End-to-end packet aggregation in mesh networks

A method comprising:

• accessing one or more transmit queues, each corresponding to a mobile station wirelessly connected to a given wireless mesh access point of a plurality of mesh access points, wherein the one or more transmit queues include a plurality of received packets;
• selecting a first mesh access point of the plurality of mesh access points;
• selecting a transmit queue corresponding to a first mobile station wirelessly connected to the selected first mesh access point;
• aggregating packets that are destined for the selected first mobile station up to a first size limit for mobile stations or a second size limit for aggregation packets, the first size limit being the maximum aggregation size limit for a particular mobile station before another mobile station is selected for aggregation;
• determining that the packets destined for the selected first mobile station have been aggregated up to the first size limit but not the second size limit;
• upon the determination that the packets destined for the selected first mobile station have been aggregated up to the first size limit but not the second size limit,
• selecting a second mobile station that is wirelessly connected to the selected first mesh access point;
• and
• aggregating packets that are destined for the second mobile station up to the first size limit or the second size limit;
• and
• composing an aggregation packet including the aggregated packets and transmit the aggregation packet to the selected first mesh access point.

An apparatus comprising:

• one or more processors;
• a memory;
• one or more wireless network interfaces;
• and
• computer-readable instructions encoded in one or more tangible media for execution and when executed operable to cause the one or more processors to:
• access one or more transmit queues, each corresponding to a mobile station wirelessly connected to a given wireless mesh access point of a plurality of mesh access points, wherein the one or more transmit queues include a plurality of received packets;
• select a first mesh access point of the plurality of mesh access points;
• select a transmit queue corresponding to a first mobile station wirelessly connected to the selected first mesh access point;
• aggregate packets that are destined for the selected first mobile station up to a first size limit for mobile stations or a second size limit for aggregation packets, the first size limit being the maximum aggregation size limit for a particular mobile station before another mobile station is selected for aggregation,
• determine that the packets destined for the selected first mobile station have been aggregated up to the first size limit but not the second size limit;
• upon the determination that the packets destined for the selected first mobile station have been aggregated up to the first size limit but not the second size limit,
• select a second mobile station that is wirelessly connected to the selected first mesh access point;
• and
• aggregate packets that are destined for the second mobile station up to the first size limit or the second size limit;
• and
• compose an aggregation packet including the aggregated packets and transmit the aggregation packet to the selected first mesh access point.