User's Manual

Setup and Deployment Guide
1.5.1.3 Intelligent Ac icess Po nts (IAPs)
The Intelligent Access Point (IAP) is a low-cost shoebox-sized
device that acts as the transition point from the wireless network
to the wired core network and from there, through media
gateways, out to the Internet. Each IAP offers up to 6 Mbps burst
of data capacity to subscribers. IAPs support the 10/100 base-T
Ethernet interface. Other interfaces are supported through
commercially available media translation devices. If additional
network capacity is required, more IAPs can be easily deployed -
without the need for extensive RF or site planning. The location
of an IAP is non-critical due to the self-forming, self-balancing
nature of MeshNetworks’ technology. IAPs provide functions
such as:
• Local mobility management of SDs
• Fixed reference for geo-location services
• Hopping points for subscriber peer-to-peer networking
• Transition point from the wireless to the wired portions of the network
• Route selection
The IAP’s small size and light weight allow it to be mounted anywhere power and network
connectivity are available. No towers are required. IAP software can be updated via over-the-
wire downloads.
1.5.1.4 Mobile Internet Switching Controller (MiSC)
The Mobile Internet Switching Controller (MiSC) provides
connectivity between the IAPs and wired world, and hosts the
network’s management and provisioning functions. The MiSC is
composed of off-the-shelf hardware components, such as LAN
routers and application servers. MiSC software consists of both
off-the-shelf and MeshNetworks’ proprietary software,
MeshManager. The MeshManager software provides functions for
the network such as:
• Subscriber provisioning, management, and authentication
• Configuration and fault management
• Network monitoring and reporting
1.6 Operational View of the System
Figure 2 shows the different ways in which a subscriber can reach an IAP. It can connect
directly, or hop through any number or combination of WRs and SDs. Additionally, if the
subscriber wishes to execute a peer-to-peer application such as a file transfer, the subscriber
can communicate directly, or through any combination of SDs, WRs, and IAPs.
The ability to use ad hoc routing to forward traffic improves the scalability of the mobile wireless
Internet. In particular, the ability for the user to accomplish a peer-to-peer application without
the use of infrastructure has tremendous advantages. A significant problem in every mobile
wireless network is backhaul. The
architecture provides the ability to route traffic from
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