Patent ID: 8498201

Claim:
A method comprising: wirelessly receiving first data at a first backbone router in a wireless network; routing the first data from the first backbone router to a backbone network using a backbone connection of the first backbone router when the backbone connection is operational; detecting a failure of the backbone connection after routing of the first data; automatically reconfiguring the first backbone router to function as a field router that does not route data using the backbone connection; establishing an alternate path between the first backbone router and a second backbone router, the alternate path based on whether the first backbone router is within wireless range of the second backbone router; wirelessly receiving second data at the first backbone router; and wirelessly routing the second data along the alternate path from the first backbone router to the second backbone router without using the backbone connection; wherein establishing the alternate path comprises, when the first backbone router is not within wireless range of the second backbone router: if a neighboring field router within wireless range of the first backbone router is line powered, assigning to the first backbone router a first transmit link and a receive link that occur in specified time slots, the first transmit link and the receive link known to the neighboring field router; and if the neighboring field router within wireless range of the first backbone router is locally powered, assigning a second transmit link to the first backbone router, the second transmit link known to the neighboring field router; and wherein the second data is wirelessly routed to the neighboring field router using one of the first and second transmit links for delivery to the second backbone router.