Method of designating a future network coordinator
First Claim
1. A method of operating a network coordinator, comprising:
- receiving device capability information from a plurality of network devices, including whether each of the plurality of network devices can perform network control functions;
determining whether any of the plurality of network devices is capable of performing network control functions based on the device capability information;
choosing one of the plurality of network devices that is capable of performing network control functions to be a designated next coordinator if any of the plurality of network devices are capable of performing network control functions;
determining that there will be no designated next coordinator if none of the plurality of network devices are capable of performing network control functions; and
sending a beacon to the plurality of network devices, the beacon including next coordinator information indicating one of;
the designated next coordinator, or that there is no designated next coordinator.
20 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method (500) is provided for operating a network coordinator (110). The method includes receiving device capability information from a plurality of network devices (121-125), including whether each of the network devices can perform network control functions (520); determining whether any of the network devices is capable of performing network control functions based on the device capability information (540); choosing one of the network devices that is capable of performing network control functions to be a designated next coordinator if any of the network devices are capable of performing network control functions (570); determining that there will be no designated next coordinator if none of the network devices are capable of performing network control functions (550); and sending a beacon (220) to the network devices, the beacon including next coordinator information (300) indicating one of: the designated next coordinator, or that there is no designated next coordinator (580).
27 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of operating a network coordinator, comprising:
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receiving device capability information from a plurality of network devices, including whether each of the plurality of network devices can perform network control functions;
determining whether any of the plurality of network devices is capable of performing network control functions based on the device capability information;
choosing one of the plurality of network devices that is capable of performing network control functions to be a designated next coordinator if any of the plurality of network devices are capable of performing network control functions;
determining that there will be no designated next coordinator if none of the plurality of network devices are capable of performing network control functions; and
sending a beacon to the plurality of network devices, the beacon including next coordinator information indicating one of;
the designated next coordinator, or that there is no designated next coordinator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of operating a network device, comprising:
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listening for a beacon from a network coordinator;
determining whether the beacon has been successfully received;
determining whether the beacon indicates that the network device is a designated next network coordinator; and
storing a next device indicator indicating that the network device is the designated next network coordinator if the beacon indicates that the network device is the designated next network coordinator. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of operating a network device, comprising:
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receiving next coordinator information from an original network coordinator designating the network device as a next network coordinator;
storing a next coordinator indicator that indicates the network device is the designated next network coordinator;
listening for an original beacon from the original network coordinator;
determining whether the original beacon has been successfully received;
determining if a maximum number of consecutive original beacons have not been received if the original beacon has not been successfully received; and
sending out a new beacon and performing network control functions if a maximum number of consecutive original beacons have not been received. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification