Patent ID: 7995489
Filing Date: 2011-08-09
Classification: H04W

Abstract:
1. A method of managing a plurality of nodes, the method comprising: each node maintaining a pairing list of discovered nodes, if any, discovered by the maintaining node and with which the maintaining node may potentially pair, the pairing list maintained based on pairing criteria applicable by the maintaining node to nodes not paired with the maintaining node; at least a first of the nodes announcing its presence to discover nodes with which to potentially pair; at least a second of the nodes, in response to the announcing, sending its node/link state to at least the first node; based on whether the node/link state sent by the second node is in accordance with the pairing criteria of the first node, the first node selectively listing the second node in the pairing list of the first node; based on whether the second node is listed in the pairing list of the first node, the first node selectively pairing with the second node and establishing connectivity with the second node via one or more links between the first and second nodes; at least the maintaining and selectively pairing performed reiteratively, during operation of a network that includes at least one of the first and second nodes, as part of a background process in which each of the nodes of the network (a) receives current node/link states of all other nodes in the network and (b) manages a link topology relative to the network based on the pairing list of the node and on the current node/link states; the first node capable of communicating with the second node over a link outbound from the first node to the second node via a first transport medium and inbound to the first node from the second node via a transport medium different from the first transport medium.