Patent ID: 8111651

Claim:
A wireless two-way RF data communication device that forms a node of a data communications network, the device comprising: (a) a memory having stored therein an unique identifier of the wireless two-way RF data communication device that uniquely identifies the wireless two-way RF data communication device within the data communications network; (b) a receiver configured to receive radio frequency transmissions; (c) a transmitter configured to make radio frequency transmissions; and (d) electronic components arranged and configured such that the wireless two-way RF data communication device communicates with other nodes of the data communications network in communicating messages from originating nodes to destination nodes, and such that each message that is communicated by the wireless two-way RF data communication device includes the unique identification of the wireless two-way RF data communication device; (e) wherein the electronic components of the wireless two-way RF data communication device are further arranged and configured such that each message that is communicated by the wireless two-way RF data communication device includes the unique identification of each intermediate node by which the message has been communicated in the data communications network and a link quality for each communication link in the pathway by which the message has been communicated in the data communications network; (f) wherein the electronic components of the wireless two-way RF data communication device are further arranged and configured to calculate an overall link quality for a pathway; and (g) wherein the electronic components of the wireless two-way RF data communication device are further arranged and configured to identify known pathways to a destination node in the data communications network, compare overall link qualities and number of hops of the identified known pathways, and send a message to the destination node by one of the identified known pathways as a function of the comparison of the overall link qualities and number of hops of the identified known pathways.