Mesh infrastructure utilizing alternative communication paths

Disclosed is a wireless network (112) comprising a control node (116) and a plurality of communication nodes (114) in wireless communication with the control node (116). Each of the communication nodes (114) have a wireless communication path to the control node (116) that is either a direct path or an indirect path through one or more other communication nodes (114) that serve as repeaters. For each communication node (114) in wireless communication with the control node (116), the control node (116) determines an alternative communication path and stores primary communication path information and alternative communication path information. The alternative communication path is determined based on which communication path of a plurality of communication paths has a lowest-level common parent node as a primary communication path.