USING BATTERY-POWERED NODES IN A MESH NETWORK
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Accused Products
Abstract
In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for configuring a constant powered mesh network node to control a configuration of an intermittently powered mesh network node, where the intermittently powered mesh network node may include a repeater node that periodically powers down for a time period to conserve energy. The embodiments include transmitting a message beam to the repeater node, where a duration of the message beam length may exceed the time period that the repeater node is powered down, and where the message beam may contain a preamble with data that may indicate that the repeater node is to remain powered up in order to receive a message, and may cause the intermittently powered mesh network node to request configuration information relating to a network topology from the constant powered mesh network node when the intermittently powered mesh network node powers up.
14 Citations
24 Claims
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1. (canceled)
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2. A method of configuring a constant powered mesh network node to control a configuration of an intermittently powered mesh network node, wherein the intermittently powered mesh network node periodically powers down for a time period to conserve energy, the method comprising:
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transmitting a message beam to the intermittently powered mesh network node, wherein a duration of the message beam length exceeds the time period that the intermittently powered mesh network node is powered down, and wherein the message beam contains a preamble with data; indicating that the intermittently powered mesh network node is to remain powered up in order to receive a message; and causing the intermittently powered mesh network node to request configuration information relating to a network topology from the constant powered mesh network node when the intermittently powered mesh network node powers up. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method comprising:
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associating a first node in a mesh network with a communication type, wherein the first node periodically powers down for a time period; transmitting a message beam to the first node from a second node, wherein a duration of the message beam length exceeds the time period that the first node is powered down, and wherein the message beam contains a preamble with data indicating; (i) that the first node is to remain powered up in order to receive a message; (ii) that the transmitted message is of the communication type; activating the first node at predefined intervals to detect a transmission from the second node in the mesh network; activating the first node beyond the predefined intervals when the transmission contains a preamble indicating that the message is of the communication type; and receiving a transmitted message at the first node from the second node following detection that the transmission contains the preamble. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A system comprising:
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a configuration facility for configuring a constant powered mesh network node to control a configuration of an intermittently powered mesh network node, wherein the intermittently powered mesh network node periodically powers down for a time period to conserve energy; a transmitting facility for transmitting a message beam to the intermittently powered mesh network node, wherein a duration of the message beam exceeds the time period that the intermittently powered mesh network node is powered down, and wherein the message beam contains a preamble with data; indicating that the intermittently powered mesh network node is to remain powered in order to receive a message; and a causation facility for causing the intermittently powered mesh network node to request configuration information relating to a network topology from the constant powered mesh network node when the intermittently powered mesh network node powers up.
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24. A method of configuring a constant powered mesh network node to control a configuration of an intermittently powered mesh network node, wherein the intermittently powered mesh network node periodically powers down for a time period, the method comprising:
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transmitting a message beam to the intermittently powered mesh network node, wherein the duration of the message beam exceeds the time period that the intermittently powered mesh network node is powered down, and wherein the message beam contains a preamble with data indicating that the intermittently powered mesh network node is to remain powered up in order to receive a message; causing the intermittently powered mesh network node to request configuration information relating to a network topology from the constant powered mesh network node when the intermittently powered mesh network node powers up; and using the configuration information relating to the network topology to transmit the message to an electronic device in a home control system, wherein a route path used for the transmission includes, at least in part, the intermittently powered mesh network node.
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Specification