Patent ID: 8155045
Filing Date: 2012-04-10
Classification: H04L,H04W

Abstract:
1. A method of operating a wireless network for enabling nodes to communicate with one another on one or more shared network channels or sub-channels according to either a point-to-multipoint (PMP) protocol, or a mobile ad hoc or mesh (MANET/mesh) protocol, comprising: configuring one or more nodes of the network each to operate at determined times as a base station or a subscriber station according to the PMP protocol, and to operate at times other than the determined times according to the MANET/mesh protocol, including: (i) implementing the MANET or mesh protocol at a given node by using a first medium access control (MAC) component at the node; (ii) implementing the PMP protocol at the given node by using a second MAC component at the node; (iii) providing control information or data to and from the first and the second MAC components at the node; (iv) running the first and the second MAC components according to a common timing reference; (v) providing the node with a radio frequency (RF) component; (vi) providing the node with a first physical layer component that is coupled to the first MAC component and to the RF component and which is responsive to the common timing reference, for (a) processing first data input from the first MAC component according to the MANET or mesh protocol and outputting the processed first data to the RF component for transmission, and (b) processing second data input from the RF component according to the MANET or mesh protocol and outputting the processed second data to the first MAC component; (vii) providing the node with a second physical layer component that is coupled to the second MAC component and to the RF component and which is responsive to the common timing reference, for (a) processing third data input from the second MAC component according to the PMP protocol and outputting the processed third data to the RF component for transmission, and (b) processing fourth data input from the RF component according to the PMP protocol and outputting the processed fourth data to the second MAC component; and (viii) bridging the first and the second MAC components with one another for passing scheduling information from one of the MAC components to the other one of the MAC components.