US 6,982,982 B1
System and method for providing a congestion optimized address resolution protocol for wireless ad-hoc networks
Charles R. Barker, Jr., Orlando, Fla. (US); Michael A. Ruckstuhl, Orlando, Fla. (US); and Eric A. Whitehill, Fort Wayne, Ind. (US)
Assigned to MeshNetworks, Inc., Maitland, Fla. (US)
Filed on Oct. 23, 2001, as Appl. No. 9/983,176.
Int. Cl. H04L 12/28 (2006.01); H04L 12/56 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 370—395.54 52 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A node, for use in a wireless ad-hoc communications network, and being adapted to transmit and receive data packets to and from other nodes in said wireless ad-hoc network and to operate as a router to route other data packets destined for said other nodes in said wireless ad-hoc network to said other nodes, said node comprising:
an address resolution protocol module, adapted to generate an address resolution protocol (ARP) request for a media access control (MAC) address corresponding to an Internet protocol (IP) address, said MAC address being associated with a device; and
a transceiver, adapted to transmit said ARP request for delivery to an access point of a network portion without broadcasting said ARP request to a plurality of said other nodes in said wireless ad-hoc network, said access point being adapted to enable said node to communicate with said network portion.