Active-avoidance-based routing in a wireless ad hoc network

A wireless communication routing method comprising:

• establishing at least one exigency route, said establishing including dividing a wireless network of nodes so as to include plural subnets of nodes, said exigency route to be executed for communication that is between a source said node and a destination said node that are resident in a home said subnet that is beset with exigent circumstances, wherein each established said exigency route is characterized by an initial communicative transmission from the source said node to a said node in a non-home said subnet that is presumed to not be beset with exigent circumstances;
• performing sensory monitoring of the home said subnet to determine whether the home said subnet is beset with exigent circumstances;
• effecting a said initial communicative transmission, wherein the effected said initial communicative transmission is in accordance with an established said exigency route and the performed said sensory monitoring of the home said subnet;
• and
• performing sensory monitoring of each non-home said subnet to determine whether said non-home said subnet is beset with exigent circumstances, wherein:
• the effected said initial communicative transmission is in accordance with the performed said sensory monitoring of each non-home said subnet;
• and
• the established said exigency route in accordance with which said initial communicative transmission is effected is determined, by the performed said sensory monitoring of each non-home said subnet, to be characterized by a said initial communicative transmission to a said node in a non-home said subset that is not beset with exigent circumstances.

A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable storage medium having a computer readable program stored thereon for execution by a computer to perform a method for routing communication in a multi-hop wireless ad hoc network containing a multiplicity of nodes, the method including:

• delimiting a plurality of subnets as included in a wireless network, each said subnet containing a plurality of nodes;
• monitoring each said subnet in terms of detecting an exigency in said subnet, said monitoring including sensing in said subnet at least one physical condition indicative of such exigency;
• establishing a route selection algorithm prescribing, for every said node contained in every said subnet, a preferential order of exigency-existent options for effecting a hop from said node as a transmitting said node to another said node as a receiving said node, the transmitting said node being contained in a transmitting said subnet, the receiving said node being contained in a receiving said subnet, the transmitting said subnet and the receiving said subnet being different said subnets;
• and
• determining a communication route between a source said node and a destination said node, said determination being based on said route selection algorithm if the source said node is contained in a said subnet in which an exigency is detected;
• wherein according to said route selection algorithm:
• an exigency is assumed to exist in a transmitting said subnet;
• any node contained in a said subnet in which an exigency is detected, other than the transmitting said subnet, is deemed to be unavailable as a receiving said node;
• every said node contained in every said subnet has prescribed therefor a said preferential order in which every said subnet, other than the transmitting said subnet, corresponds to an exigency-existent option as a potential receiving said subnet containing a receiving said node.

A wireless communication system comprising plural nodes generally capable of wirelessly communicating with each other, each said node including:

• a computer configured to execute computer program logic that when executed causes the computer to route wireless communication upon occurrence of a damage event, wherein according to the computer program logic:
• said nodes are divided so as to include at least four subnets of nodes;
• each of at least one said node in each said subnet has prescribed therefor a set of at least three ranked-choice alternative routes for communication when a damage event is detected in a home subnet and between a source node and a destination node that both reside in the home subnet;
• each said ranked-choice alternative route in a said set of said ranked-choice alternative routes is characterized by an initial communicative transmission from a source said node to a said node in a non-home subnet;
• no two said ranked-choice alternative routes in a said set of said ranked-choice alternative routes are characterized by a said initial communicative transmission from the source said node to a said node in the same said non-home subnet;
• said ranked-choice alternative routes in a said set of said ranked-choice alternative routes consist of a first-choice alternative route, a second-choice alternative route, and at least a third-choice alternative route;
• an nth-choice-ranked alternative route in a said set of said ranked-choice alternative routes is disqualified that is characterized by an initial communicative transmission from a source said node to a said node in a non-home subnet in which a damage event is detected;
• a (n+1)th-choice alternative route is considered upon disqualification of the nth-choice alternative route;
• at least one sensor, for continually sensing one or more physical parameters to detect a damage event;
• a transceiver, for transmitting communicative transmissions to other said nodes, and for receiving communicative transmissions from other said nodes.