Method and apparatus for adapting a routing map for a wireless communications network

A wireless communication unit (WCU) arranged and constructed to operate as wireless router that dynamically reconfigures a routing map for the WCU, the WCU comprising in combination:

• a receiver for receiving a presented load;
• a transmitter for transmitting a transmitted load;
• a controller, coupled to said receiver and said transmitter, for;
• scheduling said presented load to be transmitted on a number of wireless links with other nodes;
• determining when said presented load is greater than said transmitted load;
• and
• dynamically adjusting said number of wireless links with other nodes to increase a transmit rate when said presented load is greater than said transmitted load;
• and
• operating to send an inquiry concerning a destination and receive a response regarding support for the destination;
• wherein said controller dynamically adjusts said number of links by dropping a lower rate link and retaining a higher rate link;
• wherein said controller further determines that said higher rate link is part of a path that will support said destination served by said lower rate link;
• and
• wherein said controller operating to send said inquiry concerning said destination over said higher rate link and to receive a favorable response regarding said support.

A method of dynamically reconfiguring a routing map for a routing node within a wireless communications system, the method comprising:

• determining when the node is receiving a presented load that is greater than a transmitted load;
• and
• dynamically adjusting a number of wireless links with other nodes to increase a transmit rate when said presented load is greater than said transmitted load, wherein said dynamically adjusting said number of wireless links further includes sending an inquiry concerning a destination and receiving a response regarding support for the destination, and additionally includes increasing said number of links;
• wherein said increasing said number of links includes adding a link that will support said destination that is presently supported by an existing link;
• and
• wherein said sending an inquiry further comprises sending said inquiry concerning said destination over said existing link and said receiving said response further comprises receiving a response indicating an average transmitted rate for a path to said destination.

A wireless communication unit (WCU) arranged and constructed to operate as wireless router that dynamically reconfigures a routing map for the WCU, the WCU comprising in combination:

• a receiver for receiving a presented load;
• a transmitter for transmitting a transmitted load;
• a controller, coupled to said receiver and said transmitter, for;
• scheduling said presented load to be transmitted on a number of wireless links with other nodes;
• determining when said presented load is greater than said transmitted load;
• and
• dynamically adjusting said number of wireless links with other nodes to increase a transmit rate when said presented load is greater than said transmitted load;
• and
• operating to send an inquiry concerning a destination and receive a response regarding support for the destination;
• wherein said controller dynamically adjusts said number of links by increasing said number of links;
• wherein said increasing said number of links includes adding a link that will support said destination that is presently supported by an existing link;
• and
• wherein said controller operating to send an inquiry further operates to send said inquiry concerning said destination over said existing link and to receive a response indicating an average transmitted rate for a path to said destination.