Method and apparatus for flow control of data in a mesh network

A method for controlling a flow of data in a mesh network that includes a plurality of mesh nodes, comprising:

• determining a desired flow rate, an achievable data rate on a link and a media access control overhead;
• determining an access rate from a desired delay bound using an arbitration inter-frame space time and a contention window parameter;
• and
• selecting a transmission opportunity duration for a transmission of a data flow between a first of the plurality of mesh nodes and a second of the plurality of mesh nodes based on at least one of the desired flow rate, the achievable data rate on the link or the media access control overhead,
• wherein each of the plurality of mesh nodes functions as a wireless repeater that is separated from a given mesh portal within the mesh network by a given number of hops to other mesh nodes, the given mesh portal corresponding to a gateway between the plurality of mesh nodes and one or more external networks.

A non-transitory computer readable medium containing instructions stored thereon, which, when executed by a first mesh node within a mesh network that includes a plurality of mesh nodes, cause the first mesh node to perform operations, the instructions including:

• instructions for processing a received transmit specification including a flow rate and a delay bound of a data flow from a second of the plurality of mesh nodes to negotiate admission of the data flow through the first and second mesh nodes, wherein each of the plurality of mesh nodes functions as a wireless repeater that is separated from a given mesh portal within the mesh network by a given number of hops to other mesh nodes, the given mesh portal corresponding to a gateway between the plurality of mesh nodes and one or more external networks;
• instructions for measuring a channel characteristic of a channel on which the data associated with the received transmit specification will be transmitted on from the second mesh node to the first mesh node;
• instructions for determining a desired transmission rate based at least in part on the channel characteristic;
• and
• instructions for determining a transmission opportunity duration to achieve the flow rate at the desired transmission rate for a transmission of the data flow by the second mesh node to the first mesh node.

An apparatus for controlling a flow of data within a mesh network that includes a plurality of mesh nodes, the apparatus corresponding to a first of the plurality of mesh nodes, comprising:

• a receiving module configured to receive a transmit specification including a flow rate and a delay bound of a data flow from a second of the plurality of mesh nodes to negotiate admission of the data flow through the first and second mesh nodes, wherein each of the plurality of mesh nodes functions as a wireless repeater that is separated from a given mesh portal within the mesh network by a given number of hops to other mesh nodes, the given mesh portal corresponding to a gateway between the plurality of mesh nodes and one or more external networks;
• a measuring module configured to measure a channel characteristic of a channel on which the data associated with the received transmit specification will be transmitted on from the second mesh node to the first mesh node;
• and
• a determining module configured to determine a desired transmission rate based at least in part on the channel characteristic and determine a transmission opportunity duration to achieve the flow rate at the desired transmission rate for a transmission of the data flow by the second mesh node to the first mesh node,
• wherein one or more of the receiving module, the measuring module and the determining module includes a hardware component.

An electronic device for controlling a data flow within a mesh network that includes a plurality of mesh nodes, the electronic device corresponding to a first of the plurality of mesh nodes, comprising:

• a processor configured to measure a channel characteristic of a channel on which data associated with a transmit specification that is received from a second of the plurality of mesh nodes, including a desired flow rate and a delay bound for the data flow, will be transmitted on, from the second mesh node to the first mesh node, to negotiate admission of the data flow through the first and second mesh nodes, to determine a desired transmission rate based at least in part on the channel characteristic, and to determine a transmission opportunity duration to achieve the flow rate at the desired transmission rate for a transmission of the data flow by the second mesh node to the first mesh node;
• and
• a memory coupled to the processor,
• wherein each of the plurality of mesh nodes functions as a wireless repeater that is separated from a given mesh portal within the mesh network by a given number of hops to other mesh nodes, the given mesh portal corresponding to a gateway between the plurality of mesh nodes and one or more external networks.

An apparatus for controlling a flow of data within a mesh network that includes a plurality of mesh nodes, the apparatus corresponding to a first of the plurality of mesh nodes, comprising:

• means for receiving a transmit specification including a flow rate and a delay bound of a data flow from a second of the plurality of mesh nodes to negotiate admission of the data flow through the first and second mesh nodes, wherein each of the plurality of mesh nodes functions as a wireless repeater that is separated from a given mesh portal within the mesh network by a given number of hops to other mesh nodes, the given mesh portal corresponding to a gateway between the plurality of mesh nodes and one or more external networks;
• means for measuring a channel characteristic of a channel on which the data associated with the received transmit specification will be transmitted on from the second mesh node to the first mesh node;
• means for determining a desired transmission rate based at least in part on the channel characteristic;
• and
• determining a transmission opportunity duration to achieve the flow rate at the desired transmission rate for a transmission of the data flow by the second mesh node to the first mesh node.

A non-transitory computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon, which, when executed by a given mesh node within a mesh network that includes a plurality of mesh nodes, cause the given mesh node to perform operations, the instructions including:

• instructions for determining a desired flow rate, an achievable data rate on a link and a media access control overhead;
• instructions for determining an access rate from a desired delay bound using an arbitration inter-frame space time and a contention window parameter;
• and
• instructions for selecting a transmission opportunity duration for a transmission of a data flow between a first of the plurality of mesh nodes and a second of the plurality of mesh nodes based on at least one of the desired flow rate, the achievable data rate on the link or the media access control overhead,
• wherein each of the plurality of mesh nodes functions as a wireless repeater that is separated from a given mesh portal within the mesh network by a given number of hops to other mesh nodes, the given mesh portal corresponding to a gateway between the plurality of mesh nodes and one or more external networks.

An electronic device configured to control a flow of data within a mesh network that includes a plurality of mesh nodes, comprising:

• means for determining a desired flow rate, an achievable data rate on a link and a media access control overhead;
• means for determining an access rate from a desired delay bound using an arbitration inter-frame space time and a contention window parameter;
• and
• means for selecting a transmission opportunity duration for a transmission of a data flow between a first of the plurality of mesh nodes and a second of the plurality of mesh nodes based on at least one of the desired flow rate, the achievable data rate on the link or the media access control overhead,
• wherein each of the plurality of mesh nodes functions as a wireless repeater that is separated from a given mesh portal within the mesh network by a given number of hops to other mesh nodes, the given mesh portal corresponding to a gateway between the plurality of mesh nodes and one or more external networks.