US Patent 6870816 Self-organizing network with decision engine and method

A self-organizing network and method of operation includes a plurality of kindred nodes and, in some applications, a hub node communicating data packets from source nodes to destination nodes remote from the source nodes. Each data packet includes information (e.g. priority, number of hops, etc.) and packet handling commands. A source node receives data packets with the information and packet handling commands and adjusts its operation (e.g. transmitting power, frequency, bandwidth, etc.) in a way that allows the network to be self-organizing, self-configuring, and self-healing so that data packets are retransmitted from source nodes to destination nodes with a minimum of hops and delay.