Identifying a desired mesh network in a multiple network environment

• US 8,493,946 B2
• Filed: 10/01/2008
• Issued: 07/23/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Digi International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Digi International Inc.
• Inventors: Stewart, Damon M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Renner, Brandon
• Assistant Examiner(s): Choudhury, Faisal
• Application Number:
  US12/243,737
• Publication Number:
  US 20100080200A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,756 Days
• Field of Search: 370/338
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/12 using downlink control channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

Network devices in a multi-network wireless mesh network environment identify themselves as members of the network by receiving a broadcast message from a first mesh network device that has joined the wireless mesh network, and identifying that the broadcast transmission has been received such as by actuating a light, playing a sound, or sending an identifying reply message back to a broadcasting mesh network device.

Claims

1. A method of identifying network devices in a multi-network wireless mesh network environment, wherein the multi-network wireless mesh network environment includes a plurality of first mesh network devices, wherein each first mesh network device includes a processor which is capable of transmitting an identification broadcast message and of receiving an identification broadcast message, the method comprising:

sending an identification broadcast message from a first mesh network device that has joined or synchronized to a first wireless mesh network to other first mesh network devices joined to the first wireless mesh network;

receiving the identification broadcast message at the other first mesh network devices; and

indicating, at each of the other first mesh network devices on the first wireless mesh network that received the identification broadcast message, that the network device is a member of the first wireless mesh network, wherein indicating includes providing a visible or audible indication on the network device that the network device is a member of the first wireless mesh network.

2. The method of identifying network devices in a multi-network wireless mesh network environment of claim 1, wherein sending the identification broadcast message is triggered by an installer.

3. The method of identifying network devices in a multi-network wireless mesh network environment of claim 2, wherein triggering sending the identification broadcast message comprises at least one of receiving input in the first mesh network device via a switch, a data interface, or a software command.

4. The method of identifying network devices in a multi-network wireless mesh network environment of claim 1, wherein on each of the other first mesh network devices on the first wireless mesh network that received the identification broadcast message, providing a visible or audible indication that the network device is a member of the first wireless mesh network comprises actuating a light or playing a sound.

5. The method of identifying network devices in a multi-network wireless mesh network environment of claim 4, wherein at least one of actuating a light and playing a sound comprises indicating at least one of a node ID or a network ID.

6. The method of identifying network devices in a multi-network wireless mesh network environment of claim 1, wherein indicating, at each of the other first mesh network devices on the first wireless mesh network that received the identification broadcast message, that the network device is a member of the first wireless mesh network further comprises sending a respective identifying reply message from each of the other first mesh network devices on the first wireless mesh network that received the identification broadcast message back to the first mesh network device.

7. A wireless mesh network device, comprising:

a wireless transceiver; and

a processor coupled to the wireless transceiver, the processor configured to cause the wireless network device to;

send a transmitted identification broadcast message to other network devices that have joined or synchronized to a wireless mesh network, and

in response to receiving a received identification broadcast message from another network device that has joined or synchronized to the wireless mesh network, to indicate that the wireless mesh network device is a member of the wireless mesh network by providing a visible or audible indication that the wireless mesh network device is a member of the wireless mesh network.

8. The wireless mesh network device of claim 7, wherein the processor is configured to cause the wireless network device to send the transmitted identification broadcast message when triggered by an installer.

9. The wireless mesh network device of claim 8, wherein the processor is configured to cause the wireless network device to be triggered by the installer by at least one of receiving input via a switch, a data interface, or a software command.

10. The wireless mesh network device of claim 7, wherein the processor is configured to cause the wireless network device to provide a visible or audible indication that the wireless mesh network device is a member of the wireless mesh network by at least one of actuating a light or playing a sound.

11. The wireless mesh network device of claim 10, wherein at least one of actuating a light and playing a sound comprises indicating at least one of a node ID or a network ID.

12. The wireless mesh network device claim 7, wherein the processor is configured to cause the wireless network device to further indicate that the wireless mesh network device is a member of the wireless mesh network by sending an identifying reply message back to the another network device that has joined or synchronized to the wireless mesh network.

13. A wireless mesh network comprising a plurality of network devices, each of the plurality of network devices comprising:

a wireless transceiver; and

a processor coupled to the wireless transceiver, the processor configured to cause that network device to send a transmitted identification broadcast message to other network devices that have joined or synchronized to the wireless mesh network, and

in response to receiving a received identification broadcast message from another network device that has joined or synchronized to the wireless mesh network, to indicate that the network device is a member of the wireless mesh network by providing a visible or audible indication that the network device is a member of the wireless mesh network.

14. The wireless mesh network of claim 13, wherein the processor in each of the plurality of network devices is configured to cause that network device to send the transmitted identification broadcast message when triggered by an installer.

15. The wireless mesh network of claim 14, wherein the processor in each of the plurality of network devices is configured to cause that network device to be triggered by the installer by at least one of receiving input via a switch, a data interface, or a software command.

16. The wireless mesh network of claim 13, wherein the processor in each of the plurality of network devices is configured to cause that network device to provide a visible or audible indication that the wireless mesh network device is a member of the wireless mesh network by at least one of actuating a light or playing a sound.

17. The wireless mesh network of claim 16, wherein at least one of actuating a light and playing a sound comprises indicating at least one of a node ID or a network ID.

18. The wireless mesh network claim 13, wherein the processor in each of the plurality of network devices is configured to cause that network device to further indicate that the wireless mesh network device is a member of the wireless mesh network by sending an identifying reply message back to the another network device that has joined or synchronized to the wireless mesh network.

19. A method of identifying network devices in a multi-network wireless mesh network environment, comprising:

receiving a broadcast message from a first mesh network device that has joined or synchronized to a first wireless mesh network; and

at each network device in the first wireless mesh network that receives the broadcast transmission, indicating to an installer that the network device is a member of the first wireless mesh network by providing a visible or audible indication that the network device is a member of the first wireless mesh network, in response to receiving the broadcast transmission from the first mesh network device.

20. The method of identifying network devices in a multi-network wireless mesh network environment of claim 19, wherein at each network device in the first wireless mesh network that receives the broadcast transmission, indicating to the installer that the network device is a member of the first wireless mesh network comprises at least one of actuating a light, playing a sound, and sending an identifying reply message back to the first mesh network device.