Communications network for dynamic reprioritization

1. A communications network, comprising:

at least one source unit configured to generate messages for relay;

a smart node capable of storing programming instructions, receiving messages for relay from said source unit, determining at least a merit value for said received messages, dynamically reprioritizing the received messages for relay based upon said merit value, and transmitting the reprioritized received messages; and

at least one portal node adapted to receive said reprioritized received messages transmitted from said smart node.

2. The communications network as specified in claim 1 , wherein said smart node comprises an electronic computer for executing said programming instructions.

3. The communications network of claim 1 , wherein said programming instructions comprise active messages.

4. A communications network, comprising:

at least one source unit configured to generate messages for relay;

a smart node capable of receiving programming instructions, storing said programming instructions, receiving messages for relay from said source unit, storing the received messages for relay in a queue, determining at least a merit value for said received messages, and dynamically reprioritizing the received messages for relay in said queue based upon said merit value;

at least one portal node adapted to receive said retransmitted received messages from said at least one smart node for relay; and

at least one communications node adapted to send said programming instructions to said smart node.

5. The communications network of claim 4 , wherein said smart node comprises:

a message storage queue;

a transmitter;

a receiver;

a queue controller for writing messages received at said smart node into said message storage queue and for removing messages from said message storage queue for relay transmission by said transmitter; and

a dynamic reprioritization controller for specifying an order of transmission of said removed messages for relay transmission by said transmitter.

6. The communications network of claim 5 , including at least one receiver for receiving said messages for relay from said source unit.

7. The communications network of claim 2 , wherein said merit value for said received messages is determined heuristically.

8. The communications network of claim 4 , wherein said merit value for said received messages is determined heuristically.

9. A method for dynamic reprioritizing messages, comprising:

receiving messages from a source unit;

storing said received messages in a buffer unit;

determining a merit value for said received messages;

reprioritizing said received messages based upon said merit value; and

transmitting the reprioritized received messages.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein said merit value for said received messages is determined heuristically.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein said received messages are stored in a queue.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein a smart node reprioritizes said received messages.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein said smart node transmits said reprioritized received messages.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein said smart node receives programmable instructions from a communication node.