Wireless mesh network configuration

摘要

A wireless mesh network employs an integrated interface between a plurality of access points for mitigating throughput degradation of multiple consecutive “daisy chain,” or mesh, links. The mesh network employs a plurality of access points, each linked back to a root access point by a series of “hops” through other access points. The wireless mesh network, therefore, employs a plurality of access points operable for wireless links to subscriber, or user, devices, including cellular phones, smart phones, tablet and laptop computing devices, or any suitable portable or handheld computing device. Access points establish an integrated interface with an adjacent access point for direct coupling of the access points for message traffic. The resulting integrated access point establishes a wireless link to a root access point connected to a backhaul network from which media services emanate.

主权项

1. A method of wireless data transport in a wireless mesh network comprising:
identifying, in a wireless mesh network having access points wirelessly coupled by network links, an integrated interface to an access point, the integrated interface being a wired transport medium further comprising directly connecting two of the access points using the integrated interface such that message packet follows a wired path between the two connected access points including a first hop access point; receiving, via the integrated interface with an access point, a message packet from a user device, the integrated interface coupling the two connected access points independently of the wireless mesh network links; and forwarding, via a single wireless hop from the first hop access point, the message packet to a root access point, the root access point responsive to a plurality of successive access points in the mesh network, the root access point invoking a high-gain directional antenna, wherein the wireless links between successive access points are selected based on a distance to the root access point, maximum power usage and minimum throughput, the root access point establishing a link with a plurality of the first hop access points at a distance such that the first hop access point from the root is substantially more distant than a mesh network hop between the successive access points.