WO2013013242A1 - Method and system for wireless peer to peer relay network - Google Patents

Abstract

Systems and methods are described herein for communicating via peer- to-peer networks, A broadcast message indicating an identifier for a destination node is transmitted. One or more acknowledgments are received from one or more peer nodes. A relay route is generated based on the one or more acknowledgments, and a data packet is transmitted to the destination node via the relay route.

Description

[0001] The present Application for Patent claims priority to Provisional Application No, 81 /510,354 entitled "Method and System for Wireless Peer to Peer Relay Network" filed July 21 , 201 1 . This application also claims priority to earlier filed U.S. Application No, 13/555,467, entitled "Method and System for Wireless Peer to Peer Relay Network," filed on July 23, 2012. The entirety of each of the preceding applications is expressly incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND

[0002] There are known in the art methods and systems for wireless communications using mobile devices. Existing global wireless communications solutions, however, rely upon the design and implementation of infrastructure, such as base stations connected via cables, for example. In addition, existing wireless communications operators utilize portions of the frequency spectrum that are typically allocated to each operator by regulatory or other governmental entities in each country where the operator provides wireless services. Both the infrastructure and frequency allocation by government bodies add to the cost of existing wireless communications solutions, and wireless operators typically pass that cost on to their subscribers,

[0OO3J Many subscribers around the world are unable to afford these costly solutions, while the operators are unable to offer their services at a lower cost at least due to the need to recoup their investment. A further problem with existing solutions is that once a base station is out of operating condition for any reason (e.g., technical malfunction), communications among all the mobile telephones in the vicinity of that base station will be affected. Yet another problem with existing methods and systems, such as Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) and Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), is that they operate at relatively high frequency ranges, ranging from 800 MHz to 2.4 GHz or higher, depending on the country they operate in. This causes mobile telephone batteries to discharge relatively quickly, and requires mobile telephones to be frequently recharged. In addition, operation at relatively high frequency ranges results in impeding mobile communications in highly populated areas, e.g., by the building infrastructure, such as tall buildings and sturdy walls.

[0004] There is a need in the art, therefore, for methods and systems for wireless communications that reduce reliance on the design and implementation of infrastructure, and that reduce reliance on government-allocated high portions of the

frequency spectrum. There is a further need for wireless communications methods and systems that provide a sustainable solution without relying to a large extent on any single component (e.g., a base station, if out of operating condition, affects all mobile telephones in the vicinity of the base station). There is yet a further need in the art for wireless communications methods and systems that utilize existing handsets and/or other mobile devices that are already on the market today with little or no adaptation, while at the same time increasing handset battery life, and decreasing the need for frequently recharging the batteries. There is a further need in the art for methods and systems that provide easy to use and reliable solutions in heavily populated areas, and that provide good signal quality despite existing building infrastructure. There is yet a further need in the art for wireless communications methods and systems that provide a easy to use prepaid solution, rather than relying on the typical existing contract-based and/or Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card-based billing solutions today.

SUMMARY

[0005] The following presents a simplified summary of one or more aspects in order to provide a basic understanding of such aspects. This summary is not an extensive overview of all contemplated aspects, and is intended to neither identify key or critical elements of all aspects nor delineate the scope of any or all aspects. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts of one or more aspects in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description thai is presented later.

[0008] A method for peer-to-peer communication Is disclosed herein. A broadcast message indicating an identifier for a destination node is transmitted. One or more acknowledgments are received from one or more peer nodes. A relay route is generated based on the one or more acknowledgments, and a data packet is transmitted to the destination node via the relay route.

[0007] To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the one or more aspects comprise the features hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims. The following description and the annexed drawings set forth in detail certain illustrative features of the one or more aspects. These features are indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles of various aspects may be employed, and this description is intended to include all such aspects and their equivalents.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] The disclosed aspects will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, provided to illustrate and not to limit the disclosed aspects, wherein like designations denote like elements, and in which:

[0009] Fig. 1 illustrates a system for peer-to-peer communication, in accordance with aspects of the disclosure;

[0010] Fig. 2 depicts a data packet that may be constructing by an originating node, in accordance with aspects of the disclosure;

[0011] Fig. 3 depicts the data structure of a data packet, in accordance with aspects of the disclosure;

[0012] Fig. 4 depicts a method for initiating a peer to peer communication session, sn a ccordance with aspects of the disclosure;

[0013] Fig. 5 depicts a method for peer to peer communications, in accordance with aspect of the disclosure;

[0014] Fig. 8 depicts an example of a system diagram of various hardware components and other features, for use in accordance with aspects of the disclosure; and [001 S] Fig. 7 is a block diagram of various exemplary system components, in accordance with aspects of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0016] Various aspects are now described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of one or more aspects. It may be evident, however, that such aspect(s) may be practiced without these specific details,

[0017] As used in this application, the terms "component," "module," "system" and the like are intended to include a computer-related entity, such as but not limited to hardware, firmware, a combination of hardware and software, software, or software in execution. For example, a component may be, but is not limited to being, a process running on a processor, a processor, an object, an executable, a thread of execution, a program, and/or a computer. By way of illustration, both an application running on a computing device and the computing device can be a component. One or more components can reside within a process and/or thread of execution and a component may be localized on one computer and/or distributed between two or more computers. In addition, these components can execute from various computer readable media having various data structures stored thereon. The components may communicate by way of local and/or remote processes such as in accordance with a signal having one or more data packets, such as data from one component interacting with another component in a local system, distributed system, and/or across a network such as the Internet with other systems by way of the signal.

[0018] Furthermore, various aspects are described herein in connection with a terminal, which can be a wired terminal or a wireless terminal. A terminal can also be called a system, device, subscriber unit, subscriber station, mobile station, mobile, mobile device, remote station, remote terminal, access terminal, user terminal, terminal, communication device, user agent, user device, or user equipment (UE). A wireless terminal may be a cellular telephone, a satellite phone, a cordless telephone, a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) phone, a wireless local loop (WLL) station, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a handheld device having wireless connection capability, a computing device, or other processing devices connected to a wireless modem. Moreover, various aspects are described herein in connection with a base station, A base station may be utilized for communicating with wireless termina!(s) and may also be referred to as an access point, a Node B, or some other terminology.

[0019] Moreover, the term "or" is intended to mean an inclusive "or" rather than an exclusive "or." That is, unless specified otherwise, or clear from the context, the phrase "X employs A or B" is intended to mean any of the natural inclusive permutations. That is, the phrase "X employs A or B" is satisfied by any of the following instances: X employs A; X employs B; or X employs both A and B. In addition, the articles "a" and "an" as used in this application and the appended claims should generally be construed to mean "one or more" unless specified otherwise or clear from the context to be directed to a singular form.

[0020] Aspects of the present invention solve the above-identified needs, as well as others, by providing methods and systems for wireless communications between of mobile devices that reduce the reliance on costly infrastructure, such as stations connected via cables, for example. In addition, aspects of the present invention provide methods and systems for wireless communications that are easy to and secure, and that are suitable for use in heavily populated areas, such as and campuses. Further, aspects of the present invention provide wireless communications methods and systems that provide a sustainable solution without extensively relying on any single component. Further stiii, aspects of the present invention provide wireless communications meihods and systems that utilize existing handsets and mobile devices that are already on the market today with little or no adaptation, while at the same time increasing handset battery life and decreasing the for frequently recharging the batteries. Further, aspects of the present invention provide methods and systems that provide good signal qualify despite existing building infrastructure. Further still, aspects of the present invention provide wireless communications methods and systems that use a prepaid solution, rather than relying on the typical existing contract-based and/or Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card-based billing solutions today. [0021] Referring now to Figure 1 a system 100 for communication via peer-to- peer based self sustaining networks (e.g., ad hoc networks) and/or access point (AP) based networks. A plurality of cell sites, such as ceil site 110, cell site 120, cell site 130, and cell cite 140 may be configured to communicate with each other. Cell site 110 may include, for example, a plurality of nodes, such as nodes 112A-112E. Each node may be, for example, a mobile phone, a universal serial bus (USB) modem, a desktop phone, a smartphone, and/or any other communication device. Each node may be configured with a wireless peering data relay (WPDR) protocol stack, allowing each node to communicate in a peer-io-peer manner with other nodes.

[0022] Cell site 120 may be located in a remote, isolated location without fiberoptic or wired network communication available. As such, cell cite 120 may include a relay access point 24 to relay WPDR traffic between nodes 122A and 122B, as well as other nodes in other sites. Cell site 130 may be located, for example, in a highly populated area with a high traffic volume. Cell site 130 may include a relay access point 134 that may be configured to relay WPDR traffic between nodes 132A and 132B, as well as nodes in other cell sites. Like cell site 110, eel! site 140 may also include a plurality of nodes, such as nodes 142A-142E that communicate among each other without the use of a relay access point,

[0023] System 100 may include one or more gateway access points, such as gateway access points 150 and 160. Each gateway access point may be configured to interface nodes in the ceil sites with a local back-end office server 170, and vice versa. Communications between the gateway access points 150, 180, and the back-end office server 170 may be via any network such as, for example, an optic-fiber network, a local area network (LAN), a microwave network, etc. Local back-end office server may be, for example, a regional back-end server assigned to a particular geographic region, and may be communicatively coupled, via the Internet, for example, to one or more worldwide back-end servers 180. Each back-end office server may be configured to provide services to the peer nodes. For example, each back-end server may include database servers for storing subscriber information, access point information, billing data, access point status data logs, etc. Each back end office server may interface to one or more monitoring terminate, such as monitoring terminals 172, 182. The monitoring terminals may be configured to provide real-time status information for each access point as well as detailed status information related to each ongoing communication session. The monitoring terminals may also be configured to download new firmware and/or software over the management network to each gateway access point. The monitoring terminals may be additionally configured to detect and automatically provide an alarm indicating an AP failure.

[0024] System 100 may also include one or more switching devices, such as switching device 184 and switching device 186. The switching devices may be configured to switch and route calls and/or SMS messages across networks and other carriers' networks. The switching devices may also be configured to switch WPDR protocol packets to a protocol compatible with the destination network such as, for example, SIP, IAS, H.323, etc., and vice-versa. Switching device 186 may be connected to other telephony service providers to allow carrier to connect to the worldwide telecommunication network.

[0025] Nodes in system 100 may be configured to transmit data packets among each other. All data transmitted in the peering network may be encapsulated into data packets. In one example configuration, each packet can be 255 bytes long. Other packet sizes may also be used. Figure 2 depicts a data packet 200 that may be constructing by an originating node. The first four bytes 202 of data packet 200 may represent the next peer's electronic device serial number (EDSN). The next four bytes 204 may be represent the EDSN of the final destination peer to which the data should be transmitted. One byte 208 may be configured to indicate the number of hops between peer nodes. Eight bytes 208 may be configured for cyclic redundancy checks (CRCs). Each one byte may correspond to the CRC value of 30 bytes of remaining data. The remaining bytes 210 hold the data to be transmitted, and may be encrypted using any encryption method such as, for example, AES 128 bit encryption.

[0028] Figure 3 depicts the data structure of the encrypted part of the data in data packet 200 before encryption. As shown in Figure 3, two data format bits 302 are provide to indicate the type of data in the packet. For example, a data format bits value of 01 may indicate that SMS data is being transmitted, 00 may represent a data file or data stream, and 10 may represent an audio stream. Other indications may also be provided. The next 14 bits 304 provide a packet tag identifier. Four bytes 306 are provided to indicate the EDSN of the origination peer. The remaining bytes 308 are the data to be transmitted,

[0027] Figure 4 is a flowchart illustrating a process 100 for initiating a peer-to- peer network connection to transmit data. As shown at 404, a source node having data to transmit to another node may broadcast the EDSN associated with the destination node. As shown at 406, the source node determines whether an acknowledgment of the broadcast has been received within the allotted timeout period. For example, the allotted timeout period may be set to six seconds. If an acknowledgement has not been received within the allotted timeout period, no communication session is created, as shown at 408.

[0028] If the source node receives an acknowledgment within the allotted timeout period, the source node determines whether more than one acknowledgment has been received, as shown at 410. If only a single acknowledgment is received, the source node can configure a communication session with the acknowledging node, as shown at 412. If more than one acknowledgment is received within the allotted timeout period, the source node may determine whether at least one of the one or more acknowledgments is from the destination node, as shown at 414. If at least one acknowledgment is from the destination node, the source node may configure a direct communication session with the destination node, as shown at 418. If at least one of the one or more acknowledgments is not from the destination node, the source node 418 may determine a quality score associated with each node, and may establish a communication session with the node having the best qualify scored route, as shown at 418. In some aspects, the best quality score is based on any one or more of the number of hops, the distance between the nodes, the quality of the communication link, etc.

[0029] While not shown in Figure 4, after a route has been confirmed for communicating with the destination node, handshakes between the peer nodes are made to establish the communication session. When the communication session is completed, peer nodes transmit a bye signal to each other to close the session. If there is not return message to be sent to each peer node within a defined period, such as six seconds, the communications session may be considered to be forced ciose.

[0030] Referring now to Figure 5, a method 500 is shown for establishing a communication session. The method 500 may be performed, for example, by a non-initiating node. As shown at 502, a relay node may receive a packet having its EDSN noted in packet. The EDSN may be shown in the first four bytes of the received packet. As shown at 504, the relay node determines the next node to receive the packet. The next node may be the destination node or another intermediary node. Upon determining the next node, the EDSN node of the next node may replace the EDSN of the previous relay node in the packet, as shown at 508. The previous relay node may then forward the node to the next node, as shown at 508. The process may continue until the data packet has reached the destination node.

[0031] Figure 6 presents an example system diagram of various hardware components and other features, for use in accordance with an aspect of the present invention. The present invention may be implemented using hardware, software, or a combination thereof and may be implemented in one or more computer systems or other processing systems. In one aspect, the invention is directed toward one or more computer systems capable of carrying out the functionality described herein. An example of such a computer system 800 is shown in Figure 6.

[0032] Computer system 800 includes one or more processors, such as processor 804. The processor 604 is connected to a communication infrastructure 808 {e.g., a communications bus, cross-over bar, or network). Various software aspects are described in terms of this example computer system. After reading this description, it will become apparent to a person skilled in the relevant art(s) how to implement the invention using other computer systems and/or architectures.

[0033] Computer system 600 can include a display interface 602 that forwards graphics, text, and other data from the communication infrastructure 606 (or from a frame buffer not shown) for display on a display unit 630. Computer system 600 also includes a main memory 608, preferably random access memory (RAM), and may also include a secondary memory 610. The secondary memory 610 may include, for example, a hard disk drive 612 and/or a removable storage drive 614, representing a floppy disk drive, a magnetic tape drive, an optical disk drive, etc. The removable storage drive 614 reads from and/or writes to a removable storage unit 618 in a well-known manner. Removable storage unit 618, represents a floppy disk, magnetic tape, optical disk, era, which is read by and written to removable storage drive 614. As will be appreciated, the removable storage unit 618 includes a computer usable storage medium having stored therein computer software and/or data.

[0034] In alternative aspects, secondary memory 610 may include other similar devices for allowing computer programs or other instructions to be loaded into computer system 600. Such devices may include, for example, a removable storage unit 622 and an interface 620. Examples of such may include a program cartridge and cartridge interface (such as that found in video game devices), a removable memory chip (such as an erasable programmable read only memory (EPRO ), or programmable read only memory (PROM)) and associated socket, and other removable storage units 622 and interfaces 620, which allow software and data to be transferred from the removable storage unit 622 to computer system 600.

[0035] Computer system 600 may also include a communications interface 624. Communications interface 624 allows software and data to be transferred between computer system 600 and external devices. Examples of communications interface 624 may include a modem, a network interface (such as an Ethernet card), a communications port, a Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) slot and card, efc. Software and data may be transmitted and transferred via communications interface 624 are in the form of signals 628, which may be electronic, electromagnetic, optical or other signals capable of being received by communications interface 624. These signals 628 are provided to communications interface 624 via a communications path (e.g., channel) 626. This path 626 carries signals 628 and may be implemented using wire or cable, fiber optics, a telephone line, a cellular Sink, a radio frequency (RF) link and/or other communications channels. In this document, the terms "computer program medium" and "computer usable medium" are used to refer generally to media such as a removable storage drive 680, a hard disk installed in hard disk drive 870, and signals 828. These computer program products provide software to the computer system 600. The invention is directed to such computer program products.

[0036] Computer programs (aiso referred to as computer control logic) are stored in main memory 808 and/or secondary memory 610. Computer programs may also be received via communications interface 624. Such computer programs, when executed, enable the computer system 800 to perform the features of the present invention, as discussed herein. In particular, the computer programs, when executed, enable the processor 610 to perform the features of the present invention. Accordingly, such computer programs represent controllers of the computer system 600.

[0037] In an aspect where the invention is implemented using software, the software may be stored in a computer program product and loaded into computer system 600 using removable storage drive 614, hard drive 812, or communications interface 820. The control logic (software), when executed by the processor 804, causes the processor 604 to perform the functions of the invention as described herein. In another aspect, the invention is implemented primarily in hardware using, for example, hardware components, such as application specific integrated circuits (ASICs). Implementation of the hardware state machine so as to perform the functions described herein will be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art(s).

[0038] In yet another aspect, the invention is implemented using a combination of both hardware and software.

[0039] Fig. 7 is a block diagram of various example system components, in accordance with an aspect of the present invention. FIG. 7 shows a communication system 700 usable in accordance with an aspect of the present invention, The communication system 700 includes one or more accessors 760, 762 (also referred to interchangeably herein as one or more "users") and one or more terminals 742, 768. In one aspect, data for use in accordance with the present invention is, for example, input and/or accessed by accessors 760, 784 via terminals 742, 766, such as personal computers (PCs), minicomputers, mainframe computers, microcomputers, telephonic devices, or wireless devices, such as personal digital assistants ("PDAs") or a hand-held wireless devices coupled to a server 743, such as a PC, minicomputer, mainframe computer, microcomputer, or other device having a processor and a repository for data and/or connection to a repository for data, via, for example, a network 744, such as the Internet or an intranet, and couplings 745, 746, 784. The couplings 745, 746, 764 include, for example, wired, wireless, or fiberoptic links. In another aspect, the method and system of the present invention operate in a standalone environment, such as on a single terminal.

[0040] Various aspects or features are presented in terms of systems that may include a number of devices, components, modules, and the like, It is to be understood and appreciated that the various systems may include additional devices, components, modules, etc. and/or may not include all of the devices, components, modules etc. discussed in connection with the figures. A combination of these approaches may also be used.

[0041] The various illustrative logics, logical blocks, modules, and circuits described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be implemented or performed with a general purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein. A general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor, but, in the alternative, the processor may be any conventional processor, controller, microcontroller, or state machine. A processor may also be implemented as a combination of computing devices, e.g., a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or any other such configuration. Additionally, at least one processor may comprise one or more modules operable to perform one or more of the steps and/or actions described above.

[0042] Further, the steps and/or actions of a method or algorithm described in connection with the aspects disclosed herein may be embodied directly in hardware, in a software module executed by a processor, or in a combination of the two. A software module may reside in RAM memory, flash memory, ROM memory, EPROIW! memory, EEPROM memory, registers, a hard disk, a removable disk, a CD-ROM, or any other form of storage medium known in the art. An exemplary storage medium may be coupled to the processor, such that the processor can read information from, and write information to, the storage medium. In the alternative, the storage medium may be integral to the processor. Further, in some aspects, the processor and the storage medium may reside in an ASIC. Additionally, the ASIC may reside in a user terminal. In the alternative, the processor and the storage medium may reside as discrete components in a user terminal. Additionally, in some aspects, the steps and/or actions of a method or algorithm may reside as one or any combination or set of codes and/or instructions on a machine readable medium and/or computer readable medium, which may be incorporated into a computer program product.

[0043] In one or more aspects, the functions described may be implemented in hardware, software, firmware, or any combination thereof. If implemented in software, the functions may be stored or transmitted as one or more instructions or code on a computer-readable medium. Computer-readable media includes both computer storage media and communication media including any medium that facilitates transfer of a computer program from one place to another. A storage medium may be any available media that can be accessed by a computer. By way of example, and not limitation, such computer-readable media can comprise RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium that can be used to carry or store desired program code in the form of instructions or data structures and that can be accessed by a computer. Also, any connection may be termed a computer-readable medium. For example, if software is transmitted from a website, server, or other remote source using a coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, digital subscriber line (DSL), or wireless technologies such as infrared, radio, and microwave, then the coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, DSL, or wireless technologies such as infrared, radio, and microwave are included in the definition of medium. Disk and disc, as used herein, includes compact disc (CD), laser disc, optical disc, digital versatile disc (DVD), floppy disk and blu-ray disc where disks usually reproduce data magnetically, while discs usually reproduce data optically with lasers. Combinations of the above should also be included within the scope of computer-readable media,

[0044] hile the foregoing disclosure discusses illustrative aspects and/or embodiments, it should be noted that various changes and modifications could be made herein without departing from the scope of the described aspects and/or embodiments as defined by the appended claims. Furthermore, although elements of the described aspects and/or embodiments may be described or claimed in the singular, the plural is contemplated unless limitation to the singular is explicitly stated. Additionally, all or a portion of any aspect and/or embodiment may be utilized with all or a portion of any other aspect and/or embodiment, unless stated otherwise.

Claims

1. A method for peer-to-peer communication, comprising:

transmitting a broadcast message including a identifier associated with a destination node;

receiving one or more acknowledgments from one or more peer nodes; generating a relay route based on the one or more acknowledgments; and

transmitting a data packet to the destination node via the relay route.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the identifier is an electronic device serial number (EDSN).

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving one or more acknowledgments comprises receiving an acknowledgment from the destination node, and the generating comprising establishing a data connection with the destination node.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein more than one acknowledgment is received, and the method further comprises:

determining that the more than one acknowledgments do not include an acknowledgment from the destination node; and

generating the relay route via the one of the more than one acknowledgments having the best quality score.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the data packet includes short messaging service (SMS) data.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the data packet includes voice data.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the data packet is transmitted to the destination mode via the relay route using the wireless peering data relay

8. An apparatus for peer-to-peer communication comprising:

at least one processor configured to:

transmit a broadcast message including a identifier associated with a destination node;

receive one or more acknowledgments from one or more peer nodes;

generate a relay route based on the one or more acknowledgments; and

transmit a data packet to the destination node via the relay route; and

at memory coupled to the at least one processor.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the identifier is an EDSN.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein receiving one or more acknowledgments comprising receiving an acknowledgment from the destination node, and the generating comprising establishing a data connection with the destination node.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein more than one acknowledgment is received, and the processing is further configured to:

determine that the more than one acknowledgments do not include an acknowledgment from the destination node; and

generate the relay route via the one of the more than one acknowledgments having the best quality score.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the data packet includes SMS data.

13. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the data packet includes voice data.

14. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the data packet is transmitted to the destination mode via the relay route using the wireless peering data relay (WPDR) protocol.

15. A computer readable medium, comprising:

at least one instruction for causing a computer to transmit a broadcast message including a identifier associated with a destination node;

at least one instruction for causing the computer to receive one or more acknowledgments from one or more peer nodes;

at least one instruction for causing the computer to generate a relay route based on the one or more acknowledgments; and

at least one instruction for causing the computer to transmit a data packet to the destination node via the relay route.

16. An apparatus comprising:

means for transmitting a broadcast message including a identifier associated with a destination node;

means for receiving one or more acknowledgments from one or more peer nodes;

means for generating a relay route based on the one or more acknowledgments; and

means for transmitting a data packet to the destination node via the relay route.