Location based routing for mobile ad-hoc networks

Apparatus for use in a node of a packet network, the apparatus comprising:

• a global positioning system receiver for determining location information of the node;
• and
• a processor that implements a geometry-based routing protocol for routing packets to distant nodes such that the processor uses location information received from a plurality of local area nodes to select an identified node that is closest to one of the distant nodes, calculates distances between the node and the plurality of local area nodes, and calculate calculates distances between the destination one distant node and each of the plurality of local area nodes, the selecting based on the calculated distances between the one distant node and each of the plurality of local area nodes.

Apparatus for use in a node of a packet network, the apparatus comprising:

• a processor that implements a geometry-based routing protocol for routing packets to distant nodes such that that processor uses location information received from a plurality of local area nodes to select a selected node that is closer to one of the distant nodes, calculates distances between the node and the plurality of local area nodes, calculates distances between the one distant node and each of the plurality of local area nodes, the selecting based on the calculated distances between the one distant node and each of the plurality of local area nodes, wherein the processor sends the packet to a next hop node on a path to the selected node.

Apparatus for use in a first node of a packet network, the apparatus comprising:

• a memory for storing (a) a local topology table comprising a list of nodes that are in a local area of the first node, (b) a location table comprising location information about nodes of the packet network, and (c) a routing table;
• and
• a processor for (a) using the location table to identify one of the list of nodes in the local area that is closer to a node of the packet network outside of the local area than the first node, in part by calculating distances between a source node and a plurality of local area nodes, and calculating distances between the destination node and the plurality of local area nodes, (b) creating an entry in the routing table that associates the node outside of the local area with a next hop node from the local area, where the next hop node is on a path to the identified local area node, and (c) routing a received packet to a destination node by using the routing table, wherein at least one of the nodes of the list of nodes is not on a path to the destination node.

An improved node for use in routing packets to a destination node of a packet network, the improvement comprising:

• a router that routes packets to the destination node by determining if the destination node is in a local area of nodes such that if the destination node is not in the local area of nodes, the router identifies a local area node closer to the destination node than the improved node, in part by calculating distances between the improved node and a plurality of local area nodes and calculating distances between the destination node and the plurality of local area nodes, and routes the packet to the identified local area node without including at least one of the plurality of local area nodes.

An improved node for use in routing packets to a destination node of a packet network, the improvement comprising:

• a router that routes packets to the destination node by determining if the destination node is in a local area of nodes such that if the destination node is not in the local area of nodes, the router identifies a local area node closer to the destination node than the improved node, in part by calculating distances between the improved node and a plurality of local area nodes and calculating distances between the destination node and the plurality of local area nodes, and sends the packet to a next hop node on a path to the identified local area node without including at least one of the plurality of local area nodes.