Persistent mesh for isolated mobile and temporal networking

摘要

A structured wireless mesh network is disclosed where a tree-like connection topology is formed. In one embodiment, each node has separate uplink and downlink radios operating on different channels. When a cluster of such nodes becomes isolated as in the case of a mobile mesh application, a node in the cluster according to this invention acts as a root node thus enabling the tree structure to persist, even in isolation. Example methods of joining sub networks are disclosed that guide the joining of mesh networks and channel management. Nodes that may operate in isolation also support a distributed DHCP capability such that IP addresses are assigned to clients even when a connection to a central DHCP server is unavailable.

主权项

1. A structured mesh network capable of isolated operation, comprising:
at least two structured mesh nodes; wherein each structured mesh node comprises at least a connectivity logic; an uplink radio operating on an uplink frequency and a downlink radio operating on a downlink frequency; wherein the connectivity logic determines whether each structured mesh node connects with an external network or another structured mesh node using its uplink radio and whether client devices or other structured mesh nodes connect to each structured mesh node using said each structured mesh node's downlink radio; wherein the structured mesh network functions in two configurations selected depending on whether a connection to said external network is present—a connected configuration and an isolated configuration; wherein in the connected configuration the structured mesh network includes at least one structured mesh node whose uplink radio comprises a connection to said external network; and wherein in the isolated configuration none of the structured mesh nodes' uplink radio comprises a connection to said external network, and one of the structured mesh nodes acts as an isolated network root node of the isolated configuration and all remaining structured mesh nodes connect to the isolated network root node as isolated root children nodes forming a tree configuration; wherein clients and children nodes of each structured mesh node of the structured mesh network in the isolated configuration retain full connectivity within the structured mesh network when the isolated configuration is in effect; wherein the structured mesh network in the isolated configuration includes the isolated network root node having a local Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server for the isolated configuration, wherein said DHCP server randomly selects a random address range from which to assign addresses to clients of said DHCP server.