SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REJOINING SLEEPING SUBNETS IN A WIRELESS MESH NETWORK
First Claim
1. A method of joining nodes from a first and a second subnet into a network, comprising:
- establishing a probability that a node within the first subnet will enter scout mode during its sleep interval, wherein the probability is less than 100%;
if the node enters scout mode, broadcasting a message from the node in scout mode to other nodes inviting nodes in other subnets to join with the first subnet, wherein the message includes the node'"'"'s network identifier; and
detecting, within a detecting node in the second subnet, the message broadcast by the node in scout mode; and
determining whether nodes in the second subnet have the same network identifier as the network identifier in the message broadcast by the node in scout mode; and
if the nodes in the second subnet have the same network identifier as the network identifier in the message broadcast by the node in scout mode, combining the nodes in the first and second subnets into a combined network.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for joining nodes from a first and a second subnet into a network. A probability is established that a node within the first subnet will enter scout mode during its sleep interval, wherein the probability is less than 100%. If the node enters scout mode, a message is broadcasted from the node in scout mode to other nodes inviting nodes in other subnets to join with the first subnet, wherein the message includes the node'"'"'s network identifier. If the message broadcasted by the node in scout mode is detected by a node in a second subnet, the node in the second subnet determines whether nodes in the second subnet have the same network identifier as the network identifier in the message broadcast by the node in scout mode. If the nodes in the second subnet have the same network identifier as the network identifier in the message broadcast by the node in scout mode, the nodes in the first and second subnets are combined into a combined network.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method of joining nodes from a first and a second subnet into a network, comprising:
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establishing a probability that a node within the first subnet will enter scout mode during its sleep interval, wherein the probability is less than 100%; if the node enters scout mode, broadcasting a message from the node in scout mode to other nodes inviting nodes in other subnets to join with the first subnet, wherein the message includes the node'"'"'s network identifier; and detecting, within a detecting node in the second subnet, the message broadcast by the node in scout mode; and determining whether nodes in the second subnet have the same network identifier as the network identifier in the message broadcast by the node in scout mode; and if the nodes in the second subnet have the same network identifier as the network identifier in the message broadcast by the node in scout mode, combining the nodes in the first and second subnets into a combined network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A wireless mesh network, comprising:
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a plurality of nodes, wherein each node communicates wirelessly to one or more other nodes in the network; wherein each node includes program code for executing a wake/sleep cycle having a wake interval followed by a sleep interval; wherein each node includes program code for creating a probability that the node will wake node during the sleep interval to execute a scout function; wherein each node includes program code for detecting a node in scout mode and for responding to a message from the node in scout mode if it if in a different subnet and has a common network identifier; and wherein each node includes program code for combining its subnet with a different subnet when they share a common network identifier. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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Specification