METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR WIRELESS COMMUNICATION IN A MESH NETWORK WITH SOFTWARE DOWNLOADED TO NODES

• US 20080037454A1
• Filed: 07/12/2007
• Published: 02/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sensicast Systems
• Original Assignee: Sensicast Systems
• Inventors: Berry, Victor, Werb, Jay, Weiss, Howard, Lamb, C.
• Application Number:
  US11/776,801
• Publication Number:
  US 20080037454A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/310
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/805 Lightweight hardware, e.g. radio-frequency identification [RFID] or sensor
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0037 Inter-user or inter-terminal allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/0825 using asymmetric-key encryption or public key infrastructure [PKI], e.g. key signature or public key certificates
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/083 involving central third party, e.g. key distribution center [KDC] or trusted third party [TTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/16 the keys or algorithms being changed during operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3247 involving digital signatures
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/069 using certificates or pre-shared keys
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0216 using a pre-established activity schedule, e.g. traffic indication frame
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0219 where the power saving management affects multiple terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• 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

A method and apparatus for communication in a wireless sensor network. In one embodiment, one or more routers in a network may be available for communication with one or more star nodes at a randomized time and/or frequency. A connectivity assessment, which may be performed at several different frequencies and/or times, may be performed to evaluate the quality of communications between devices in the network. Primary and secondary communication relationships may be formed between devices to provide for system redundancy. One or more proxies may be maintained where each proxy includes a status of one or more devices in the network, e.g., one or more star nodes or routers. Proxies may be used to handle information requests and/or status change requests, e.g., a proxy may be requested to change a communication relationship between devices in the network and may generate command signals to cause the corresponding devices to make the change.

Claims

1. A wireless sensor network comprising:

a plurality of star nodes constructed and arranged to transmit and receive wireless signals;

a plurality of routers each constructed and arranged to transmit and receive wireless signals for communication with at least one star node; and

a host computer that communicates with the plurality of routers, the host computer providing firmware code that is sent to at least one star node or router.

2. The network of claim 1, wherein the firmware code is sent to multiple devices in the network.

3. The network of claim 2, wherein the firmware code is simultaneously sent to the multiple devices in the network.

4. The network of claim 1, wherein the firmware code is sent in multiple message fragments.

5. The network of claim 4, wherein the message fragments are sent at separate times and in a specified order.

6. The network of claim 4, wherein the message fragments are sent at separate times and according to a schedule.

7. The network of claim 1, wherein the firmware code is sent to multiple devices in the network a plurality of times in succession.

8. The network of claim 1, wherein the firmware code is simultaneously sent to multiple devices in the network on multiple network paths.

9. The network of claim 8, wherein the network paths each include a frequency and time at which communication takes place between two devices in the network.

10. The network of claim 1, wherein the firmware code is sent in multiple message fragments, and a device receiving the firmware code operates to receive only those firmware code message fragments that the device has not yet received.

11. The network of claim 1, wherein the firmware code is sent in conjunction with information identifying a group of devices that are intended to receive and use the firmware code.

12. The network of claim 11, wherein the information includes a group number to which the group of devices belong.

13. The network of claim 11, wherein the information identifies a range of firmware version numbers.

14. The network of claim 11, wherein the information identifies specific devices in the network.

15. The network of claim 1, wherein an integrity check spanning multiple packets including the firmware code sent to at least one star node or router is performed.

16. The network of claim 1, wherein the firmware code is used by a device that receives the firmware code only after reporting successful receipt of the firmware code and receiving instructions to use the code.