Integrated infrastructure supporting multiple wireless devices
First Claim
1. A method of communicating between devices in a mesh network using a wireless communication system that includes a first wireless network and a second wireless network, wherein the first wireless network operates in accordance with a first communication protocol and the second wireless network operates in accordance with a second communication protocol, wherein the second communication protocol is not compatible with the first communication protocol, the method comprising:
- providing at least two associated infrastructure nodes;
receiving a data signal at a first infrastructure node of the at least two associated infrastructure nodes;
examining the data signal with the first infrastructure node to determine whether the data signal should be directed to the first wireless network, and, if so, routing data from the data signal to a destination node on the first wireless network in accordance with the first communications protocol;
if not;
examining the data signal with the first infrastructure node to determine whether the data signal should be directed to the second wireless network and, if so, routing data from the data signal to a destination node on the second wireless network in accordance with the second communications protocol;
if not;
examining the data signal with the first infrastructure node to determine whether the data signal should be directed to a second infrastructure node of the at least two associated infrastructure nodes and, if so, routing data from the data signal to the second infrastructure node;
receiving the data signal at the second infrastructure node of the at least two associated infrastructure nodes;
examining the data signal with the second infrastructure node to determine whether the data signal should be directed to the first wireless network, and, if so, routing data from the data signal to a destination node on the first wireless network in accordance with the first communications protocol;
if not;
examining the data signal with the second infrastructure node to determine whether the data signal should be directed to the second wireless network and, if so, routing data from the data signal to a destination node on the second wireless network in accordance with the second communications protocol;
if not;
examining the data signal with the second infrastructure node to determine whether the data signal should be directed to a third infrastructure node of the at least two associated infrastructure nodes and, if so, routing data from the data signal to the third infrastructure node.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and devices for operating a wireless network including redundant communication. Methods involving redundantly connected nodes are discussed including addressing methods and/or methods of creating groups for such redundant communication. The use of primary and secondary redundant connections is discussed. The inclusion of a redundant network in association with a non-redundant network such as a Zigbee® protocol network is discussed. Also, devices for implementing such methods are described.
63 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of communicating between devices in a mesh network using a wireless communication system that includes a first wireless network and a second wireless network, wherein the first wireless network operates in accordance with a first communication protocol and the second wireless network operates in accordance with a second communication protocol, wherein the second communication protocol is not compatible with the first communication protocol, the method comprising:
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providing at least two associated infrastructure nodes; receiving a data signal at a first infrastructure node of the at least two associated infrastructure nodes; examining the data signal with the first infrastructure node to determine whether the data signal should be directed to the first wireless network, and, if so, routing data from the data signal to a destination node on the first wireless network in accordance with the first communications protocol;
if not;examining the data signal with the first infrastructure node to determine whether the data signal should be directed to the second wireless network and, if so, routing data from the data signal to a destination node on the second wireless network in accordance with the second communications protocol;
if not;examining the data signal with the first infrastructure node to determine whether the data signal should be directed to a second infrastructure node of the at least two associated infrastructure nodes and, if so, routing data from the data signal to the second infrastructure node; receiving the data signal at the second infrastructure node of the at least two associated infrastructure nodes; examining the data signal with the second infrastructure node to determine whether the data signal should be directed to the first wireless network, and, if so, routing data from the data signal to a destination node on the first wireless network in accordance with the first communications protocol;
if not;examining the data signal with the second infrastructure node to determine whether the data signal should be directed to the second wireless network and, if so, routing data from the data signal to a destination node on the second wireless network in accordance with the second communications protocol;
if not;examining the data signal with the second infrastructure node to determine whether the data signal should be directed to a third infrastructure node of the at least two associated infrastructure nodes and, if so, routing data from the data signal to the third infrastructure node. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 17, 19)
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9. A wireless communications system including a first wireless network and a second wireless network, wherein the first wireless network operates in accordance with a first communication protocol and the second wireless network operates in accordance with a second communication protocol, wherein the second communication protocol is not compatible with the first communication protocol, comprising:
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at least two data relaying nodes forming a mesh network;
wherein;the system is configured to communicate with a first communication device that is configured to operate as part of the first wireless network and a second communication device that is configured to operate as part of the second wireless network; the at least two data relaying nodes are configured to communicate with each of the first communication device and the second communication device; the at least two data relaying nodes include a first transceiver configured to receive and send data communications; and
the system is configured such that;when a first data relaying node receives a first data communication from the first communication device, the first data relaying node examines the first data communication and determines that the first data communication is from the first wireless network, and treats the first data communication in accordance with the first communication protocol; when the first data relaying node receives a second data communication from the second communication device, the first data relaying node examines the second data communication and determines that the second data communication is from the second wireless network, and treats the second data communication in accordance with the second communication protocol; when a first data relaying node receives the first data communication from the first data relaying node, the second data relaying node examines the first data communication and determines that the first data communication is from the first wireless network, and treats the first data communication in accordance with the first communication protocol; and when the second data relaying node receives the second data communication from the second data relaying node, the second data relaying node examines the second data communication and determines that the second data communication is from the second wireless network, and treats the second data communication in accordance with the second communication protocol; wherein the at least two data relaying nodes are configured such that; the at least two data relaying nodes use a plurality of communications channels; the at least two data relaying nodes use a first subset of the plurality of communications channels for communications with the first wireless network; the at least two data relaying nodes use a second subset of the plurality of communications channels for communications with the second wireless network; and the first subset and the second subset are mutually exclusive of one another. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18)
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Specification