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Method and device for routing and scheduling in a multi-hop network

  • US 10,448,326 B2
  • Filed: 11/18/2016
  • Issued: 10/15/2019
  • Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2016
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A wireless device for wireless transmission over a multi-hop wireless network, the wireless network comprising nodes configured to forward messages towards a sink node, wherein the nodes are grouped in successive layers, each layer representing the distance of the nodes in the layer from the sink node, the wireless device comprising:

  • a wireless interface for wirelessly communicating with nodes in the network; and

    a controller configured to;

    determine a schedule of timeslots for transmitting and timeslots for receiving messages based on which layer the wireless device occupies;

    receive, via the wireless interface and during a scheduled timeslot for receiving messages, a transmission from a first node, the transmission comprising a message;

    during the scheduled timeslot for receiving messages and in response to the receipt of the transmission;

    determine whether, during an acknowledgement contention period after receipt of the message, any signals are received via the wireless interface that indicate that an additional node has received the transmission; and

    in response to no signals being received, during the acknowledgement contention period, that indicate that an additional node has received the transmission, transmit to the first node, via the wireless interface, an acknowledgement of receipt of the transmission;

    add the message to a queue of messages for transmission by the wireless device;

    in response to a signal being received via the wireless interface indicating that another node in the network has received the message, remove the message from the queue of messages; and

    during a scheduled timeslot for transmitting messages;

    cause the wireless interface to transmit at least one message from the queue of messages for transmission to nodes in a layer closer to the sink than the wireless device;

    determine whether, during a transmission contention period, a further transmission is received via the wireless interface; and

    in response to a further transmission being received during the transmission contention period, inhibit transmission for the duration of the scheduled timeslot for transmitting messages.

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