Mesh network resiliency

• US 10,374,890 B1
• Filed: 12/19/2017
• Issued: 08/06/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alarm.com Inc. (Alarm.com Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Alarm.com Inc. (Alarm.com Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hutz, David James, Knight, Matthew Flannery
• Primary Examiner(s): Lo, Diane L
• Application Number:
  US15/846,422
• Time in Patent Office: 595 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/283 Processing of data at an internetworking point of a home automation network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0663 Performing the actions predefined by failover planning, e.g. switching to standby network elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0816 the condition being an adaptation, e.g. in response to network events
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0836 to enhance reliability, e.g. reduce downtime
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/02 Topology update or discovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/28 using route fault recovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/10 based on available power or energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Mesh network resiliency technology, in which a first routing configuration for nodes of a mesh network is determined, the first routing configuration being appropriate when a first power source of the mesh network is available. Routing data that indicates routing responsibilities within the first routing configuration is provided to first nodes of the mesh network. An interruption of the first power source for the mesh network is detected by nodes of the mesh network. In response to detecting the interruption, a second routing configuration for nodes of the mesh network is determined, the second routing configuration being appropriate when the first power source of the mesh network is unavailable. Routing data that indicates routing responsibilities within the second configuration is provided to second nodes of the mesh network, each of the second nodes including a second power source that is different than the first power source.

Claims

1. A method for providing mesh network resiliency in a mesh network associated with a monitoring system, the method comprising:

maintaining ranked routing configurations for nodes of a mesh network in which each routing configuration is associated with a rank;

identifying, from among the ranked routing configurations, a first set of routing configurations appropriate at a time during which a first power source that powers multiple nodes of the mesh network is available;

accessing ranks associated with the first set of routing configurations;

comparing the accessed ranks associated with the first set of routing configurations; and

selecting, from among the first set of routing configurations, a first routing configuration for nodes of the mesh network based on the comparison of the accessed ranks associated with the first set of routing configurations;

detecting, by one or more nodes of the mesh network, an interruption of the first power source for the mesh network; and

based on the detection of the interruption of the first power source for the mesh network;

identifying, from among the ranked routing configurations, a second set of routing configurations appropriate at a time during which the first power source that powers multiple nodes of the mesh network is unavailable;

accessing ranks associated with the second set of routing configurations;

comparing the accessed ranks associated with the second set of routing configurations; and

selecting, from among the second set of routing configurations, a second routing configuration for nodes of the mesh network based on the comparison of the accessed ranks associated with the second set of routing configurations.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the interruption of the first power source for the mesh network comprises detecting the interruption of the first power source at a coordinator node of the mesh network, the coordinator node being a particular node of the nodes of the mesh network.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the interruption of the first power source for the mesh network comprises:

receiving, from one or more nodes of the mesh network, voting data that indicates whether an interruption of the first power source that powers multiple nodes of the mesh network has been detected; and

based on the voting data that indicates whether an interruption of the first power source that powers multiple nodes of the mesh network has been detected, determining that an interruption of the first power source for the mesh network has occurred.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting the second routing configuration for nodes of the mesh network comprises selecting, as the second routing configuration, a routing configuration that includes only the nodes of the mesh network that include a second power source that is different than the first power source.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting the second routing configuration for nodes of the mesh network comprises performing dynamic network rerouting on the nodes of the mesh network that include a second power source that is different than the first power source.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting, by one or more nodes of the mesh network, a restoration of the first power source for the mesh network; and

based on detecting the restoration of the first power source for the mesh network, reverting to the first routing configuration by providing, to the first nodes of the mesh network, routing data that indicates routing responsibilities within the first routing configuration for the mesh network.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in response to detecting the interruption of the first power source for the mesh network, providing, to one or more nodes of the mesh network, data that causes the one or more nodes of the mesh network to enter a reduced power operation mode.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first routing configuration for the mesh network and the second routing configuration for the mesh network are different routing configurations for the mesh network.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting the first routing configuration for nodes of the mesh network comprises selecting a first routing configuration for nodes of one of a Z-Wave network, a ZigBee network, an IPv6 over Low power Wireless Personal Area Network (6LoWPAN), a Bluetooth network, or an INSTEON network.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the interruption of the first power source for the mesh network comprises detecting an interruption of an alternating current (AC) power source for the mesh network, and

wherein selecting the second routing configuration for nodes of the mesh network comprises selecting a second routing configuration where routing responsibilities are handled by nodes including at least one of a battery power source or an external uninterruptable power supply power source.

11. A device comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory 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;

maintaining ranked routing configurations for nodes of a mesh network in which each routing configuration is associated with a rank;

identifying, from among the ranked routing configurations, a first set of routing configurations appropriate at a time during which a first power source that powers multiple nodes of the mesh network is available;

accessing ranks associated with the first set of routing configurations;

comparing the accessed ranks associated with the first set of routing configurations; and

selecting, from among the first set of routing configurations, a first routing configuration for nodes of the mesh network based on the comparison of the accessed ranks associated with the first set of routing configurations;

detecting, by one or more nodes of the mesh network, an interruption of the first power source for the mesh network; and

based on the detection of the interruption of the first power source for the mesh network;

identifying, from among the ranked routing configurations, a second set of routing configurations appropriate at a time during which the first power source that powers multiple nodes of the mesh network is unavailable;

accessing ranks associated with the second set of routing configurations;

comparing the accessed ranks associated with the second set of routing configurations; and

selecting, from among the second set of routing configurations, a second routing configuration for nodes of the mesh network based on the comparison of the accessed ranks associated with the second set of routing configurations.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein detecting the interruption of the first power source for the mesh network comprises detecting the interruption of the first power source at a coordinator node of the mesh network, the coordinator node being a particular node of the nodes of the mesh network.

13. The device of claim 11, wherein detecting the interruption of the first power source for the mesh network comprises:

receiving, from one or more nodes of the mesh network, voting data that indicates whether an interruption of the first power source that powers multiple nodes of the mesh network has been detected; and

based on the voting data that indicates whether an interruption of the first power source that powers multiple nodes of the mesh network has been detected, determining that an interruption of the first power source for the mesh network has occurred.

14. The device of claim 11, wherein selecting the second routing configuration for nodes of the mesh network comprises selecting, as the second routing configuration, a routing configuration that includes only the nodes of the mesh network that include a second power source that is different than the first power source.

15. The device of claim 11, wherein selecting the second routing configuration for nodes of the mesh network comprises performing dynamic network rerouting on the nodes of the mesh network that include a second power source that is different than the first power source.

16. The device of claim 11, wherein the operations further comprise:

detecting, by one or more nodes of the mesh network, a restoration of the first power source for the mesh network; and

based on detecting the restoration of the first power source for the mesh network, reverting to the first routing configuration by providing, to the first nodes of the mesh network, routing data that indicates routing responsibilities within the first routing configuration for the mesh network.

17. The device of claim 11, wherein the operations further comprise:

in response to detecting the interruption of the first power source for the mesh network, providing, to one or more nodes of the mesh network, data that causes the one or more nodes of the mesh network to enter a reduced power operation mode.

18. The device of claim 11, wherein the first routing configuration for the mesh network and the second routing configuration for the mesh network are different routing configurations for the mesh network.

19. The device of claim 11, wherein selecting the first routing configuration for nodes of the mesh network comprises selecting a first routing configuration for nodes of one of a Z-Wave network, a ZigBee network, an IPv6 over Low power Wireless Personal Area Network (6LoWPAN), a Bluetooth network, or an INSTEON network.

20. The device of claim 11, wherein detecting the interruption of the first power source for the mesh network comprises detecting an interruption of an alternating current (AC) power source for the mesh network, and

wherein selecting the second routing configuration for nodes of the mesh network comprises selecting a second routing configuration where routing responsibilities are handled by nodes including at least one of a battery power source or an external uninterruptable power supply power source.