Wireless mesh network with multisized timeslots for TDMA communication
First Claim
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1. A method of operating a wireless mesh network having a plurality of nodes capable of transmitting and receiving messages, the method comprising:
- determining a shortest timeslot length to be used by the wireless mesh network based upon minimum time requirements for communication by each node, wherein each timeslot comprises one or more time slot increments each having a time duration ti;
synchronizing the nodes to a communication cycle having a frame, wherein the frame has a time duration Tf=Nti based on a refresh rate of the wireless mesh network, where N is a total number of timeslot increments in the frame, N being a positive integer and each timeslot increment ti being of equal length, wherein the frame forms timeslots each having lengths Mti; and
assigned to the nodes, wherein, for each timeslot individually, M is a positive integer less than N, and wherein a value of M is initially equal for all of the timeslots;
registering a plurality of new nodes with a network manager when the new nodes join the wireless mesh network;
determining a shortest timeslot length of which the new nodes are capable within the wireless mesh network based upon minimum time requirements for communication by each new node to turn on its radio, verify an associated channel is clear, send a message, and listen for an acknowledgement; and
assigning timeslots within each frame for communication between pairs of nodes, wherein lengths of the assigned timeslots vary as a function of the shortest timeslot length for each pair of nodes, such that at least one pair of the new nodes both having lower minimum time requirements than other nodes is assigned a correspondingly shorter timeslot;
wherein the network manager assigns the timeslots.
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Abstract
A wireless mesh network uses communication frames that can include timeslots of different sizes depending on communication speed capabilities of the devices assigned to the timeslots. The communication frame is divided into timeslot increments of equal length. The timeslots are made up of one or more timeslot increments.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method of operating a wireless mesh network having a plurality of nodes capable of transmitting and receiving messages, the method comprising:
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determining a shortest timeslot length to be used by the wireless mesh network based upon minimum time requirements for communication by each node, wherein each timeslot comprises one or more time slot increments each having a time duration ti; synchronizing the nodes to a communication cycle having a frame, wherein the frame has a time duration Tf=Nti based on a refresh rate of the wireless mesh network, where N is a total number of timeslot increments in the frame, N being a positive integer and each timeslot increment ti being of equal length, wherein the frame forms timeslots each having lengths Mti; and
assigned to the nodes, wherein, for each timeslot individually, M is a positive integer less than N, and wherein a value of M is initially equal for all of the timeslots;registering a plurality of new nodes with a network manager when the new nodes join the wireless mesh network; determining a shortest timeslot length of which the new nodes are capable within the wireless mesh network based upon minimum time requirements for communication by each new node to turn on its radio, verify an associated channel is clear, send a message, and listen for an acknowledgement; and assigning timeslots within each frame for communication between pairs of nodes, wherein lengths of the assigned timeslots vary as a function of the shortest timeslot length for each pair of nodes, such that at least one pair of the new nodes both having lower minimum time requirements than other nodes is assigned a correspondingly shorter timeslot; wherein the network manager assigns the timeslots. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 12)
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7. A wireless mesh network comprising a plurality of nodes capable of transmitting and receiving messages during assigned timeslots within a repeating communication frame, characterized by:
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the plurality of nodes comprising a first set of one or more nodes having first minimum communication time capabilities and a second set of one or more nodes having second minimum communication time capabilities that are faster than the first minimum communication time capabilities, the first and second minimum communication time capabilities being times for each associated node to turn on its radio, verify an associated channel is clear, send a message, and listen for an acknowledgement; the frame comprising N timeslot increments of equal time duration ti, the time duration ti selected as a function of both the first and second minimum communication time capabilities, wherein the frame has a total time based on a refresh rate of the wireless mesh network; each timeslot has a time duration Mti, where the time duration Mti is a positive integer multiple of the time duration ti, and wherein the time duration of each timeslot is independently determined based upon a minimum communication time required by each node assigned to that timeslot to communicate, and wherein the minimum communication time is determined by the first or second minimum communication time capabilities of each node; and a network manager that assigns selected nodes of only the first set to the timeslots and determines the time duration Mti of each timeslot, and that reassigns selected nodes of both the first and second sets to the time slots and re-determines the time duration Mti of each timeslot. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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13. A wireless mesh network comprising:
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a plurality of nodes capable of transmitting and receiving messages, wherein the plurality of nodes comprises a first set of one or more nodes having first minimum communication time capabilities and a second set of one or more nodes having second minimum communication time capabilities faster than the first minimum communication time capabilities, the first and second minimum communication time capabilities being times for each associated node between turning on its radio and listening for an acknowledgement of a sent message; and a network manager for synchronizing the nodes based upon a communication cycle of repeating frames having total frame times based on a refresh rate of the wireless mesh network, wherein each frame includes timeslots assigned to selected nodes, wherein each frame comprises N timeslot increments of equal time duration ti, N being a positive integer, and wherein each timeslot has a time duration Mti, determined individually, where the time duration Mti is a positive integer multiple of the time duration ti and wherein the network manager assigns timeslots of different time durations depending on the first minimum communication time capabilities of selected nodes of only the first set, and wherein the network manager then reassigns timeslots of different time durations depending on both the first and second minimum communication time capabilities of selected nodes of both the first and second sets, wherein the network manager determines the time duration of each timeslot based upon a minimum time required by the selected nodes to communicate during that timeslot. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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Specification