Method and apparatus for controlling communication links between network nodes to reduce communication protocol overhead traffic

In a communications network, a communication unit including a communication link with each neighboring communication unit within said network to facilitate network communications, wherein each said communication link includes a data link for transferring data and a control link for transferring control messages, said communication unit comprising:

• a transmitter to transmit an outgoing message to each said neighboring unit via a corresponding communication link;
• a receiver to receive an incoming message from each said neighboring unit via a corresponding communication link;
• and
• a processor to control said transmission and reception of said outgoing and incoming messages, wherein said processor includes:
• a communications module to examine network connectivity and determine particular communication links associated with said communication unit sufficient to establish communications via said network with each said neighboring unit within a predetermined quantity of hops;
• a link control module to control said communication links in accordance with said determination, wherein said particular communication links are controlled to transmit a control message to corresponding neighboring units, and wherein said link control module includes:
• a data link module to enable said data link of each said communication link associated with said communication unit;
• and
• a control link module to control said control links of said communication links to facilitate transmission of said control message over said particular communication links to corresponding neighboring units and throughout said network;
• and
• a transmission module to facilitate transmission of said control message throughout said network by transmitting said control message via said particular communication links to corresponding neighboring units.

In a communications network employing a communication link between each neighboring communication unit within said network, wherein each said communication link facilitates transfer of data and is selectively controllable to further facilitate transfer of control messages, a method of transmitting and receiving messages by a communication unit within said network comprising the steps of:

• (a) examining network connectivity and determining particular communication links associated with said communication unit sufficient to enable transmission of a control message over said network to each corresponding neighboring unit within a predetermined quantity of hops;
• (b) controlling said communication links associated with said communication unit in accordance with said determination, wherein each associated communication link is controlled to facilitate transmission of data and said particular communication links are controlled to further facilitate transmission of said control message to corresponding neighboring units;
• and
• (c) facilitating transmission of said control message throughout said network by transmitting said control message via said particular communication links to corresponding neighboring units.

In a communications network employing a communication link between each neighboring communication unit within said network, wherein each said communication link includes a data link for transferring data and a control link for transferring control messages, a method of transmitting and receiving messages by a communication unit within said network comprising the steps of:

• (a) examining network connectivity and determining particular communication links associated with said communication unit sufficient to establish communications via said network with each corresponding neighboring unit within a predetermined quantity of hops;
• (b) controlling said communication links associated with said communication unit in accordance with said determination, wherein said particular communication links are controlled to transmit a control message to corresponding neighboring units, and wherein step (b) further includes:
• (b.1) enabling said data link of each said communication link associated with said communication unit;
• and
• (b.2) controlling said control links of said associated communication links to facilitate transmission of said control message over said particular communication links to corresponding neighboring units and throughout said network;
• and
• (c) facilitating transmission of said control message throughout said network by transmitting said control message via said particular communication links to corresponding neighboring units.

A communications network comprising:

• a plurality of nodes each having a communication link between that node and each of its neighboring nodes to facilitate network communications, wherein each said communication link facilitates transfer of data and is selectively controllable to further facilitate transfer of control messages;
• wherein each said node includes:
• an evaluation module to determine particular communication links associated with that node and sufficient to enable transmission of a control message over said network to corresponding neighboring nodes within a predetermined hop limit based on network connectivity;
• and
• a link control module to selectively control said associated communication links in accordance with said determination to enable said particular communication links to facilitate transmission of a control message from that node to each of its neighboring nodes to propagate said control message through said network by succeeding nodes receiving that message, wherein each associated communication link is controlled to facilitate transfer of data and said particular communication links are controlled to further facilitate transmission of said control message.

A communications network comprising:

• a plurality of nodes each including a communication link between that node and each of its neighboring nodes to facilitate network communications, wherein each said communication link includes a data link for transferring data and a control link for transferring control messages;
• wherein each said node includes:
• an evaluation module to determine particular communication links associated with that node and sufficient to establish communications via said network to corresponding neighboring nodes within a predetermined hop limit based on network connectivity;
• and
• a link control module to selectively control said associated communication links in accordance with said determination to enable said particular communication links to facilitate transmission of said control message from that node to each of its neighboring nodes to propagate said control message through said network by succeeding nodes receiving that message, wherein said link control module includes:
• a data link module to enable said data link of each said associated communication link;
• and
• a control link module to control said control links of said associated communication links to facilitate transmission of said control message over said particular communication links to corresponding neighboring nodes and throughout said network.

In a communications network including a plurality of nodes each having a communication link between that node and each fits neighboring nodes, wherein each said communication link includes a data link for transferring data and a control link for transferring control messages, a method of transmitting messages within said network comprising the steps of:

• (a) determining particular communication links for each node sufficient to establish communications via said network from that node to corresponding neighboring nodes within a predetermined hop limit based on network connectivity;
• and
• (b) selectively controlling said communication links of each node in accordance with said determination to enable said particular communication links to facilitate transmission of a control message from that node to each of its neighboring nodes to propagate said control message through said network by succeeding nodes receiving that message, wherein step (b) further includes:
• (b.1) enabling said data link of each said communication link;
• and
• (b.2) controlling said control links of said communication links of each node to facilitate transmission of said control message over said particular communication links of that node to corresponding neighboring nodes and throughout said network.