Method for supporting routing decisions in a wireless mesh network and wireless mesh network

摘要

A method for supporting routing decisions in a wireless mesh network, wherein the network (1) includes a multitude of wireless mesh nodes (2) and wherein at least two of the multitude of wireless mesh nodes (2) function as wireless mesh gateways (3) being connected to a wired infrastructure network (5) via wired and/or wireless links. With respect to an efficient routing of intra-mesh traffic that avoids congestions at the mesh gateways (3) as far as possible, the method includes the steps of performing a discovery mechanism for the wireless mesh gateways (3) to find and/or identify each other, establishing virtual wireless mesh links between the wireless mesh gateways (3) via the wired infrastructure network (5), determining the characteristics of the virtual wireless mesh links, and announcing the characteristics to the wireless mesh nodes (2). Further, a corresponding wireless mesh network with routing decision support is disclosed.

主权项

1. A method for supporting routing decisions in a wireless mesh network (1) that includes a multitude of wireless mesh nodes (2) and wherein at least two of said multitude of wireless mesh nodes (2) function as wireless mesh gateways (3) being connected to a wired infrastructure network (5) via wired and/or wireless links, comprising the steps of:
performing a discovery mechanism for said wireless mesh gateways (3) to find and/or identify each other; establishing virtual wireless mesh links between said wireless mesh gateways (3) via said wired infrastructure network (5); determining characteristics of said virtual wireless mesh links; and announcing said characteristics to said wireless mesh nodes (2), wherein said discovery mechanism includes the step of said wireless mesh gateways (3) sending registrations to a rendezvous node (7), and wherein said wireless mesh gateways (3) query said rendezvous node (7) at predefined intervals to learn about the presence of other wireless mesh gateways (3).