Systems and methods for using predefined network addresses in wireless sensor networks

• US 8,130,673 B2
• Filed: 05/08/2009
• Issued: 03/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Synapse Wireless Incorporated (Mcwane Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Synapse Wireless Incorporated (Mcwane Incorporated)
• Inventors: Ewing, David B., Banks, Kevin R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sam, Phirin
• Application Number:
  US12/463,035
• Publication Number:
  US 20100074145A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,033 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 370/254
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1867 Arrangements specially adapted for the transmitter end
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2001/0093 Point-to-multipoint
• 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: H04W 52/0209 in terminal devices terminal devices per se H04W88/02
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

The present disclosure generally pertains to systems and methods for using predefined network addresses in wireless sensor networks. In one exemplary embodiment, a system comprises a first node and a plurality of nodes defining a wireless sensor network. The wireless sensor network is configured to allow nodes to dynamically join, and each of the plurality of nodes has a respective network address for the wireless sensor network. The first node has a predefined network address that identifies the first node in the wireless sensor network, and the predefined network address is known to the first node prior to the first node joining the wireless sensor network such that the first node is able to immediately communicate via the wireless sensor network using the predefined network address upon joining the wireless sensor network.

Claims

1. A system for using predefined network addresses in wireless sensor networks, comprising:

a first node;

a plurality of nodes defining a wireless sensor network implemented as a wireless mesh network, the wireless sensor network configured to allow nodes to dynamically join the wireless sensor network, each of the plurality of nodes having a respective network address for the wireless sensor network,

wherein the first node has a predefined network address that identifies the first node in the wireless sensor network, wherein the predefined network address is known to the first node prior to the first node joining the wireless sensor network such that the first node is able to immediately communicate via the wireless sensor network using the predefined network address upon joining the wireless sensor network, and wherein at least one message transmitted from a source node of the wireless mesh network to a destination node of the wireless mesh network hops through the first node between the source node and the destination node.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the predefined network address comprises at least a portion of a media access control (MAC) address of the first node.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the predefined network address comprises only a portion of a media access control (MAC) address of the first node.

3. A system for using predefined network addresses in wireless sensor networks, comprising:

a wireless sensor network implemented as a wireless mesh network; and

a first node configured to discover a presence of the wireless sensor network by receiving a first data packet transmitted by the wireless sensor network, the first node storing a predefined network address for the wireless sensor network prior to the first node joining the wireless sensor network and the first node receiving the first data packet, the predefined network address identifying the first node in the wireless sensor network, the first node configured to dynamically join the wireless sensor network by transmitting a second data packet thereby alerting other nodes of the wireless sensor network to a presence of the first node on the wireless sensor network, the second data packet having the predefined network address, wherein the first node is configured to forward a message from one node of the wireless mesh network to another node of the wireless mesh network such that the message hops through the first node.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the predefined network address comprises at least a portion of a media access control (MAC) address of the first node.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the first data packet has a network identifier identifying the wireless sensor network, and wherein the second data packet has the network identifier.

12. The system of claim 3, wherein the predefined network address comprises only a portion of a media access control (MAC) address of the first node.

6. A method for using predefined network addresses in wireless sensor networks, comprising the steps of:

storing, in a first node, a predefined network address of a wireless sensor network implemented as a wireless mesh network, the predefined network address identifying the first node in the wireless sensor network;

discovering a presence of the wireless sensor network at the first node, the discovering step comprising the step of receiving, at the first node, a first data packet transmitted by the wireless sensor network, wherein the discovering step is subsequent to the storing step;

joining the first node to the wireless sensor network, the joining step comprising the step of transmitting a second data packet from the first node, the second data packet having the predefined network address; and

forwarding a message from one node of the wireless mesh network to another node of the wireless mesh network via the first node such that the message hops through the first node.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the predefined network address comprises at least a portion of a media access control (MAC) address of the first node.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the first data packet has a network identifier identifying the wireless sensor network, and wherein the second data packet has the network identifier.

13. The method of claim 6, wherein the predefined network address comprises only a portion of a media access control (MAC) address of the first node.

9. A method for using predefined network addresses in wireless sensor networks, comprising the steps of:

communicating data packets through a wireless sensor network implemented as a wireless mesh network;

dynamically joining a first node to the wireless sensor network;

storing a predefined network address for the wireless sensor network in the first node prior to the joining step, the predefined network address identifying the first node within the wireless sensor network; and

forwarding a message from one node of the wireless mesh network to another node of the wireless mesh network via the first node such that the message hops through the first node,

wherein the joining step comprises the step of transmitting a data packet from the first node thereby alerting other nodes of the wireless sensor network to a presence of the first node, the data packet having the predefined network address.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the predefined network address comprises at least a portion of a media access control (MAC) address of the first node.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the predefined network address comprises only a portion of a media access control (MAC) address of the first node.