Wireless Network With Multiple Paths Between Nodes

• US 20160183160A1
• Filed: 12/22/2014
• Published: 06/23/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Life Safety Distribution AG (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Life Safety Distribution AG (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Caudell, Martin John, Premarini, Giuseppe, Susel, Michele, Merli, Daniel
• Granted Patent: US 9,596,642 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0803 Configuration setting
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/10 based on available power or energy
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0203 in the radio access network or backbone network of wireless communication networks
• 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 wireless communications system includes both a primary communications path wherein a gateway can communicate with each member of a plurality of ambient condition detectors, and a secondary back-up path available in the event of a failure on part of the primary path. Required power for the network can be minimized by path selection.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

establishing a selected distance parameter;

assigning an initial slot address to the gateway; and

establishing a primary path by determining those nodes closest to the gateway according to the devices'"'"' relative distances and installation site'"'"'s environmental peculiarities, and assigning an incremented level value to each such current node, for each current node with an incremented level with a value of one greater than the gateway'"'"'s one, search for the two closest unassigned nodes using the same distance evaluation criteria and connect them to the current node and then assign those nodes a level one greater than that of the current nodes, and repeating the process till all nodes are assigned a level value.

2. A method as in claim 1 which includes assigning slot addresses to the various nodes.

3. A method as in claim 2 wherein slot addresses are assigned to all nodes at a common level, before addresses are assigned to nodes at an increased level.

4. A method as in claim 3 which includes creating a secondary path between each of the nodes and the gateway.

5. A method as in claim 4 where creating a secondary path includes connecting each of the nodes to a closest unconnected node until all the nodes are connected.

6. A method as in claim 5 wherein connecting the nodes comprises creating a spiral shaped path which minimizes the length of the branches of the path.

7. A communications system comprising:

a gateway unit; and

a plurality of secondary units wherein the secondary units communicate with each other, at least in part, and the gateway unit by at least two different communications paths wherein a length parameter of one of the paths minimizes the length of the branches of the path.

8. A communications system as in claim 7 wherein paths are selected to have a length less than or equal to a predetermined distance related parameter.

9. A communications system as in claim 8 wherein paths are selected to have a length less than or equal to an adjusted distance related parameter taking into account the environmental site peculiarities included, but not limited to, radio attenuation and/or typical electromagnetic noises.

10. A communications system as in claim 7 wherein the secondary units and the gateway communicate wirelessly.

11. A communications system as in claim 7 where the secondary units are battery powered.

12. A communications system as in claim 11 where the distances between units are selected so as to minimize power consumption.

13. A communications system as in claim 7 where the secondary units comprise, at least in part, ambient condition detectors.

14. A wireless communications system as in claim 7 where the gateway comprises a wireless interface for an alarm monitoring system.