METHOD FOR COMMUNICATING IN A NETWORK COMPRISING A BATTERYLESS ZIGBEE DEVICE, NETWORK AND DEVICE THEREFOR

• US 20110294431A1
• Filed: 02/10/2010
• Published: 12/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Signify Holding B.V. (Signify N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Lelkens, Armand Michel Marie, Erdmann, Bozena, Pasveer, Willem Franke
• Granted Patent: US 10,772,028 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/41.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/12 based on transmission quality or channel quality
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/246 Connectivity information discovery
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

The present invention relates to method for wireless communicating in a network comprising a resource-constrained end device, and a first router device, wherein the method comprises the following steps:—the end device (ZBLD) sending a trigger for proxy search procedure,—the first router (R1) device receiving the trigger for proxy search procedure, the first router (R1) determining whether it fulfills conditions for acting as a router for the end device, and in case conditions are fulfilled, the first router appointing itself as a proxy router for the end device, for relaying communication between the end device and the rest of the network. The invention also relates to an end device, a router device, and net work therefor.

Claims

1. A method for wireless communicating in a network comprising a resource-constrained end device, and a first router device, wherein the method comprises the following steps:

the end device sending a trigger for proxy search procedure,

the first router device receiving the trigger for proxy search procedure,

the first router determining whether it fulfills conditions for acting as a router for the end device, and

in case conditions are fulfilled, the first router appointing itself as a proxy router for the end device, for relaying communication between the end device and the rest of the network.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the trigger for the proxy search procedure allows for identification of the end device, and the determination step comprises:

the first router device determining, based on the identification element, whether it is linked to the end device,

in case the end device is linked determining that the conditions are fulfilled,

in case the end device is not linked, checking whether the first router device can be linked itself to the end device.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the following:

determining a performance indicator of the link between the end device and the first router device, and

comparing this performance indicator with a predetermined criteria, and

in case the performance indicator is fulfills the predetermined criteria, determining that the first router device can be proxy router for the end device.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, where the performance indicator is a link cost indicator.

5. A method as recited in claim 1, where the performance indicator is the fact of the router application being controlled by the end device.

6. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising the step of the first router device sending a proxy resolution message.

7. A method as recited in claim 6, wherein the proxy resolution message is sent after a delay determined on the basis of a performance indicator of the link between the end device and the first router device.

8. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the network further comprises a second router device within the transmission range of the first router device and the method comprising

the second router device receiving the proxy search trigger and/or the proxy resolution message from the first router device,

the second router device determining, based on the proxy resolution message and on the end device identification and a performance indicator of the links between the end device and the first and second router devices, whether it should act as a proxy router for the end device.

9. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the determination by the second router device comprising the following steps:

the second router determining whether it is linked to the end device,

the second router determining the performance indicator for the end device;

the second router comparing its address with the address of the first router device,

in case the address of the second router is lower than the one of the first router device, the second router sending a proxy resolution message.

10. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the network further comprises a third router device situated out of the transmission range of the first router device, and the method comprising:

the third router device receiving the proxy search command frame,

both the first and third router fulfilling conditions for acting as a router of the end device,

the third router device appointing itself as a router for the end device,

the first router device and the third router device both sending acknowledgment messages to the end device,

the end device detecting a collision between the acknowledgment messages and re-sending a proxy resolution command frame.

11. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein a group identifier is used for communication of proxy resolution command frame between the routers in the wireless range of a given end-device.

12. A method for communicating in a network comprising a resource-constrained end device, and a first router device, wherein the method comprises the following steps:

the end device sending a data frame to be forwarded by a router device to a destination device,

the end device waiting for reception of an acknowledgment message during a predetermined time,

in case no acknowledgment is received, the end device carrying out a method according to claim

13. An end device comprising:

wireless transmission means for sending data and triggering the proxy search procedure;

wireless transmission means for receiving at least acknowledgement messages;

means to track the acknowledgements and decide on triggering the proxy search procedure;

limited energy resources.

14. A router device comprising:

wireless reception means for receiving data frames and command frames from other devices in a wireless network,

wireless transmission means for transmitting acknowledgment messages and resolution messages,

transmission means for forwarding end device messages,

comparing means for comparing address of the router device with other addresses,

memory means for storing a neighbor table, wherein the table comprising a list of end devices and the status of the relationship between the router device and each end device.

15. (Canceled)