Wireless mesh radio networks were originally developed for military applications, such that every node could dynamically serve as a router for every other node. Wireless mesh networks work with different wireless technologies including 802.11, 802.15, 802.16, cellular technologies and need not be restricted to any one technology or protocol. Wireless mesh networks can self form and self heal. When one node can no longer operate, the rest of the nodes can still communicate with each other, directly or through one or more intermediate nodes. A mesh network is reliable and offers redundancy. Access to this mesh cloud depends on the radio nodes working together to create a radio network. The coverage area of all radio nodes working as a single network is sometimes called a mesh cloud. Mesh routers forward traffic to and from the gateways, which may or may not be connected to the Internet. Mesh clients are often laptops, cell phones, and other wireless devices. Also, because it sometimes relies on static nodes to act as gateways, it is not a truly all-wireless ad hoc network. Hence, this is a low-mobility centralized form of wireless ad hoc network. In a wireless mesh network, topology tends to be more static, so that routesĬomputation can converge and delivery of data to their destinations can occur. If nodes constantly or frequently move, the mesh spends more time updating routes than delivering data. Wireless mesh networks often consist of mesh clients, mesh routers and gateways.

Ī mesh refers to rich interconnection among devices or nodes. It can also be a form of wireless ad hoc network.

Radio nodes organized in a mesh topology Diagram showing a possible configuration for a wired-wireless mesh network, connected upstream via a VSAT link (click to enlarge)Ī wireless mesh network ( WMN) is a communications network made up of radio nodes organized in a mesh topology.

Inventor 2008 mesh enabler