Architecture for mobile radio networks with dynamically changing topology using virtual subnets

A node structure for a communications network wherein certain nodes of the network are subject to dynamically changing topology, said node structure comprising;

• transmitter/receiver means for establishing parts of communications paths in the network, and processor means for controlling operations of parts of the node structure;
• wherein said processor means includes:
• means for partitioning the network into a number of physical subnets wherein each physical subnet includes a certain number of network nodes in relatively close proximity to one another;
• means for affiliating each node of each physical subnet with a corresponding node of each of the other physical subnets to define a certain number of virtual subnets;
• and
• means for routing a communications path from a source node of one physical subnet to a destination node of another physical subnet, including means for routing certain parts of said path within one or more physical subnets during a first transmission phase, and for routing remaining parts of said path within one or more virtual subnets during a second transmission phase.