Path selection and power management in mesh networks
First Claim
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1. A method performed by an apparatus comprising:
- maintaining power state information for one or more neighboring wireless mesh nodes,wherein the power state information for each of the neighboring wireless mesh nodes comprises whether the wireless mesh node is a battery-powered device, whether the wireless mesh node is in a power save state, and whether the wireless mesh node is in a critical battery state;
receiving a path request message from a first wireless mesh node, wherein the path request message identifies a source node and a destination node;
propagating the path request message to selected ones of the one or more neighboring wireless mesh nodes based on the power state information corresponding to the one or more neighboring wireless mesh nodes, by;
propagating the path request message to first ones of the one or more neighboring wireless mesh nodes that are not in the power save state;
if a valid route is not yet found between the source node and the destination node, then;
waking up second ones of the one or more neighboring wireless mesh nodes that are in the power save state and are outlet powered;
propagating the path request message to the second ones of the one or more neighboring wireless mesh nodes; and
if a valid route is not yet found between the source node and the destination node, then;
waking up third ones of the one or more neighboring wireless mesh nodes that are in the power save state and are battery powered and are not in the critical battery state; and
propagating the path request message to the third ones of the one or more neighboring wireless mesh nodes.
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Abstract
A two-phased path selection process for wireless mesh networks that promotes stability and power management. If, during a first route discovery phase, a route cannot be found without waking up battery-powered nodes in a wireless mesh network, the source node will wake up battery-powered nodes in the mesh during a second route discovery phase.
68 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method performed by an apparatus comprising:
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maintaining power state information for one or more neighboring wireless mesh nodes, wherein the power state information for each of the neighboring wireless mesh nodes comprises whether the wireless mesh node is a battery-powered device, whether the wireless mesh node is in a power save state, and whether the wireless mesh node is in a critical battery state; receiving a path request message from a first wireless mesh node, wherein the path request message identifies a source node and a destination node; propagating the path request message to selected ones of the one or more neighboring wireless mesh nodes based on the power state information corresponding to the one or more neighboring wireless mesh nodes, by; propagating the path request message to first ones of the one or more neighboring wireless mesh nodes that are not in the power save state; if a valid route is not yet found between the source node and the destination node, then; waking up second ones of the one or more neighboring wireless mesh nodes that are in the power save state and are outlet powered; propagating the path request message to the second ones of the one or more neighboring wireless mesh nodes; and if a valid route is not yet found between the source node and the destination node, then; waking up third ones of the one or more neighboring wireless mesh nodes that are in the power save state and are battery powered and are not in the critical battery state; and propagating the path request message to the third ones of the one or more neighboring wireless mesh nodes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An apparatus comprising:
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one or more wireless network interfaces; a memory; one or more processors; a wireless mesh access point module comprising computer-readable instructions operative to cause the one or more processors to; maintain, in the memory, power state information for one or more neighboring wireless mesh nodes, wherein the power state information for each of the neighboring wireless mesh nodes comprises whether the wireless mesh node is a battery-powered device, whether the wireless mesh node is in a power save state, and whether the wireless mesh node is in a critical battery state; receive a path request message from a first wireless mesh node, wherein the path request message identifies a source node and a destination node; propagate the path request message to selected ones of the one or more neighboring wireless mesh nodes based on the power state information corresponding to the one or more neighboring wireless mesh nodes, by; propagating the path request message to first ones of the one or more neighboring wireless mesh nodes that are not in the power save state; if a valid route is not yet found between the source node and the destination node, then; waking up second ones of the one or more neighboring wireless mesh nodes that are in the power save state and are outlet powered; propagating the path request message to the second ones of the one or more neighboring wireless mesh nodes; and if a valid route is not yet found between the source node and the destination node, then; waking up third ones of the one or more neighboring wireless mesh nodes that are in the power save state and are battery powered and are not in the critical battery state; and propagating the path request message to the third ones of the one or more neighboring wireless mesh nodes. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. One or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media embodying software operable when executed by one or more computer systems to:
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maintain power state information for one or more neighboring wireless mesh nodes, wherein the power state information for each of the neighboring wireless mesh nodes comprises whether the wireless mesh node is a battery-powered device, whether the wireless mesh node is in a power save state, and whether the wireless mesh node is in a critical battery state; receive a path request message from a first wireless mesh node, wherein the path request message identifies a source node and a destination node; propagate the path request message to selected ones of the one or more neighboring wireless mesh nodes based on the power state information corresponding to the one or more neighboring wireless mesh nodes, by; propagating the path request message to first ones of the one or more neighboring wireless mesh nodes that are not in the power save state; if a valid route is not yet found between the source node and the destination node, then; waking up second ones of the one or more neighboring wireless mesh nodes that are in the power save state and are outlet powered; propagating the path request message to the second ones of the one or more neighboring wireless mesh nodes; and if a valid route is not yet found between the source node and the destination node, then; waking up third ones of the one or more neighboring wireless mesh nodes that are in the power save state and are battery powered and are not in the critical battery state; and propagating the path request message to the third ones of the one or more neighboring wireless mesh nodes. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A system comprising:
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a plurality of wireless mesh access points, wherein one or more of the plurality of wireless mesh access points comprise; one or more wireless network interfaces; a memory; one or more processors; a wireless mesh access point module comprising computer-readable instructions operative to cause the one or more processors to; maintain, in the memory, power state information for one or more neighboring wireless mesh access points, wherein the power state information for each of the neighboring wireless mesh access points comprises whether the wireless mesh access point is a battery-powered device, whether the wireless mesh access point is in a power save state, and whether the wireless mesh access point is in a critical battery state; receive a path request message from a first wireless mesh access point, wherein the path request message identifies a source node and a destination node; propagate the path request message to selected ones of the one or more neighboring wireless mesh access points based on the power state information corresponding to the one or more neighboring wireless mesh access points, by; propagating the path request message to first ones of the one or more neighboring wireless mesh nodes that are not in the power save state; if a valid route is not yet found between the source node and the destination node, then; waking up second ones of the one or more neighboring wireless mesh nodes that are in the power save state and are outlet powered; propagating the path request message to the second ones of the one or more neighboring wireless mesh nodes; and if a valid route is not yet found between the source node and the destination node, then;
waking up third ones of the one or more neighboring wireless mesh nodes that are in the power save state and are battery powered and are not in the critical battery state; and
propagating the path request message to the third ones of the one or more neighboring wireless mesh nodes;broadcast one or more path discovery messages to one or more wireless mesh access points in a mesh network to discover routes to destination nodes, wherein the path discovery messages include a wake up indication that is cleared; if no responses to the one or more path discovery messages are received that identify a valid route to a given destination node, broadcast one or more additional path discovery messages to the one or more wireless mesh access points in the mesh network, wherein the one or more additional path discovery messages include a wake up indication that is set to cause the neighboring wireless mesh access points to wake up one or more peer wireless mesh access points in a power save mode and propagate the path discovery messages to them.
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Specification