Patent ID: 6757263
Filing Date: 2004-06-29
Classification: H04L,H04W

Abstract:
A repeating subscriber unit having independent routing intelligence for use in a wireless and connectionless communication network in which packets are routed among subscriber units under distributed control, said repeating subscriber unit comprising:a multi-directional wireless interface which receives packets from any of a plurality of neighbor subscriber nodes and transmits packets to any of said plurality of neighbor subscriber nodes; a router coupled to said interface; a payload terminal device coupled to said router; a controller coupled to said router and configured to identify to which of said neighbor subscriber units to route packets received at said router in response to feedback from said neighbor subscriber units; said multi-directional wireless interface comprises an electronically steerable antenna; said controller is configured to build a table identifying said neighbor subscriber units by causing said repeating subscriber unit, at each of a plurality of azimuthal directions, to transmit a neighbor update request message, to wait for receipt of a neighbor update reply, and to record data conveyed by said neighbor update reply if said neighbor update reply is received; and communication links having repeating subscriber unit transmit paths and repeating subscriber unit receive paths are respectively formed between said repeating subscriber unit and each of said neighbor subscriber units.