System and method for a wireless mesh network
First Claim
1. A system for an access node coupled to a computer to wirelessly communicate with a plurality of radio nodes each coupled to a sensor, comprising:
- a first logical layer of one or more radio nodes within a communication range of the access node and configured to directly communicate with the access node;
one or more additional logical layers each having one or more radio nodes that are outside the communication range of the access node and configured to indirectly communicate with the access node, wherein each radio node on the one or more additional logical layers selects a radio node on a logical layer that is logically closer to the access node to be a repeater radio node for wireless transmissions, the selection of the repeater radio node determined according to the logical layer number and power number of each radio node evaluated as a potential repeater radio node; and
wherein the plurality of radio nodes communicate data to the access node corresponding to signals received from the sensors coupled to the plurality of radio nodes.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for an access node coupled to a computer to wirelessly communicate with a plurality of disparately located radio nodes each coupled to a meter or other sensor is provided. The radio nodes within the communication range of the access node orient onto a first logical layer to directly communicate with the access node. Additional radio nodes beyond the communication range of the access node indirectly communicate with the access node by detecting communications from radio nodes on lower logical layers that are closer to the access node and selecting a radio node of the detected radio nodes to be a repeater node. The selected repeater node has available memory capacity and a suitable power number to qualify as a repeater, which may periodically change. Sensed data is directly or indirectly communicated to the access node for further communication to a backend system computer.
158 Citations
34 Claims
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1. A system for an access node coupled to a computer to wirelessly communicate with a plurality of radio nodes each coupled to a sensor, comprising:
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a first logical layer of one or more radio nodes within a communication range of the access node and configured to directly communicate with the access node;
one or more additional logical layers each having one or more radio nodes that are outside the communication range of the access node and configured to indirectly communicate with the access node, wherein each radio node on the one or more additional logical layers selects a radio node on a logical layer that is logically closer to the access node to be a repeater radio node for wireless transmissions, the selection of the repeater radio node determined according to the logical layer number and power number of each radio node evaluated as a potential repeater radio node; and
wherein the plurality of radio nodes communicate data to the access node corresponding to signals received from the sensors coupled to the plurality of radio nodes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for a first radio node in a network having a plurality of radio nodes and an access node to communicate with the access node, comprising the steps of:
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monitoring for wireless communications by nearby radio nodes;
ranking the nearby radio nodes identified from the monitored wireless communications into an ordered list of radio nodes according to the logical relation to the access node;
determining whether the nearby radio node ranked first in the ordered list can serve as a repeater radio node;
transmitting data wirelessly to the nearby radio node ranked first in the ordered list if the nearby radio node ranked first in the ordered list can serve as the repeater radio node; and
transmitting data wirelessly to another nearby radio node in the ordered list if the nearby radio node ranked first in the ordered list cannot serve as the repeater radio node, wherein the repeater radio node retransmits the data received from the first radio node to the access node directly or indirectly according to one or more additional repeater radio nodes. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for a first radio node in a network having a plurality of radio nodes and an access node to communicate with the access node, comprising the steps of:
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selecting one of the plurality of radio nodes as a repeater radio node if the first radio node cannot establish a direct bidirectional communication link with the access node;
transmitting a registration request message to the repeater radio node, wherein the repeater node forwards the registration request message directly to the access node or indirectly to the access node according to one or more additional repeater radio nodes;
evaluating the registration request message to determine whether the first radio node registration request is accepted or denied by the access node; and
communicating a response from the access node to the first radio node containing an indication of acceptance or denial of the registration request. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A method for a first radio node in a first network having a plurality of radio nodes and a first access node to align to a second access node of a second network having a plurality of radio nodes, comprising the steps of:
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monitoring for wireless communications by nearby radio nodes in each of the first and second networks;
ranking the nearby radio nodes in each of the first and second networks identified from the monitored wireless communications into an ordered list of radio nodes according to the logical layer number of each nearby radio node to one of the first or second access nodes, wherein nearby radio nodes having the lowest logical layer number are ranked highest in the ordered list;
adjusting the ranking of nearby radio nodes in each of the first and second networks having the same lowest logical layer number according to a power number value, wherein the nearby radio nodes having the highest power number on the same lowest logical layer number are ranked higher than nearby radio nodes on the same lowest logical layer number having a lower power number; and
transmitting data wirelessly to the nearby radio node in the second network that is ranked first in the ordered list, wherein the first radio node becomes part of the second network and communicates with the second access node. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30)
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31. A system for a plurality of dispersed radio nodes coupled to sensors to communicate with an access node in a network, comprising:
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logic configured to monitor for communications transmitted by the access node or one or more radio nodes, wherein a first group of radio nodes receive a synchronization message from an access node;
logic in the first group of radio nodes configured to transmit a registration request after receipt of the synchronization message from the access node, wherein the first group of radio nodes are accepted to the network;
logic in one or more radio nodes outside of the communication range of the access node configured to detect transmissions from one or more of the first group of radio nodes;
logic in each of the one or more radio nodes outside of the communication range of the access node configured to transmit a registration request to a radio node in the first group of radio nodes for further transmission to the access node after receipt of transmissions from the one or more first group of radio nodes, wherein the one or more radio nodes outside of the communication range of the access node are accepted to the network;
logic in additional radio nodes distantly positioned from the access node configured to detect transmissions from another radio node
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32. A system for an access node coupled to a computer to wirelessly communicate with a plurality of radio nodes each coupled to a actuator, comprising:
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a first logical layer of one or more radio nodes within a communication range of the access node and configured to directly communicate with the access node;
one or more additional logical layers each having one or more radio nodes that are outside the communication range of the access node and configured to indirectly communicate with the access node, wherein each radio node on the one or more additional logical layers selects a radio node on a logical layer that is logically closer to the access node to be a repeater radio node for wireless transmissions, the selection of the repeater radio node determined according to the logical layer number and power number of each radio node evaluated as a potential repeater radio node; and
wherein the radio nodes communicate data corresponding to a signal transmitted from the access node to a radio node coupled to an actuator for controlling operation of the actuator. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34)
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Specification