METHOD FOR CONFIGURING A NODE

• US 20140115132A1
• Filed: 07/04/2012
• Published: 04/24/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Signify Holding B.V. (Signify N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Inventors: Erdmann, Bozena, Tolhuizen, Ludovicus Marinus Gerardus Maria, Lelkens, Armand Michel Marie
• Granted Patent: US 9,948,504 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/222
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0803 Configuration setting
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/18 Negotiating wireless communication parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/02 Power saving arrangements in wired systems H04L12/12; signaling of mobile application services, e.g. low battery notifications H04W4/20
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

This invention relates to a method for configuring a limited node in a network, said limited node being able to receive data only within limited reception opportunities, the method comprising at a first node: (a) detecting that an update of a network configuration parameter value for the limited node is required; (b) deciding on whether to change a limited node behaviour from a first behaviour based at least partly on communication characteristics of the limited node, said change of behaviour including increasing reception opportunity at the limited node; (c) depending on decision at step (b), triggering delivery of a request of behaviour change to the limited node during a first reception opportunity; (d) triggering delivery of the updated network configuration parameter value to the limited node during a second reception opportunity of the limited node.

Claims

1. A method for configuring a limited node in a network, said limited node being able to receive data only within limited reception opportunities, the method comprising at a first node:

(a) detecting that an update of a network configuration parameter value for the limited node is required;

(b) deciding on whether to change a limited node behaviour from a first behaviour based at least partly on communication characteristics of the limited node, said change of behaviour including increasing reception opportunity at the limited node;

(c) depending on decision at step (b), triggering delivery of a request of behaviour change to the limited node during a first reception opportunity of the limited node

(d) triggering delivery of the updated network configuration parameter value to the limited node during a second reception opportunity of the limited node.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the change of behaviour includes an increase of the duration of the limited node reception opportunities.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein step (d) includes transmitting the updated network configuration parameter value in a configuration frame, and wherein the request of behaviour change of step (b) includes a duration indication based on the length of the configuration frame.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the change of behaviour includes a change in the frames being sent to indicate the reception opportunities by the limited node.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the change of behaviour includes the limited node starting to send acknowledgements upon correct reception of a data packet.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the change of behaviour includes the limited node transmitting on multiple channels from the supported channel set to indicate the reception opportunities.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the decision of step is also based on at least one of the following criteria:

priority of the updated network configuration parameter, length of an updated network configuration parameter frame, duration of the limited node reception opportunities, frequency of the limited node reception opportunities, capabilities of the limited node, application functionality of the limited node, location of the limited node, priority of the limited node.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the network configuration parameter value includes at least one of a channel identifier, a security key, a security key type, a network identifier, a node identifier, a reporting interval, an operation mode, a maintenance entity identifier.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step (e) of sending a request of behaviour change to the limited node for changing the behaviour of the limited node back to the first behaviour.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step (g) of the limited node changing its behaviour back to the first behaviour after successful completion of the configuration of the limited node.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step (f) of signaling to a maintenance entity the successful configuration of the limited node.

12. A method for configuring a network comprising a maintenance entity and a plurality of nodes, the method comprising, the steps of;

at the maintenance entity, detecting a potential presence in the network of at least one limited node, said limited node being able to receive data only within limited time periods;

at the maintenance entity, determining that an update of a network configuration parameter value is required, said network configuration parameter being common to the at least one limited node and to the plurality nodes of the network;

at the maintenance entity, triggering delivery of the updated network configuration parameter value to the limited device;

carrying out the method of claim 1.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step (1c), after step (1b), at the maintenance entity, of postponing a transmission of a signal for updating the network configuration parameter value at the plurality of nodes, based on the detection of the potential presence of the at least one limited node in the network.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step (1f), after step (1e), at the maintenance entity, of transmitting the signal for updating the updated network configuration parameter value at the plurality of nodes.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the step is carried out after reception of the signaling of step at the maintenance entity.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein step (1e) is carried out by the maintenance entity.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein step (1e) is carried out by a first node being different from the maintenance entity.

18. A radio node comprising configuration means for configuring a limited node in a network, said limited node being able to receive data only within limited reception opportunities, the radio node comprising:

detection means for detecting that an update of a network configuration parameter value for the limited node is required;

a controller for deciding on whether to change a limited node behaviour based at least partly on communication characteristics of the limited node, said change of behaviour including increasing reception opportunity at the limited node;

the controller being arranged for triggering delivery of a request of behaviour change to the limited node during a first reception opportunity upon deciding to change the behaviour of the limited node and the updated network configuration parameter value during a subsequent reception opportunity of the limited node.