Method and apparatus having a hybrid routing architecture with a combination of network layer reactive routing and subnet layer proactive routing

An apparatus that sends packets from a wireless communication device, comprising:

• an interface between a network layer and a subnet layer;
• and
• a network layer reactive router that receives a packet for transmission to a destination at the network layer from an upper layer within wireless communication device, determines if the packet's route to the destination can be determined within the network layer, wherein if the packet route to the destination can be determined within the layer, the network layer reactive router forwards the packet to the destination, otherwise the network layer reactive router queries a subnet layer for the packet's route to the destination and determines if the subnet layer has determined the packet's route to the destination, wherein if the subnet layer has determined the packet's route to the destination, the network layer reactive router forwards the packet to the subnet layer for forwarding to destination, otherwise the network layer reactive router sends a route request to the destination, receives a response to the route request from the destination, and forwards the packet according to route specified in the route request response.

An apparatus that sends packets from a wireless communication device, comprising:

• an interface between a network layer and a subnet layer;
• and
• a network layer reactive router that receives a packet from a network for forwarding to a next hop, determines if the packet's route is found in a subnet route table, wherein if the network layer reactive router finds the packet's route in the subnet route table, the network layer reactive router forwards the packet to the next hop according to the subnet route table, otherwise, network layer reactive router determines if the packet's route to the next hop can be determined within the network layer, wherein if the network layer reactive router can determine the packet's route to the next hop within the network layer, the network layer reactive router forwards the packet to the next hop, otherwise, the network layer reactive router sends a route error message to the sender of the packet.