Patent ID: 8520691
Filing Date: 2013-08-27
Classification: H04L,H04W

Abstract:
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 distinct downlink frequency; wherein the connectivity logic determines whether each structured mesh node connects with an external network or another node using its uplink radio and client devices or other mesh nodes connect to each node using each node's downlink radio; wherein the structured mesh network functions in two configurations selected depending on whether a connection to an external network is present; in the first connected configuration the structured mesh network includes at least one structured mesh node's uplink radio comprising a connection to an external network; and in the second isolated configuration none of the structured mesh nodes' uplink radio comprises a connection to an external network, and one of the structured mesh nodes acts as an isolated network root of the isolated configuration and all remaining nodes connect to the isolated network root node as isolated root children nodes forming a tree configuration; wherein clients of nodes of the structured network in a second isolated configuration retain full connectivity within the structured network during the isolated configuration and wherein said client connectivity is uninterrupted during any transition from the isolated configuration to the first connected configuration; wherein distinct downlink frequencies are used by nodes for communication with one or more nodes lower on the tree configuration.