Management of backhaul nodes in a microwave backhaul

A first backhaul node in a microwave backhaul, comprising:

• a pole configured to be moved by an environmental factor;
• a first phased array feeder (PAF), mounted to the pole, configured to wirelessly communicate with a plurality of backhaul nodes in the microwave backhaul using a plurality of microwave pathways;
• a sensor configured to determine location information and status information for the backhaul node;
• and
• a physical processing module configured to dynamically configure the first PAF of the first backhaul node to provide the location information and the status information to a remote central control system via the plurality of microwave pathways, the dynamically configuring comprising aiming the first PAF of the backhaul node in response to movement of the pole caused by the environmental factor and wherein the processing module is further configured to re-direct the first backhaul node to be communicatively coupled to a second backhaul node of the plurality of backhaul nodes when a third backhaul node of the plurality of backhaul nodes coupled to the first backhaul node is impaired as a result of a second environmental factor effecting the third backhaul node, the re-directing comprising aiming a first portion of the first PAF of the first backhaul node to a first portion of a first PAF of the second backhaul node.

A monitoring and control system for managing a plurality of backhaul nodes in a microwave backhaul, the plurality of backhaul nodes including a first backhaul node that is communicatively coupled to a second backhaul node, the monitoring and control system comprising:

• a transceiver;
• and
• a physical processing module configured to provide:
• a first service configured to assist in a process of configuring the plurality of backhaul nodes, the plurality of backhaul nodes each including an associated wireless access point and switch fabric circuitry, a portion of the process of configuring being associated with a portion of the associated wireless access point and switch fabric circuitry, and
• a second service configured to establish location information and status information for the plurality of backhaul nodes, the status information being received via communication exchanges with the plurality of backhaul nodes,
• wherein the first service is further configured to reconfigure the first backhaul node to be communicatively coupled to a third backhaul node from among the plurality of backhaul nodes when the location information or the status information indicates an impairment in the second backhaul node as a result of an environmental factor,
• wherein the process of configuring comprises aiming a portion of a first phased array feeder (PAF) of the first backhaul node to a portion of a second PAF of the second backhaul node in response to movement of the first backhaul node or of the second backhaul caused by an environmental factor;
• and
• wherein the reconfiguring comprises aiming the portion of the first PAF to a portion of a third PAF of the third backhaul node when the second backhaul node is impaired.