Patent ID: 7787361
Filing Date: 2010-08-31
Classification: H04L,H04W

Abstract:
1. A method comprising: receiving a unicast periodic message, said unicast periodic message for checking a validity of an established route between a mesh point and a destination point in a mesh network, wherein said mesh network comprises a spanning tree based routing topology connecting said mesh point to said destination point via a pre-defined tree based route of said spanning tree based routing topology comprising more hops than said established route, and wherein said spanning tree based routing topology is defined by a root node that connects each node in said mesh network with an Internet connection; forwarding said unicast periodic message to a designated destination address associated with said destination point via said established route; identifying a route error when a reply to said unicast periodic message is not received; broadcasting a route request message to a plurality of mesh points in said mesh network comprising said mesh point and said destination point to determine a new optimal route between said mesh point and said destination point, wherein said route request message is broadcast using a hybrid ad-hoc on-demand distance vectoring (AODV) protocol that includes a maximum hop count comprising fewer hops than said pre-defined tree based route, and wherein said new optimal route replaces said established route; and transmitting a unicast data packet from said mesh point through said pre-defined tree based route to said destination point until said new optimal route is established.