADDTS reject messages and ADDTS response messages;
• a resource manager configured to determine whether or not a requested resources/quality of service (QoS) requirement of a traffic stream can be satisfied;
• and
• a second message processor configured to transmit and receive path admission (PA) response messages.

A central controller configured to operate in a wireless mesh network having centralized traffic stream admission control architecture, the central controller comprising:

• an antenna;
• a transmitter coupled to the antenna for transmitting admission control messages;
• a receiver coupled to the antenna for receiving admission control messages;
• a processor for controlling the receiver and the transmitter;
• and
• an admission control unit coupled to the processor, the admission control unit comprising:
• a resource database configured to store resource information associated with a plurality of MPs in the wireless mesh network;
• a best route selector for selecting a best route and informing the resource database accordingly;
• and
• a message processor configured to generate add traffic stream (ADDTS) commit messages and ADDTS modify messages in response to ADDTS request messages and ADDTS reject messages, respectively.