Wireless mesh network with dynamic back off and method of operation
First Claim
1. A wireless mesh network comprising:
- a network controller to configure a data frame comprising a sync period followed by at least one data period; and
a plurality of network nodes arranged in a mesh and configured to operate in at least one of a network-running mode and a sleep/RF quiet mode, the nodes configured for mesh-network operations by dynamically establishing links directly with other nodes to create paths through the mesh,wherein the network controller is configured to transmit synchronization messages during a first portion of the sync period and receive upstream requests from the network nodes during a second portion of the sync period, the nodes being arranged to propagate the synchronization messages through the mesh by receiving, modifying and retransmitting the synchronization messages during the sync period to set up a pipeline path through the mesh,wherein during the sleep/RF quiet mode, the network nodes are configured to;
wake up periodically during a listening interval for detection of a synchronization message from the network controller; and
return to the sleep/RF quiet mode and increase a back-off time between listening intervals for increasingly longer periods when no synchronization message is detected.
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Abstract
A wireless mesh network with dynamic back off for reduced power consumption is generally described herein. In some embodiments, the wireless mesh network includes a network controller to configure a data frame comprising a sync period followed by at least one data period and a plurality of network nodes configured to operate in at least one of a network-running mode and a sleep/RF quiet mode. The network controller is configured to transmit synchronization messages during a first portion of the sync period and receive upstream requests from the network nodes during a second portion of the sync period. During the sleep/RF quiet mode, the network nodes are configured to wake up periodically during a listening interval for detection of a synchronization message from the network controller, and return to the sleep/RF quiet mode and increase a back-off time between listening intervals for increasingly longer periods when no synchronization message is detected.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A wireless mesh network comprising:
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a network controller to configure a data frame comprising a sync period followed by at least one data period; and a plurality of network nodes arranged in a mesh and configured to operate in at least one of a network-running mode and a sleep/RF quiet mode, the nodes configured for mesh-network operations by dynamically establishing links directly with other nodes to create paths through the mesh, wherein the network controller is configured to transmit synchronization messages during a first portion of the sync period and receive upstream requests from the network nodes during a second portion of the sync period, the nodes being arranged to propagate the synchronization messages through the mesh by receiving, modifying and retransmitting the synchronization messages during the sync period to set up a pipeline path through the mesh, wherein during the sleep/RF quiet mode, the network nodes are configured to; wake up periodically during a listening interval for detection of a synchronization message from the network controller; and return to the sleep/RF quiet mode and increase a back-off time between listening intervals for increasingly longer periods when no synchronization message is detected. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A wireless mesh network comprising:
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a network controller to configure a data frame comprising a sync period followed by at least one data period; and a plurality of network nodes configured to operate in at least one of a network-running mode and a sleep/RF quiet mode, wherein the network controller is configured to transmit synchronization messages during a first portion of the sync period and receive upstream requests from the network nodes during a second portion of the sync period, wherein during the sleep/RF quiet mode, the network nodes are configured to; wake up periodically during a listening interval for detection of a synchronization message from the network controller; and return to the sleep/RF quiet mode and increase a back-off time between listening intervals for increasingly longer periods when no synchronization message is detected, wherein the network nodes are configured to transition to the network-running mode when a synchronization message is detected, wherein the network-running mode includes;
a slow sync mode in which the network nodes are to send sensor data; and
a fast sync mode for discovery of network nodes, andwherein the network controller is configured to; cause the network to enter the slow sync mode when a predetermined set of the network nodes that should have reported in have reported in by responding to the synchronization message; and cause the network to enter the fast sync mode when at least some of the network nodes of the set have not reported in, and wherein the network controller is configured to switch from slow sync mode to fast sync mode when all the network nodes of the set have reported in. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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13. A network controller for a wireless mesh network, the network controller comprising:
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processing circuitry to configure a data frame comprising a sync period followed by at least one data period; and physical layer circuitry to transmit synchronization messages during a first portion of the sync period and receive upstream requests and responses to the synchronization messages from network nodes during a second portion of the sync period, wherein the network nodes are arranged in a mesh and configured for mesh-network operations by dynamically establishing links directly with other nodes to create paths through the mesh, the nodes being arranged to propagate the synchronization messages through the mesh by receiving, modifying and retransmitting the synchronization messages during the sync period to set up a pipeline path through the mesh, wherein the network controller and the network nodes are configured to operate in at least one of a network-running mode and a sleep/RF quiet mode, and wherein the network-running mode includes;
a slow sync mode in which the network nodes are to send sensor data; and
a fast sync mode for discovery of network nodes, wherein during the sleep/RF quiet mode, the network nodes are configured to;wake up periodically during a listening interval for detection of a synchronization message from the network controller; and return to the sleep/RF quiet mode and increase a back-off time between listening intervals for increasingly longer periods when no synchronization message is detected. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A network controller for a wireless mesh network, the network controller comprising:
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processing circuitry to configure a data frame comprising a sync period followed by at least one data period; and physical layer circuitry to transmit synchronization messages during a first portion of the sync period and receive upstream requests and responses to the synchronization messages from network nodes during a second portion of the sync period, wherein the network controller and the network nodes are configured to operate in at least one of a network-running mode and a sleep/RF quiet mode, and wherein the network-running mode includes; a slow sync mode in which the network nodes are to send sensor data; and a fast sync mode for discovery of network nodes, wherein during the sleep/RF quiet mode, the network nodes are configured to; wake up periodically during a listening interval for detection of a synchronization message from the network controller; and return to the sleep/RF quiet mode and increase a back-off time between listening intervals for increasingly longer periods when no synchronization message is detected, wherein the network nodes are configured to transition to the network-running mode when a synchronization message is detected, wherein the network nodes are configured to return to the sleep/RF quiet mode and increase the back-off time between listening intervals for increasingly longer periods when no synchronization message is detected until a maximum sleep period is reached, and wherein the network controller is configured to; cause the network to enter the slow sync mode when a predetermined set of the network nodes that should have reported in have reported in by responding to the synchronization message; and cause the network to enter the fast sync mode when at least some of the network nodes of the set have not reported in, and wherein the network controller is configured to switch from slow sync mode to fast sync mode when all the network nodes of the set have reported in. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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21. A method of operating a wireless mesh network, the method comprising:
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configuring, by a network controller, a data frame comprising a sync period followed by at least one data period; transmitting, by the network controller, synchronization messages during a first portion of the sync period; receiving upstream requests from network nodes during a second portion of the sync period; and configuring the network nodes to operate in at least one of a network-running mode and a sleep/RF quiet mode, wherein during the sleep/RF quiet mode, the network nodes are configured to wake up periodically during a listening interval for detection of a synchronization message from the network controller, return to the sleep/RF quiet mode and increase a back-off time between listening intervals for increasingly longer periods when no synchronization message is detected, wherein the network nodes are arranged in a mesh and configured for mesh-network operations by dynamically establishing links directly with other nodes to create paths through the mesh, the nodes being arranged to propagate the synchronization messages through the mesh by receiving, modifying and retransmitting the synchronization messages during the sync period to set up a pipeline path through the mesh. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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24. A method of operating a wireless mesh network, the method comprising:
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configuring, by a network controller, a data frame comprising a sync period followed by at least one data period; transmitting, by the network controller, synchronization messages during a first portion of the sync period; receiving upstream requests from network nodes during a second portion of the sync period; configuring the network nodes to operate in at least one of a network-running mode and a sleep/RF quiet mode, wherein during the sleep/RF quiet mode, the network nodes are configured to wake up periodically during a listening interval for detection of a synchronization message from the network controller, return to the sleep/RF quiet mode and increase a back-off time between listening intervals for increasingly longer periods when no synchronization message is detected; configuring the network nodes to transition to the network-running mode when a synchronization message is detected; configuring the network-running mode to include; a slow sync mode in which the network nodes are to send sensor data; and a fast sync mode for discovery of network nodes, and wherein the method further comprises; causing the network to enter the slow sync mode when a predetermined set of the network nodes that should have reported in have reported in by responding to the synchronization message; causing the network to enter the fast sync mode when at least some of the network nodes of the set have not reported in; and switching from slow sync mode to fast sync mode when all the network nodes of the set have reported in. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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Specification