A SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ENABLING A NODE IN AN AD-HOC PACKET-SWITCHED WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK TO ROUTE PACKETS BASED ON PACKET CONTENT

摘要

A system and method for enabling a node, such as a mobile user terminal, in a wireless communications network to route data packets to other nodes in the network based on the information contained in the data packets. The system and method employs a node, adapted for use in a wireless communications network, which comprises a controller that is adapted to examine a content of a data packet addressed to a destination node, that can have an Internet protocol (IP) address to which the data packet is addressed. Based on the content of the data packet, the controller selects a routing path including at least one of a plurality of other nodes in the network via which the data packet is to be routed to the destination node. The controller can compare the content of the data packet to routing information stored in a memory, and select the routing path based on the comparison. Depending on the whether the content is voice, video, file transfer protocol or bulk file transfer type data, to name a few, the controller can select as the routing path a routing path via which the data packet is deliverable from the node to the destination node with low latency, low bit error rate, or in a best effort manner.