Skypilot Networks, Inc.

Trilliant Networks, Inc.

Thomas Hammel

Mark Rich

Kirk Bradley

Michael R Franceschini

Joseph T Merenda

Robert H Sparr

Mark J Rich

William G Olsen

Kirk Alton Bradley

Method and apparatus for providing a wireless mesh network and network node are described. More particularly, a network having network node neighborhoods is described. A node comprises a multi-sectored antenna and a transceiver controller. Nodes are configured for installation without antenna pointing and without pre-coordination with the network. Software architecture for the node is also described.

Wireless mesh network

Wireless mesh network node

Network channel access protocol is disclosed. More particularly, a distributed, locally determined, channel access protocol that adapts to load, avoids interference and controls access by a group of nodes to a set of shared channels is disclosed. Shared channel space is divided into a number of communication slots that are repeated at a predetermined interval. Permission to use a slot to communicate between any two nodes is dynamically adjusted by the channel access protocol, which locally: (i) estimates load to neighboring nodes; (ii) allocates or deallocates slot usage to adapt to load and avoid interference; and (iii) asserts and advertises slot usage within an interference area about itself.

Network channel access protocol&#x2014;slot scheduling

Network channel access protocol&#x2014;frame execution

Network channel access protocol-interference and load adaptive

Network channel access protocol - slot allocation

Growing community of inventors

San Francisco, CA, United States of America

Thomas Hammel