Clear channel reporting and assisting orphaned nodes in a wireless network

• US 8,838,761 B2
• Filed: 03/05/2007
• Issued: 09/16/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Philips Lighting BV (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Inventors: Jamieson, Phil A., Avery, David M., Rudland, Philip A., Sexton, Adam C. R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rashid, Harunur
• Application Number:
  US12/280,995
• Publication Number:
  US 20090043879A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,752 Days
• Field of Search: 709/220, 709/221, 709/222
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0817 by checking functioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/00 Routing or path finding of packets in data switching networks routing or path finding in wireless networks H04W40/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/28 using route fault recovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/04 Error control
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/08 Access restriction or access information delivery, e.g. discovery data delivery signalling during connection H04W76/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/02 Selection of wireless resources by user or terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/20 Control channels or signalling for resource management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/542 using measured or perceived quality
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup

Abstract

In a wireless network, a device regularly communicates with at least one other node or device: generally this is its parent. If a problem with communication is detected, the device is preferably able to autonomously carry out a procedure to reacquire the network. In one embodiment, if a device is unable to communicate, it enters a temporary failsafe mode until that problem can be rectified. The device is suitably able to carry out a survey of local conditions in order to assist both it and the network to find a suitable alternative channel and, if a device is unable to immediately reconnect it broadcasts the result of its survey, the Network Environment Status (NES) message, in the hope that another device on the network will hear it. This Status message may then be used by the network to select an alternative channel.

Claims

1. A method for communicating wirelessly from a device with at least one node in a wireless network, said method comprising, at the device:

incrementing a counter by one when the device does not receive an acknowledgment to a message sent by the device;

resetting the counter to zero when the acknowledgment or an incoming message is received by the device;

detecting a problem with communication when the counter is above a predetermined threshold,

carrying out a local orphan scan on a current channel by transmission of a beacon or a special message on the current channel to indicate to the network that the device has become orphaned and wishes to rejoin;

when the local orphan scan is unsuccessful, carrying out a global orphan scan on all channels by transmission of the beacon or the special message on all the channels;

when the global orphan scan is unsuccessful, carrying out an energy detection scan that includes determining a local interference on each available channel and includes determining the most optimal local channel for operation,

generating a network environment status message based on the energy detection scan, and

broadcasting the network environment status message.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising, at the device, attempting to contact a non-predetermined device by broadcasting a message on a previously used channel.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein attempting to contact a non-predetermined device is operated before carrying out a survey.

4. The method as claimed in claim 2, further comprising, at the device, attempting to contact a non-predetermined device by broadcasting a message on at least one channel different from the previously used channel.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein if no interference is detected, the device indicates in a report that a non related to interference problem exists locally, and broadcasts this report.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising, at a further device of the network, sending a channel change request in order to transfer communication to another channel.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6, further comprising communicating on two different channels.

8. A device, comprising a memory and processor, configured to wirelessly communicate with at least one node in a wireless network, the device being arranged to:

increment a counter by one when the device does not receive an acknowledgment to a message sent by the device;

reset the counter to zero when the acknowledgment or an incoming message is received by the device;

detect a problem with communication when the counter is above a predetermined threshold;

carry out a local orphan scan on a current channel by transmission of a beacon or a special message on the current channel to indicate to the network that the device has become orphaned and wishes to rejoin;

when the local orphan scan is unsuccessful, carry out a global orphan scan on all channels by transmission of the beacon or the special message on all the channels;

when the global orphan scan is unsuccessful, carry out an energy detection scan that includes determining a local interference on each available channel and includes determining the most optimal local channel for operation,

generate a network environment status message based on the energy detection scan, and

broadcast the network environment status message.