System and method for synchronizing components in a mesh network
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method, comprising:
- receiving a first message at least one of a plurality of routers in a mesh network;
synchronizing the plurality of routers to a plurality of time slots using the first message;
repeatedly incrementing a network reference value at each of multiple time slots up to a maximum value and then repeatedly decrementing the network reference value at each of multiple time slots down to a minimum value, wherein the maximum value corresponds to the number of routers; and
broadcasting a second message at the router when the network reference value matches a specific value that is associated with a unique identifier of the router;
wherein the network reference value is incremented up to the maximum value in alternate sequences of a plurality of sequences and is decremented down to the minimum value in remaining sequences of the plurality of sequences, andwherein broadcasting the second message comprises broadcasting subsequent second messages at each of the plurality of routers in each of at least some of the sequences when the network reference value matches the specific value of the router during the sequences.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method includes receiving a first message at a router in a mesh network and synchronizing the router to a plurality of time slots using the first message. The method also includes repeatedly incrementing a network reference value at each time slot up to a maximum value and then decrementing the network reference value at each time slot down to a minimum value. In addition, the method includes broadcasting a second message at the router when the network reference value has a specific value that is associated with a unique identifier of the router.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A method, comprising:
-
receiving a first message at least one of a plurality of routers in a mesh network; synchronizing the plurality of routers to a plurality of time slots using the first message; repeatedly incrementing a network reference value at each of multiple time slots up to a maximum value and then repeatedly decrementing the network reference value at each of multiple time slots down to a minimum value, wherein the maximum value corresponds to the number of routers; and broadcasting a second message at the router when the network reference value matches a specific value that is associated with a unique identifier of the router; wherein the network reference value is incremented up to the maximum value in alternate sequences of a plurality of sequences and is decremented down to the minimum value in remaining sequences of the plurality of sequences, and wherein broadcasting the second message comprises broadcasting subsequent second messages at each of the plurality of routers in each of at least some of the sequences when the network reference value matches the specific value of the router during the sequences. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
8. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium and operable to be executed, the computer program comprising computer readable program code for:
-
receiving a first message at least one of a plurality of routers in a mesh network; synchronizing the plurality of routers to a plurality of time slots using the first message; repeatedly incrementing a network reference value at each of multiple time slots up to a maximum value and then repeatedly decrementing the network reference value at each of multiple time slots down to a minimum value, wherein the maximum value corresponds to the number of routers; and broadcasting a second message at the router when the network reference value matches a specific value that is associated with a unique identifier of the router; wherein the network reference value is incremented up to the maximum value in alternate sequences of a plurality of sequences and is decremented down to the minimum value in remaining sequences of the plurality of sequences, and wherein broadcasting the second message comprises broadcasting subsequent second messages at each of the plurality of routers in each of at least some of the sequences when the network reference value matches the specific value of the router during the sequences. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. A mesh network, comprising:
-
a plurality of routers capable of communicating with a plurality of user endpoints; and a central controller capable of defining a plurality of time slots and communicating with at least one of the routers in at least one of the time slots; each router further capable of; receiving a first message in one of the time slots; synchronizing the plurality of routers to the plurality of time slots using the first message; repeatedly incrementing a network reference value at each of multiple time slots up to a maximum value and then repeatedly decrementing the network reference value at each of multiple time slots down to a minimum value, wherein the maximum value corresponds to the number of routers; and broadcasting a second message at the router when the network reference value matches a specific value that is associated with a unique identifier of the router; wherein the network reference value is incremented up to the maximum value in alternate sequences of a plurality of sequences and is decremented down to the minimum value in remaining sequences of the plurality of sequences, and wherein each router is capable of broadcasting subsequent second messages in each of at least some of the sequences when the network reference value matches the specific value of the router during the sequences. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification