STATIC UPDATE CONTROLLER ENABLEMENT IN A MESH NETWORK

• US 20070177613A1
• Filed: 10/24/2006
• Published: 08/02/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Silicon Laboratories Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Zensys A/S (Sigma Designs Incorporated)
• Inventors: Johansen, Niels Thybo, Shorty, Peter, Franck, Jorgen
• Granted Patent: US 8,194,569 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/401
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/189 Transmission or retransmission of more than one copy of a message
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2001/0093 Point-to-multipoint
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0853 using an additional device, e.g. smartcard, SIM or a different communication terminal cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving additional secure or trusted devices H04L9/3234
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/70 Media network packetisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/22 Negotiating communication rate
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/22 Processing or transfer of terminal data, e.g. status or physical capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/18 Service support devices; Network management devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements

Abstract

In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for using a primary controller in a mesh network to instruct a static update controller to enable node information server functionality to form a static update controller information server. Capabilities are described for using the static update controller information server to enable other controllers in the mesh network to command other nodes in the mesh network on behalf of the static update controller information server, to distribute an installation process to a plurality of controllers in a mesh network, and the like. The present invention further describes improved capabilities for associating a static update controller with an inclusion controller within a mesh network, associating the inclusion controller with a node slave within the mesh network, transmitting a first data between the static update controller and the inclusion controller, wherein the first data relates at least in part to the node slave, and transmitting a second data between the inclusion controller and the node slave, wherein the second data relates at least in part to the first data transmitted.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

using a primary controller in a mesh network to instruct a static update controller to enable node information server functionality to form a static update controller information server.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the information server is a server communicating identification information.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the information server is a server communicating installation information.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising associating at least one inclusion controller with the static update controller information server.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the information server is associated with network command protocols.

5-10. -10. (canceled)

12-15. -15. (canceled)

16. A method comprising:

providing a static update controller in a mesh network with an enabled node information server functionality to form a static update controller information server; and

using the static update controller information server to enable inclusion controllers in the mesh network to command nodes in the mesh network on behalf of the static update controller information server.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the information server is a server communicating identification information.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the command relates to including a node in the mesh network.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the command relates to excluding a node in the mesh network.

41. The method of claim 16, wherein the information server is associated with network command protocols.

20-40. -40. (canceled)

42-45. -45. (canceled)

46. A method comprising:

using a static update controller information server to distribute an installation process to a plurality of controllers in a mesh network;

providing an installation assignment to a first controller in a mesh network to install new nodes in the mesh network; and

enabling the installation assignment to be transferred from the first controller to a second controller.

47. The method of claim 46, further comprising associating at least one inclusion controller with the static update controller information server.

51. The method of claim 46, wherein the plurality of controllers includes a static controller.

60. The method of claim 46, wherein the installation assignment can be transferred from one node to another during the lifetime of the network.

48-50. -50. (canceled)

52-59. -59. (canceled)

61-65. -65. (canceled)

66. A method comprising:

associating a static update controller with an inclusion controller within a mesh network;

associating the inclusion controller with a node slave within the mesh network;

transmitting a first data between the static update controller and the inclusion controller, wherein the first data relates at least in part to the node slave; and

transmitting a second data between the inclusion controller and the node slave, wherein the second data relates at least in part to the first data transmitted.

68. The method of claim 66, wherein the first data is a topology update.

71. The method of claim 66, wherein the first data is related to adding a new node to a mesh network.

67. (canceled)

69-70. -70. (canceled)

72-95. -95. (canceled)

96. A system comprising:

a providing facility adapted to provide a static update controller in a mesh network with an enabled node information server functionality to form a static update controller information server; and

a usage facility adapted to use the static update controller information server to enable other controllers in the mesh network to command other nodes in the mesh network on behalf of the static update controller information server.

97-125. -125. (canceled)

126. A system comprising:

a usage facility adapted to use a static update controller information server to distribute an installation process to a plurality of controllers in a mesh network;

a providing facility adapted to provide an installation assignment to a first controller in a mesh network to install new nodes in the mesh network; and

an enabling facility adapted to enable the installation assignment to be transferred from the first controller to a second controller.

127-145. -145. (canceled)

146. A system comprising:

a first associating facility adapted to associate a static update controller with an inclusion controller within a mesh network;

a second associating facility adapted to associate the inclusion controller with a node slave within the mesh network;

a first transmitting facility adapted to transmit a first data between the static update controller and the inclusion controller, wherein the first data relates at least in part to the node slave; and

a second transmitting facility adapted to transmit a second data between the inclusion controller and the node slave, wherein the second data relates at least in part to the first data transmitted.

147-160. -160. (canceled)