IEEE 802.11U failover for a mesh network

1. A method of IEEE 802.11u failover for a mesh network that contains a root node coupled to a network operations center through a backhaul connection and coupled to a plurality of non-root nodes, at least one non-root node of which being capable of IEEE 802.11u communication with an infrastructure device of an external network, comprising:

determining that a first connection to the root-node in the mesh network is disrupted, disrupting communications on the backhaul connection;

configuring the one non-root node to act as a root node by switching one of the radios of the one non-root node to be a dedicated IEEE 802.11u radio to act as an IEEE 802.11u client;

associating the radio to the IEEE 802.11u infrastructure device of the external network using an IEEE 802.11u protocol;

establishing a secure tunnel second connection from the one non-root node to the network operations center through the infrastructure device of the external network using the IEEE 802.11u protocol; and

passing backhaul data through the secure tunnel second connection.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the secure tunnel is Layer 3 tunnel, established dynamically, only when there is a need to do so, and further comprising tearing down the secure tunnel second connection when the first connection has been restored, reconfiguring the one non-root node to act as a non-root node, and transferring backhaul data back to the network operations center through the root-node.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first connection is between the root node and the plurality of non-root nodes.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first connection is between the root node and the network operations center.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein in the determining step the first connection is disrupted for a predetermined period of time before the remaining steps are performed.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining that the first connection has been disrupted can be indicated by any of the non-root nodes not being able to communicate with the root node.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one non-root node is chosen based its ability to communicate with all other non-root nodes.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the infrastructure device is one of the group of a switch and an access point of the external network.

9. A system comprising:

a root node coupled to a network operations center through a backhaul connection; and

a plurality of non-root nodes coupled to the root node, at least one non-root node of which being capable of IEEE 802.11u communication with an IEEE 802.11u infrastructure device of an external network; and

a mesh entity operable to determine that a first connection to the root-node in a mesh network has been disrupted, disrupting communications on the backhaul connection; whereupon the one non-root node is configured to act as a root node by switching one of the radios of the one non-root node to be a dedicated IEEE 802.11u radio to act as an IEEE 802.11u client; the radio operable to associate to the IEEE 802.11u infrastructure device of the external network using an IEEE 802.11u protocol, establish a secure tunnel second connection to the network operations center through the IEEE 802.11u infrastructure device of the external network using the IEEE 802.11u protocol, and pass backhaul data through the secure tunnel second connection.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the secure tunnel is Layer 3 tunnel, established dynamically, only when there is a need to do so, and wherein the one non-root node is further operable to tear down the secure tunnel second connection when the first connection has been restored, reconfigure itself to act as a non-root node, and transfer backhaul data back to the network operations center through the root-node.

11. The system of claim 9 , wherein the first connection is between the root node and the plurality of non-root nodes.

12. The system of claim 9 , wherein the first connection is between the root node and the network operations center.

13. The system of claim 9 , wherein the mesh entity waits for a predetermined period of time before determining that the first connection is disrupted.

14. The system of claim 9 , wherein the mesh entity is any of the non-root nodes not being able to communicate with the root node.

15. The system of claim 9 , wherein the mesh entity is a critical resource monitor.

16. The system of claim 9 , wherein the one non-root node is chosen based its ability to communicate with all other non-root nodes.

17. The system of claim 9 , wherein the infrastructure device is one of the group of a switch and an access point of the external network.

18. The system of claim 9 , wherein the mesh entity is operable to detect a backhaul loss by periodic multicasting of heartbeats to all intelligent access points (IAPB) connected thereto, wherein any IAP that cannot receive the multicast heartbeats for a period of time are marked as a lost backhaul.

19. The system of claim 9 , wherein the network operations center receives unicast bidirectional acknowledgements to monitor both directions of a backhaul link, wherein not receiving the acknowledgements for a period of time indicates a lost backhaul.

20. The system of claim 9 , wherein communications on the backhaul connection are disrupted indicating that a alternative root node is needed, current root nodes are operable to send queries to other access points to determine if these other access points have IEEE 802.11u backhaul capabilities, in order to create a list of preferred alternative root nodes.