Method and apparatus for wireless communication in a mesh network
First Claim
1. A wireless network device comprising:
- a node constructed and arranged to transmit and receive wireless signals in a wireless network, the node including a direct sequence spread spectrum radio that is adapted to transmit and receive wireless signals on a plurality of different frequency channels, and wherein the node uses multiple different frequency channels in a sequence for communication with at least first and second devices in the wireless network,wherein the node is configured to perform a connectivity assessment for at least the first and second devices in the wireless network that indicates a measure of quality of wireless communication between the node and the first and second devices in the wireless network, the connectivity assessment being performed for each respective one of the first and second devices at multiple, different frequencies, the connectivity assessment being used to determine a first communication relationship between the node and the first device in the wireless network, and a second communication relationship between the node and the second device in the wireless network, the first and second communication relationships being established for future communication between the node and the first and second devices on multiple frequency channels, respectively, such that if a communication with the first device at a first frequency is not acknowledged, the node retries the communication using a strategy that includes resending the communication to the second device at a second frequency.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for communication in a wireless sensor network. In one embodiment, one or more routers in a network may be available for communication with one or more star nodes at a randomized time and/or frequency. A connectivity assessment, which may be performed at several different frequencies and/or times, may be performed to evaluate the quality of communications between devices in the network. Primary and secondary communication relationships may be formed between devices to provide for system redundancy. One or more proxies may be maintained where each proxy includes a status of one or more devices in the network, e.g., one or more star nodes or routers. Proxies may be used to handle information requests and/or status change requests, e.g., a proxy may be requested to change a communication relationship between devices in the network and may generate command signals to cause the corresponding devices to make the change.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A wireless network device comprising:
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a node constructed and arranged to transmit and receive wireless signals in a wireless network, the node including a direct sequence spread spectrum radio that is adapted to transmit and receive wireless signals on a plurality of different frequency channels, and wherein the node uses multiple different frequency channels in a sequence for communication with at least first and second devices in the wireless network, wherein the node is configured to perform a connectivity assessment for at least the first and second devices in the wireless network that indicates a measure of quality of wireless communication between the node and the first and second devices in the wireless network, the connectivity assessment being performed for each respective one of the first and second devices at multiple, different frequencies, the connectivity assessment being used to determine a first communication relationship between the node and the first device in the wireless network, and a second communication relationship between the node and the second device in the wireless network, the first and second communication relationships being established for future communication between the node and the first and second devices on multiple frequency channels, respectively, such that if a communication with the first device at a first frequency is not acknowledged, the node retries the communication using a strategy that includes resending the communication to the second device at a second frequency. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification