Network topology backup

• US 10,057,123 B1
• Filed: 12/29/2014
• Issued: 08/21/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alarm.com Inc. (Alarm.com Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Alarm.com Inc. (Alarm.com Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Knight, Matthew Flannery, Penning, John Douglas
• Primary Examiner(s): Sheikh, Ayaz
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hampton, Tarell
• Application Number:
  US14/584,785
• Time in Patent Office: 1,331 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/084 Configuration by using pre-existing information, e.g. using templates or copying from other elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0856 by backing up or archiving configuration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/02 Topology update or discovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/248 Connectivity information update
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/00 Systems for electrical power generation, transmission, distribution or end-user application management characterised by the use of communication or information technologies, or communication or information technology specific aspects supporting them

Abstract

A method is described that determines that a replacement node device has been connected to a mesh network, the replacement node device corresponding to an original node that has been removed from the mesh network. In response to determining that the replacement node device has been connected to the mesh network, network topology data is accessed that specifies one or more data routing configurations that are each associated with a node device included in the mesh network. From among the one or more data routing configurations specified by the network topology data, a particular data routing configuration is identified that is associated with the original node device that has been removed from the mesh network. Data that specifies the particular data routing configuration that is associated with the original node device that has been removed from the mesh network is provided to the replacement node device.

Claims

1. A method for restoring a mesh network configuration in a mesh network, the method comprising:

receiving data indicating that a replacement node device has been connected to the mesh network, the replacement node device corresponding to an original node device that has been removed from the mesh network;

in response to receiving the data indicating that the replacement node device has been connected to the mesh network, accessing, from a network server, stored network topology data that specifies predetermined data routing configurations that are each (i) associated with a node device included in the mesh network, and (ii) determined before determining that the replacement node device has been connected to the mesh network, wherein each of the predetermined data routing configurations specifies at least a set of routing instructions that enables a node device included in the mesh network to communicate with one or more other node devices included in the mesh network;

identifying, from among the predetermined data routing configurations specified by the network topology data, a particular data routing configuration that is associated with the original node device that has been removed from the mesh network;

determining a communication pathway for providing, from the network server to the replacement node device, data that specifies the particular data routing configuration that is associated with the original node device that has been removed from the mesh network, the communication pathway having been previously used to communicate data between the network server and the original node device that has been removed from the mesh network; and

using the determined communication pathway to provide, to the replacement node device over one or more networks that are separate from the mesh network, the data that specifies the particular data routing configuration that is associated with the original node device that has been removed from the mesh network.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising:

determining to back up a data routing configuration that is associated with the replacement node device;

receiving, from the replacement node device, data that specifies the data routing configuration that is associated with the replacement node device;

determining, based on the data that specifies the data routing configuration that is associated with the replacement node device and the network topology data, that the data routing configuration that is associated with the replacement node device is different from the particular data routing configuration specified by the network topology data that is associated with the original node device that has been removed from the mesh network; and

in response to determining that the data routing configuration that is associated with the replacement node device is different from the particular data routing configuration specified by the network topology data that is associated with the original node device that has been removed from the mesh network, storing, at the network server, data that specifies the data routing configuration that is associated with the replacement node device and that is different from the particular data routing configuration specified by the network topology data that is associated with the original node device that has been removed from the mesh network.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein determining to back up the data routing configuration that is associated with the replacement node device comprises:

determining that a current time satisfies a predetermined schedule for backing up the data routing configuration that is associated with the replacement node device, that a predetermined period of time has passed since backing up the data routing configuration that is associated with the replacement node device, that a connection of the replacement node device to the mesh network has been established, that particular software associated with the replacement node device or the mesh network has been updated or requires updating, that a power interruption affecting the mesh network is likely to occur, that one or more node devices included in the mesh network other than the replacement node device have been removed from the mesh network, that one or more node devices have been connected to the mesh network, or that a user associated with the monitoring system has requested back up of the data routing configuration that is associated with the replacement node device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the particular data routing configuration that is associated with the original node device that has been removed from the mesh network comprises:

identifying one or more node devices that are included in the mesh network;

selecting, from among the one or more network topologies specified by the mesh network topology data, one or more network topologies that are associated with the one or more node devices that are included in the mesh network; and

identifying, from among the one or more network topologies that are associated with the one or more node devices that are included in the mesh network, the particular data routing configuration that corresponds to the original node device that has been removed from the mesh network.

5. The method of claim 1, comprising:

initiating a network discovery process to cause each of one or more node devices included in the mesh network to determine a respective data routing configuration, wherein each of the data routing configurations specifies at least a set of routing instructions that enables a node device included in the mesh network to communicate with one or more other node devices included in the mesh network;

after initiating the network discovery process, receiving, from each of the one or more of node devices included in the mesh network, data that specifies a data routing configuration determined for that node device; and

storing network topology data that specifies each of the determined data routing configurations.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein providing, to the replacement node device over the one or more networks that are separate from the mesh network, the data that specifies the particular data routing configuration that is associated with the original node device that has been removed from the mesh network comprises:

storing the data that specifies the particular data routing configuration that is associated with the original node device that has been removed from the mesh network at the replacement node device; and

enabling the replacement node device to communicate with one or more other node devices included in the mesh network according to the particular data routing configuration that is associated with the original node device that has been removed from the mesh network.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the node devices included in the mesh network is associated with (i) a network identifier that uniquely identifies the mesh network and the monitoring system, the network identifier being the same for each of the one or more node devices included in the mesh network, and (ii) a device identifier that uniquely identifies each of the node devices included in the mesh network, the device identifier being different for each of the node devices included in the mesh network.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the network topology data includes one or more routing tables, linked lists, or multidimensional arrays that specify communication pathways for each of one or more node devices included in the mesh network, wherein each communication pathway enables a particular node device included in the mesh network to communicate with another node device included in the mesh network.

9. The method of claim 1, comprising:

receiving, from a particular node device included in the mesh network, data that specifies an existing data routing configuration that is associated with the particular node device;

receiving data that indicates the performance of a monitoring system that includes one or more node devices included in the mesh network which communicate with each other based on one or more respective data routing configurations;

determining, based at least on the data that indicates the performance of the monitoring system, to change the data routing configuration that is associated with the particular node device;

in response to determining to change the data routing configuration that is associated with the particular node device, selecting, from among the predetermined data routing configurations specified by the network topology data, a second data routing configuration that (i) is associated with the particular node device, (ii) is different from the existing data routing configuration that is associated with the particular node device, and (ii) is selected based at least on the data that indicates the performance of the monitoring system; and

providing, to the particular node device over the one or more networks that are separate from the mesh network, data that specifies the second data routing configuration that (i) is associated with the particular node device, (ii) is different from the existing data routing configuration that is associated with the particular node device, and (iii) is selected based at least on the data that indicates the performance of the monitoring system.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein determining to change the data routing configuration that is associated with the particular node device comprises determining to change the data routing configuration that is associated with the particular node device to a reduced-power usage data routing configuration,

wherein selecting the second data routing configuration that (i) is associated with the particular node device, (ii) is different from the existing data routing configuration that is associated with the particular node device, and (iii) is selected based at least on the data that indicates the performance of the monitoring system comprises selecting a data routing configuration that (i) is associated with the particular node device, (ii) is different from the existing network topology that is associated with the particular node device, (iii) is selected based at least on the data that indicates the performance of the monitoring system, and (iv) is identified as a reduced-power usage data routing configuration, and

wherein providing the data to the particular node device that specifies the second data routing configuration that (i) is associated with the particular node device, (ii) is different from the existing data routing configuration that is associated with the particular node device, and (iii) is selected based at least on the data that indicates the performance of the monitoring system comprises providing, to the particular node device, data specifying the data routing configuration that (i) is associated with the particular node device, (ii) is different from the existing data routing configuration that is associated with the particular node device, (iii) is selected based at least on the data that indicates the performance of the monitoring system, and (iv) is identified as a reduced-power usage data routing configuration.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the network topology data is accessed from the network server over the one or more networks that are separate from the mesh network.

11. A mesh network comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium coupled to the at least one processor having stored thereon instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, causes the at least one processor to perform operations comprising;

receiving data indicating that a replacement node device has been connected to the mesh network, the replacement node device corresponding to an original node device that has been removed from the mesh network;

in response to receiving the data indicating that the replacement node device has been connected to the mesh network, accessing, from a network server, stored network topology data that specifies predetermined data routing configurations that are each Q associated with a node device included in the mesh network, and (ii) determined before determining that the replacement node device has been connected to the mesh network, wherein each of the predetermined data routing configurations specifies at least a set of routing instructions that enables a node device included in the mesh network to communicate with one or more other node devices included in the mesh network;

identifying, from among the predetermined data routing configurations specified by the network topology data, a particular data routing configuration that is associated with the original node device that has been removed from the mesh network;

determining a communication pathway for providing, from the network server to the replacement node device, data that specifies the particular data routing configuration that is associated with the original node device that has been removed from the mesh network, the communication pathway having been previously used to communicate data between the network server and the original node device that has been removed from the mesh network; and

using the determined communication pathway to provide, to the replacement node device over one or more networks that are separate from the mesh network, the data that specifies the particular data routing configuration that is associated with the original node device that has been removed from the mesh network.

12. The mesh network of claim 11, wherein the operations comprise:

determining to back up a data routing configuration that is associated with the replacement node device;

receiving, from the replacement node device, data that specifies the data routing configuration that is associated with the replacement node device;

determining, based on the data that specifies the data routing configuration that is associated with the replacement node device and the network topology data, that the data routing configuration that is associated with the replacement node device is different from the particular data routing configuration specified by the network topology data that is associated with the original node device that has been removed from the mesh network; and

in response to determining that the data routing configuration that is associated with the replacement node device is different from the particular data routing configuration specified by the network topology data that is associated with the original node device that has been removed from the mesh network, storing, at the network server, data that specifies the data routing configuration that is associated with the replacement node device and that is different from the particular data routing configuration specified by the network topology data that is associated with the original node device that has been removed from the mesh network.

13. The mesh network of claim 11, wherein identifying the particular data routing configuration that is associated with the original node device that has been removed from the mesh network comprises:

identifying one or more node devices that are included in the mesh network;

selecting, from among the one or more network topologies specified by the mesh network topology data, one or more network topologies that are associated with the one or more node devices that are included in the mesh network; and

identifying, from among the one or more network topologies that are associated with the one or more node devices that are included in the mesh network, the particular data routing configuration that corresponds to the original node device that has been removed from the mesh network.

14. The mesh network of claim 11, wherein the operations comprise:

initiating a network discovery process to cause each of one or more node devices included in the mesh network to determine a respective data routing configuration wherein each of the data routing configurations specifies at least a set of routing instructions that enables a node device included in the mesh network to communicate with one or more other node devices included in the mesh network;

after initiating the network discovery process, receiving, from each of the one or more node devices included in the mesh network, data that specifies a data routing configuration determined for that node device; and

storing network topology data that specifies each of the determined data routing configurations.

15. The mesh network of claim 11, wherein providing, to the replacement node device over the one or more networks that are separate from the mesh network, the data that specifies the particular data routing configuration that is associated with the original node device that has been removed from the mesh network comprises:

storing the data that specifies the particular data routing configuration that is associated with the original node device that has been removed from the mesh network at the replacement node device; and

enabling the replacement node device to communicate with one or more other node devices included in the mesh network according to the particular data routing configuration that is associated with the original node device that has been removed from the mesh network.

16. The mesh network of claim 11, wherein the network topology data includes one or more routing tables, linked lists, or multidimensional arrays that specify communication pathways for each of one or more node devices included in the mesh network, wherein each communication pathway enables a particular node device included in the mesh network to communicate with another node device included in the mesh network.

17. The mesh network of claim 11, wherein the operations comprise:

receiving, from a particular node device included in the mesh network, data that specifies an existing data routing configuration that is associated with the particular node device;

receiving data that indicates the performance of a monitoring system that includes one or more node devices included in the mesh network which communicate with each other based on one or more respective data routing configurations;

determining, based at least on the data that indicates the performance of the monitoring system, to change the data routing configuration that is associated with the particular node device;

in response to determining to change the data routing configuration that is associated with the particular node device, selecting, from among the predetermined data routing configurations specified by the network topology data, a second data routing configuration that (i) is associated with the particular node device, (ii) is different from the existing data routing configuration that is associated with the particular node device, and (ii) is selected based at least on the data that indicates the performance of the monitoring system; and

providing, to the particular node device over the one or more networks that are separate from the mesh network, data that specifies the second data routing configuration that (i) is associated with the particular node device, (ii) is different from the existing data routing configuration that is associated with the particular node device, and (iii) is selected based at least on the data that indicates the performance of the monitoring system.

18. The mesh network of claim 17, wherein determining to change the data routing configuration that is associated with the particular node device comprises determining to change the data routing configuration that is associated with the particular node device to a reduced-power usage data routing configuration,

wherein selecting the second data routing configuration that (i) is associated with the particular node device, (ii) is different from the existing data routing configuration that is associated with the particular node device, and (iii) is selected based at least on the data that indicates the performance of the monitoring system comprises selecting a data routing configuration that (i) is associated with the particular node device, (ii) is different from the existing network topology that is associated with the particular node device, (iii) is selected based at least on the data that indicates the performance of the monitoring system, and (iv) is identified as a reduced-power usage data routing configuration, and

wherein providing the data to the particular node device that specifies the second data routing configuration that (i) is associated with the particular node device, (ii) is different from the existing data routing configuration that is associated with the particular node device, and (iii) is selected based at least on the data that indicates the performance of the monitoring system comprises providing, to the particular node device, data specifying the data routing configuration that (i) is associated with the particular node device, (ii) is different from the existing data routing configuration that is associated with the particular node device, (iii) is selected based at least on the data that indicates the performance of the monitoring system, and (iv) is identified as a reduced-power usage data routing configuration.