The invention relates to opportunistic
wireless mesh networks which operate under random networking conditions. Such random
network conditions typically limit the effectiveness of prior art
wireless mesh networks, and more particularly to those supporting low power devices within the
wireless network. Random
network conditions include: random power supply, random node distribution, random node mobility, high mobility of nodes, random wireless link fluctuations, and random application traffic. The opportunistic
wireless mesh network utilizes a two-layer architecture Embedded
Wireless Interconnect (EWI) framework, which is adopted as the architecture
reference model. A mesh network according to the invention supports opportunistically determining both mesh interconnections and network transmission routes by providing nodes with broadcast modules and
unicast modules. The methods provide novel low power opportunistic wireless mesh networks that support
interconnection with existing network infrastructures such as Open
System Interconnect (OSI) based wired or wireless networks. Network embodiments provide protocol translation at network borders to allow micro- and
macro-
mobility management for wireless devices and their associated users. Additionally embodiments of the opportunistic wireless mesh networks address reduction in
power consumption.