Method and apparatus for increasing spectrum use efficiency in a mesh network

摘要

Mesh Network Access Points (APs) points, including gateways and routers, are deployed over a geographic area. The APs monitor the communication channel for other carriers and transmit accordingly. The APs selectively co-transmit when other carriers are sensed, if the efficiency of the mesh network will improve. APs select a transmission rate based on observed carrier-to-interference ratios. APs use directional antennas to increase carrier-to-interference ratios and spectral efficiency. AP transmit schedules are adaptable and adjusted according to observed carrier-to-interference measurements.

主权项

1. A method of managing a communications resource in a mesh network, comprising:
monitoring a communication channel for a request-to-send message; determining a bearing to the request-to-send message; identifying a sector containing the bearing, wherein the identified sector conforms to a mesh network sectoring scheme; scheduling a time for signal transmission based on the identity of the sector containing the bearing and based on a time division multiple access scheme defined to synchronize transmissions among sectors in the mesh network sectoring scheme; and transmitting a signal at the scheduled time to adjust a directional antenna toward the sector containing the bearing.