Ultra-low latency packet transport in ad hoc networks

A communications node for use in an ad hoc network, comprising:

• a data packet generator for encapsulating a data payload, which is encapsulated within a transport layer header, within a physical layer header, the physical layer header having a transit key representative of information for forwarding the data packet through the ad hoc network;
• a transit key processor, within a physical layer of the node, for processing an incoming data packet to extract the transit key from a physical layer header of the data packet, wherein the transit key comprises data that is indicative of an intended path of the data packet;
• a transit decider, within the physical layer, responsive to the extracted transit key for controlling whether to forward the data packet across the ad hoc network, wherein the data packet is dropped if the node is not on the intended path;
• and
• a data switch, within the physical layer, for forwarding the data packet in response to a signal from the transit decider, without processing the data packet using a link layer or network layer of the node.

A circuit system for use with a node in an ad hoc network, comprising

• a transit key circuit for processing an incoming data packet to extract a transit key from a physical layer header of the data packet, wherein the transit key comprises data that is indicative of an intended path of the data packet, and wherein the physical layer header encapsulates a transport layer header which further encapsulates a data payload;
• a transit decider circuit, within a physical layer of the node, responsive to the extracted transit key for controlling whether to forward the data packet across the ad hoc network, wherein the data packet is dropped if the node is not on the intended path;
• and
• a data switch circuit, within the physical layer, for forwarding the data packet in response to a signal from the transit decider, without processing the data packet using a link layer or network layer of the node.

A method for routing data packets across an ad hoc network, comprising

• encapsulating a data payload, which is encapsulated within a transport layer header, within a physical layer header having a transit key representative of information for forwarding a data packet to a destination node, wherein the transit key comprises data that is indicative of an intended path of the data packet;
• transmitting the encapsulated data packet to nodes on the network;
• directing the nodes to extract a copy of the transit key from the physical layer header;
• and
• determining at a physical layer of the node to forward the data packet as a function of the extracted transit key, without processing the data packet using a link layer or network layer of the node, wherein the data packet is dropped if the node is not on the intended path.

A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon instructions for directing a computer system to implement a method, comprising the steps

• encapsulating a data payload, which is encapsulated within a transport layer header, within a physical layer header having a transit key representative of information for forwarding a data packet to a destination node, wherein the transit key comprises data that is indicative of an intended path of the data packet;
• transmitting the encapsulated data packet to nodes on the network;
• directing the nodes to extract a copy of the transit key from the physical layer header;
• and
• determining at a physical layer of the node to forward the data packet as a function of the extracted transit key, without processing the data packet using a link layer or network layer of the node, wherein the data packet is dropped if the node is not on the intended path.