Patent ID: 7414982

Claim:
A first node among a plurality of distributed nodes capable of forming or reforming a communication network between the plurality of distributed nodes, each of the plurality of distributed nodes comprising functionally similar components for forming or reforming such a network, the first node comprising: a memory for storing values for one or more node variables for the first node; and one or more components collectively operable to: spontaneously and independent of a centralized controller associated with the network, transmit a probe message to one or more other nodes in the plurality of distributed nodes for purposes of forming or reforming a network; receive a probe message from a second node, the probe message comprising values for one or more node variables for the second node; compare the values for the one or more node variables for the first node to the values for the one or more node variables for the second node within the probe message to determine, independent of a centralized controller associated with the network, whether the first node should set itself to a new channel; and if it is determined that the first node should set itself to the new channel, set the first node to the new channel wherein the one or more node variables for a node comprise: a home channel variable identifying whether the node currently has a home channel on which the node has data-plane connectivity with other nodes within a node group of the node and, if so, identifying the home channel of the node; and a switch count variable reflecting a number of times that the node has changed home channels.