SILENT ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF ROUTING IN A MESH NETWORK

• US 20070204009A1
• Filed: 03/02/2007
• Published: 08/30/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Silicon Laboratories Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Zensys A/S (Sigma Designs Incorporated)
• Inventors: Sigfredsson, Johann, Shorty, Peter
• Granted Patent: US 8,219,705 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/218
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/16 Combinations of two or more digital computers each having at least an arithmetic unit, a program unit and a register, e.g. for a simultaneous processing of several programs coordinating program control therefor G06F9/52; in regulating and control system G05B
• 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 sending a single cast frame from a first node to a second node in a mesh network; sending the single cast frame from the second node to a third node in a mesh network; using the first node to detect the single cast frame sent from the second node to the third node; and interpreting this detection within the first node as an acknowledgement of success in sending the single cast frame from the first node to the second node. An additional method described herein may send a second single cast from the second node to a third node in a mesh network, interpret detection of the second single class frame within the first node as an acknowledgement of success in sending the first single cast frame from the first node to the second node.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

sending a single cast frame from a first node to a second node in a mesh network;

sending the single cast frame from the second node to a third node in a mesh network;

using the first node to detect the single cast frame sent from the second node to the third node; and

interpreting this detection within the first node as an acknowledgement of success in sending the single cast frame from the first node to the second node.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the single cast frame is a routed single cast frame.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the single cast frame is routed based at least in part on a routing table.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the single cast frame is related to a metadata.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the single cast frame is related to a command.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein the command relates to a communication speed.

14. The method of claim 5, wherein the command relates to a communication channel.

18. The method of claim 5, wherein the command relates to a network security level.

22. The method of claim 5, wherein the command relates to a network topology.

25. The method of claim 5, wherein the command relates to a network routing strategy.

26. The method of claim 1, wherein the single cast frame is routed over a mesh network topology.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the mesh network topology is an automation system network for controlling a device.

67. The method of claim 1, wherein the mesh network is a wireless mesh network.

68. The method of claim 1, wherein the first node is a multi-speed node.

70. The method of claim 1, wherein the second node is a multi-speed node.

72. The method of claim 1, wherein the third node is a multi-speed node.

73. The method of claim 72, wherein the multi-speed node communication speed is based at least in part on a criterion.

6-8. -8. (canceled)

10-13. -13. (canceled)

15-17. -17. (canceled)

19-21. -21. (canceled)

23-24. -24. (canceled)

28-66. -66. (canceled)

69. (canceled)

71. (canceled)

74. A method comprising:

sending a first single cast frame from a first node to a second node in a mesh network;

sending a second single cast frame from the second node to a third node in a mesh network;

using the first node to detect the second single cast frame sent from the second node to the third node; and

interpreting this detection within the first node as an acknowledgement of success in sending the first single cast frame from the first node to the second node.

75. A system comprising:

a first sending facility adapted to send a single cast frame from a first node to a second node in a mesh network;

a second sending facility adapted to send the single cast frame from the second node to a third node in a mesh network;

a usage facility adapted to use the first node to detect the single cast frame sent from the second node to the third node; and

an interpretation facility adapted to interpret this detection within the first node as an acknowledgement of success in sending the first single cast frame from the first node to the second node.

76-147. -147. (canceled)

148. A system comprising:

a first sending facility adapted to send a first single cast frame from a first node to a second node in a mesh network;

a second sending facility adapted to send a second single cast frame from the second node to a third node in a mesh network;

a usage facility adapted to use the first node to detect the second single cast frame sent from the second node to the third node; and

an interpretation facility adapted to interpret this detection within the first node as an acknowledgement of success in sending the single cast frame from the first node to the second node.