Patent attributes
An improved protocol for MANETs used in TDRS, JTRS systems and the like, where multiple channels have multiple communication links operating simultaneously within range of each other. All nodes in such MANETs are able to communicate with all their “1 hop” neighbors, even if the neighbors are on different channels. An improved inter-channel communication protocol using a bridge node allows nodes on separate channels to communicate. The bridge node operates as a pseudo-bi-directional link between two neighboring channels in the MANET. An Inter-Channel Bridge Node Communication Protocol determines contention free time slots on both channels, and then reserves one time slot to be used for inter-channel communications. The reserved time slot usage is then divided between the transmitted bridge node and the receiving node in the neighboring channel.
