Intelligent communication node object beacon framework (ICBF) with temporal transition network protocol (TTNP) in a mobile ad hoc network

A method for managing and controlling the discovery and maintenance of routes in a mobile ad hoc network comprising a plurality of wireless mobile nodes and a plurality of wireless communication links connecting the mobile nodes together, a group of mobile nodes comprising a temporary or permanent association of at least two of the plurality of mobile nodes, the method comprising:

• transmitting group condition information from at least one of the mobile nodes of the group using a beacon signal;
• determining a group condition of the group of mobile nodes;
• varying the beacon signal based upon the determined group condition;
• building and updating route tables at each mobile node with a first one of proactive and reactive route discovery processes to define routes in the network, a route comprising a set of links and mobile nodes from a source to a destination;
• receiving beacon signals and storing group condition information at each node;
• predicting route stability over time based upon the group condition information;
• and
• switching to a second one of the proactive and reactive route discovery processes when predicted route stability reaches a first transition parameter.

A mobile ad hoc network comprising:

• a plurality of mobile nodes;
• a plurality of wireless communication links connecting the mobile nodes together;
• each mobile node comprising
• a communications device to wirelessly communicate with other nodes of the plurality of nodes via the wireless communication links, and
• a controller to route communications via the communications device, and comprising
• a condition determining unit to determine a condition of the mobile node;
• a beacon signal generator to generate and transmit beacon signals, the beacon signal generator varying the beacon signals based upon the determined condition of the mobile node,
• route tables to define routes in the network, a route comprising a set of wireless communication links and mobile nodes from a source to a destination,
• a route discovery module to discover routes and update the route tables with one of a plurality of route discovery processes,
• a condition module to receive beacon signals and store node condition information,
• a route stability predictor to predict route stability over time based upon the node condition information, and
• a route discovery process selector to select between the plurality of route discovery processes based upon the predicted route stability.