Digraph network superframes

• US 7,873,043 B2
• Filed: 07/25/2008
• Issued: 01/18/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Analog Devices International Unlimited Company (Analog Devices, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dust Networks Incorporated (Analog Devices, Inc.)
• Inventors: Shear, Robert M., Pister, Kristofer S. J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Qureshi; Afsar M.
• Application Number:
  US12/220,493
• Publication Number:
  US 20080285582A1
• Time in Patent Office: 907 Days
• Field of Search: 370/256, 370/264, 370311-389, 370400-510, 370/229, 370/252, 342/357.1, 455/450, 455/558, 455/427, 455/574
• US Class Current: 370/389
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/10 based on available power or energy
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/24 Connectivity information management, e.g. connectivity discovery or connectivity update
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A method of assigning cells in a superframe using digraph link information in a network of nodes is disclosed. The method comprises determining a total number of desired digraph links in the network of nodes wherein a digraph link is a directional link specifying routing information at each node in the network between said node and a second node, and wherein the network of nodes includes a plurality of nodes each with a plurality of digraph links. The method further comprises selecting a superframe size at least large enough to accommodate the total number of desired digraph links and assigning each desired digraph link to a cell in the superframe wherein each cell in the superframe specifies a synchronized time and frequency communication plan.

Claims

1. A network of nodes comprising:

A plurality of nodes;

wherein each of the plurality of nodes is associated with at least one link;

wherein the at least one link comprises a periodic communication between two or more of the plurality of nodes;

wherein two or more of the plurality of nodes that are associated with the periodic communication are synchronized in time; and

wherein a characteristic of the periodic communication is varied according to a known sequence, wherein the known sequence of each period associated with a cycle number is based at least in part on a time slot within the period of the periodic communication, a channel, and the cycle number.

2. A network as in claim 1, wherein the periodic communication is scheduled according to a superframe.

3. A network as in claim 2, wherein the superframe is one of a plurality of superframes.

4. A network as in claim 3, wherein the plurality of superframes are operating concurrently.

5. A network as in claim 1, wherein the periodic communication comprises transmitting an radio wave by a first node and receiving the radio wave by a second node.

6. A network as in claim 1, wherein the characteristic of the periodic communication that is varied comprises a frequency that is varied according to a known sequence.

7. A network as in claim 6, wherein the frequency comprises a frequency in the 902-928 MHz ISM band.

8. A network as in claim 6, wherein the frequency comprises a frequency in the 2.4-2.483 GHz ISM band.

9. A network as in claim 1, wherein the periodic communication occurs as part of a cycle.

10. A network as in claim 1, wherein the periodic communication occurs at a regular interval.

11. A network as in claim 1, wherein the periodic communication occurs at a known irregular interval.

12. A network as in claim 1, wherein the periodic communication includes an acknowledgement of receipt.

13. A network as in claim 1, wherein the at least one link includes a redundant link.

14. A network as in claim 13, wherein the redundant link is not used in the event that there is no data to be sent.

15. A network as in claim 1, wherein a node of the plurality of nodes includes a crystal oscillator.

16. A network as in claim 15, wherein the crystal oscillator comprises a 32 kHz quartz crystal.

17. A network as in claim 15, wherein the node includes a temperature sensor.

18. A network as in claim 15, wherein the node includes a compensation circuit.

19. A network as in claim 1, wherein the two or more of the plurality of nodes are synchronized in time at least in part by exchanging timing information.

20. A network as in claim 1, wherein the at least one link is between a transmitting vertex and a receiving vertex.

21. A network as in claim 20, wherein one of the two or more of the plurality of nodes associated with the at least one link comprises the transmitting vertex.

22. A network as in claim 20, wherein one of the two or more of the plurality of nodes associated with the at least one link comprises the receiving vertex.

23. A network as in claim 20, wherein the transmitting vertex is associated with a digraph.

24. A network as in claim 20, wherein the receiving vertex is associated with a digraph vertex.

25. A method of communicating for a network of nodes comprising:

transmitting a communication, using a radio transmitter, from a node to one or more of a plurality of network nodes;

wherein each of the plurality of nodes is associated with at least one link;

wherein the at least one link comprises a periodic communication;

wherein two or more of the plurality of network nodes that are associated with the periodic communication are synchronized in time; and

wherein a characteristic of the periodic communication is varied according to a known sequence, wherein the known sequence of each period associated with a cycle number is based at least in part on a time slot within the period of the periodic communication, a channel, and the cycle number.

26. A method of communicating for a network of nodes comprising:

receiving a communication, using a radio receiver, at one or more nodes from one of a plurality of network nodes;

wherein each of the plurality of nodes is associated with at least one link;

wherein the at least one link comprises a periodic communication;

wherein two or more of the plurality of network nodes that are associated with the periodic communication are synchronized in time; and

wherein a characteristic of the periodic communication is varied according to a known sequence, wherein the known sequence of each period associated with a cycle number is based at least in part on a time slot within the period of the periodic communication, a channel, and the cycle number.