Systems and methods for reducing power consumption in communication networks
First Claim
1. A system for reducing power consumption in a wireless mesh communication network, comprising:
- a plurality of follower nodes; and
a leader node in communication with the plurality of follower nodes, the leader node being operable to transmit a sleep command to the plurality of follower nodes thereby causing the plurality of follower nodes to transition from an awake mode to a sleep mode, the plurality of follower nodes consuming less power in the sleep mode than when in the awake mode, wherein the leader node is configured to synchronize, via the sleep command, a transition of the plurality of nodes from the awake mode to the sleep mode, wherein the sleep command is a multicast message, wherein each of the plurality of follower nodes is operable to transition to the sleep mode in response to the sleep command without further communicating with the leader node prior to transitioning to the sleep mode, wherein a timing of at least one of the follower nodes transitioning to the sleep mode is based on when the at least one node receives the sleep command, and wherein the at least one node is operable to rebroadcast the sleep command and thereafter to transition to the sleep mode in response to the sleep command.
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Abstract
The present disclosure generally relates to systems and methods for reducing power consumption in communication networks. In one exemplary embodiment, a system includes a leader node in communication with a plurality of follower nodes. The leader node causes the leader and follower nodes to transition from an awake mode to a sleep mode where they consume less power. An exemplary embodiment of a method includes the steps of configuring nodes in a communication network as follower nodes and configuring a node in the communication network as a leader node. The leader node is configured to cause the leader and follower nodes to alternate between an awake mode and a sleep mode. The leader and follower nodes consume less power when in the sleep mode than when in the awake mode.
60 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A system for reducing power consumption in a wireless mesh communication network, comprising:
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a plurality of follower nodes; and a leader node in communication with the plurality of follower nodes, the leader node being operable to transmit a sleep command to the plurality of follower nodes thereby causing the plurality of follower nodes to transition from an awake mode to a sleep mode, the plurality of follower nodes consuming less power in the sleep mode than when in the awake mode, wherein the leader node is configured to synchronize, via the sleep command, a transition of the plurality of nodes from the awake mode to the sleep mode, wherein the sleep command is a multicast message, wherein each of the plurality of follower nodes is operable to transition to the sleep mode in response to the sleep command without further communicating with the leader node prior to transitioning to the sleep mode, wherein a timing of at least one of the follower nodes transitioning to the sleep mode is based on when the at least one node receives the sleep command, and wherein the at least one node is operable to rebroadcast the sleep command and thereafter to transition to the sleep mode in response to the sleep command. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 22)
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6. A system for reducing power consumption in a wireless mesh communication network, comprising:
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a plurality of follower nodes; and a leader node in communication with the plurality of follower nodes, the leader node being operable to transmit a sleep command to the plurality of follower nodes thereby causing the plurality of follower nodes to transition from an awake mode to a sleep mode, the plurality of follower nodes consuming less power in the sleep mode than when in the awake mode, wherein the leader node is configured to synchronize, via the sleep command, a transition of the plurality of nodes from the awake mode to the sleep mode, wherein the sleep command is a multicast message, wherein each of the plurality of follower nodes is operable to transition to the sleep mode in response to the sleep command, wherein the plurality of follower nodes are operable to elect a new leader node if the leader node becomes inoperable, and wherein each of the follower nodes has a control setting indicating whether the respective follower node is enabled to nominate itself as the new leader node, wherein the control setting of at least one of the follower nodes is set such that the at least one follower node is disabled for nominating itself as the new leader node. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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14. A method of reducing power consumption in a wireless mesh communication network, comprising:
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communicating messages among a plurality of follower nodes; transitioning the plurality of follower nodes from an awake mode to a sleep mode, the plurality of follower nodes consuming less power when in the sleep mode than when in the awake mode; and synchronizing the transitioning by transmitting a sleep command from a leader node to the plurality of follower nodes, wherein the sleep command is a multicast message, wherein the transmitting comprises rebroadcasting the sleep command via at least one of the follower nodes, and wherein each of the follower nodes transitions from the awake mode to the sleep mode in response to the sleep command without further communicating with the leader node prior to transitioning to the sleep mode, and wherein a timing of the at least one node transitioning to the sleep mode is based on when the at least one node receives the sleep command. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 23)
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18. A method of reducing power consumption in a wireless mesh communication network, comprising:
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communicating messages among a plurality of follower nodes; transitioning the plurality of follower nodes from an awake mode to a sleep mode, the plurality of follower nodes consuming less power when in the sleep mode than when in the awake mode; synchronizing the transitioning step by transmitting a sleep command from a leader node to the plurality of follower nodes, wherein the sleep command is a multicast message, wherein the transmitting comprises rebroadcasting the sleep command via at least one of the follower nodes, and wherein each of the follower nodes transitions from the awake mode to the sleep mode in response to the sleep command; electing a new leader node if the leader node is unable to communicate with the plurality of follower nodes; and disabling at least one of the plurality of follower nodes from nominating itself as the new leader node before the leader node becomes inoperable. - View Dependent Claims (24)
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Specification