USING BATTERY-POWERED NODES IN A MESH NETWORK

• US 20070263647A1
• Filed: 03/09/2007
• Published: 11/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Silicon Laboratories Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Zensys A/S (Sigma Designs Incorporated)
• Inventors: Shorty, Peter, Midtgaard, Jacob, Christensen, Tommas, Johansen, Niels
• Granted Patent: US 8,223,783 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/406
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/10 Current supply arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/10 based on available power or energy
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/28 for reactive routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for configuring a constant powered mesh network node to control the configuration of an intermittently powered mesh network node, wherein the intermittently powered mesh network node periodically powers down to conserve energy; and causing the intermittently powered mesh network node to request configuration information from the constant powered mesh network node when the intermittently powered mesh network node powers up. In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for scanning a plurality of nodes in a mesh network to identify a current active wake up destination for a battery powered mesh network node; requesting the current active wake up destination to send a change wakeup destination signal; and requesting a new route from a node in the mesh network if the battery powered mesh network node does not have a wakeup destination in its memory. In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for associating a first node in a mesh network with a communication type; activating the first node at a predefined interval to detect the presence of a message of the communication type in a transmission from a second node in the mesh network; continuing to activate the first node at the predefined interval if the transmission from the second node does not conform to the associated communication type of the first node; activating the first node beyond the predefined interval if the associated communication type is detected in the transmission from the second node; and receiving a message at the first node from the second node following detection of the associated communication type.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

configuring a constant powered mesh network node to control the configuration of an intermittently powered mesh network node, wherein the intermittently powered mesh network node periodically powers down to conserve energy; and

causing the intermittently powered mesh network node to request configuration information from the constant powered mesh network node when the intermittently powered mesh network node powers up.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the constant powered mesh network node is powered by an AC power source.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the constant powered mesh network node is powered by a DC power source.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the intermittently powered mesh network node is powered by a battery source.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the constant powered mesh network node is a wakeup destination.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein a configuration facility is used to configure the constant powered mesh network node.

5-7. -7. (canceled)

9. (canceled)

11-14. -14. (canceled)

15. A method comprising:

scanning a plurality of nodes in a mesh network to identify a current active wake up destination for a battery powered mesh network node;

requesting the current active wake up destination to send a change wakeup destination signal; and

requesting a new route from a node in the mesh network if the battery powered mesh network node does not have a wakeup destination in its memory.

16-17. -17. (canceled)

18. A method comprising:

associating a first node in a mesh network with a communication type;

activating the first node at a predefined interval to detect the presence of a message of the communication type in a transmission from a second node in the mesh network;

continuing to activate the first node at the predefined interval if the transmission from the second node does not conform to the associated communication type of the first node;

activating the first node beyond the predefined interval if the associated communication type is detected in the transmission from the second node; and

receiving a message at the first node from the second node following detection of the associated communication type.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the first node is powered by a battery.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein the mesh network includes a battery-powered node.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the battery-powered node is associated with a device.

72. The method of claim 23, wherein the battery-powered node is associated with a capacitor that is further associated with the device.

73. The method of claim 23, wherein the battery-powered node is associated with a rechargeable battery that is further associated with the device.

75. The method of claim 18, wherein the first node is associated with a node ID.

79. The method of claim 18, wherein a node in the mesh network is associated with data indicating which nodes in the mesh network are battery-powered.

82. The method of claim 18, wherein the communication type is identified based at least in part on data in a message preamble pattern.

90. The method of claim 82, wherein the message preamble includes route information.

91. The method of claim 18, wherein the message is transmitted through the mesh network using a flooding algorithm.

98. The method of claim 18, wherein the activation of the first node beyond the predefined interval enables it to receive a plurality of messages prior to deactivating.

20-22. -22. (canceled)

25-71. -71. (canceled)

74. (canceled)

76-78. -78. (canceled)

80-81. -81. (canceled)

83-89. -89. (canceled)

92-97. -97. (canceled)

99-109. -109. (canceled)

110. A system comprising:

a configuration facility for configuring a constant powered mesh network node to control the configuration of an intermittently powered mesh network node, wherein the intermittently powered mesh network node periodically powers down to conserve energy; and

a causation facility for causing the intermittently powered mesh network node to request configuration information from the constant powered mesh network node when the intermittently powered mesh network node powers up.

111-123. -123. (canceled)

124. A system comprising:

a scanning facility for scanning a plurality of nodes in a mesh network to identify a current active wake up destination for a battery powered mesh network node;

a request facility for requesting the current active wake up destination to send a change wakeup destination signal; and

a second request facility for requesting a new route from a node in the mesh network if the battery powered mesh network node does not have a wakeup destination in its memory.

125-218. -218. (canceled)