Apparatus, and associated method, for utilizing antenna information determinative of antenna operation in a wireless mesh network

Abstract

Apparatus, and associated method, for facilitating use of an antenna assembly forming a portion of a communication station, such as a node of a wireless mesh network. Antenna information is determined and stored at a routing table of the node. The antenna information is combined with an IP address or other identifier of another node to which a data packet is to be communicated. The antenna information is utilized to define characteristics to be exhibited by the antenna assembly to best facilitate communication of the data packet between the nodes.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates generally to a manner by which to facilitate use of an antenna assembly forming a portion of a communication station, such as a node of a wireless mesh network. More particularly, the present invention relates to apparatus, and an associated method, by which to provide antenna information to be used by the communication station to utilize the antenna assembly in a manner by which best to effectuate communication of a data packet with another communication station. An IP address, or other identifier, contained in the data packet is mapped to the antenna information to identify in what manner the antenna assembly should be utilized to communicate the data packet. Antenna weighting values, beam angle selection, and sector antenna selection are all exemplary of antenna information which is mapped together with, or combined with, the IP address. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] A communication system is formed, at a minimum, of a sending station and...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0019] Operation of an embodiment of the present invention provides a manner by which to provide antenna information to be used by the communication station to utilize the antenna assembly to best effectuate communication of a data packet.

[0026] In these and other aspects, therefore, apparatus, and an associated method, is provided for a wireless mesh network having a first node and at least a second node. The first node is identified by a first identifier, and the second node is identified by a second identifier. The first node has a first antenna transducer assembly at which to transduce a data packet communicated between the first and at least second nodes. The data packet includes data values of at least a selected one of the first and second identifiers. Indication of antenna transducer-related information by which to direct operation of the first antenna transducer assembly is facilitated, thereby to efficiently communicate the data packet between the first and at least second nodes. A mapper is coupled to receive an indication of the values of the selected one of the first and second identifiers included to form a portion of the data packet. The mapper maps the values of the selected one of the first and second identifiers to mapped values. The mapped values include values representative of the antenna transducer-related information, and the mapped values are incorporate into the data packet. Thereby, identified with the data packet is the antenna transducer-related information by which to direct operation of the first antenna transducer assembly.

Problems solved by technology

More than one wireless mesh network might be installed over a common geographical area due to the unlicensed nature of the 5 GHz band.

However, the unlicensed nature of the band also increases the possibility that signals generated during operation of one communication system within the frequency band might generate signals which interfere with operation of another communication system operable at the same frequency band.

Existing proposals related to standardization of wireless mesh networks, however, do not generally provide for dynamic frequency selection.

Images