Dynamically enabling a channel for message reception in a mesh network

• US 8,885,482 B2
• Filed: 09/10/2012
• Issued: 11/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Silicon Laboratories Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Sigma Designs Incorporated
• Inventors: Christensen, Tommas Jess, Midtgaard, Jacob, Shorty, Peter, Johansen, Niels Thybo
• Primary Examiner(s): Gidado, Rasheed
• Application Number:
  US13/608,655
• Publication Number:
  US 20130142051A1
• Time in Patent Office: 792 Days
• Field of Search: 370/241, 370/437, 370/344, 370/338, 370/329
• US Class Current: 370/241
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/189 Transmission or retransmission of more than one copy of a message
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2001/0093 Point-to-multipoint
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0853 using an additional device, e.g. smartcard, SIM or a different communication terminal cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving additional secure or trusted devices H04L9/3234
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/70 Media network packetisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/22 Negotiating communication rate
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/22 Processing or transfer of terminal data, e.g. status or physical capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/18 Service support devices; Network management devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements

Abstract

In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for operating a node in a wireless mesh network to scan each one of a plurality of channels received at a processing node in a wireless mesh network in a predetermined order for a predetermined duration to detect a preamble; detect the preamble on one of the plurality of channels; remain on a current one of the plurality of channels to receive a message after the predetermined duration when the preamble includes a predetermined series of symbols; and resume scanning each one of the plurality of channels after the message is received.

Claims

1. A method for operating a node in a wireless mesh network comprising:

using a computer, scanning each one of a plurality of channels in a wireless mesh network in a predetermined order for a predetermined duration to detect a preamble;

detecting the preamble on one of the plurality of channels;

remaining on a current one of the plurality of channels to receive a message after the predetermined duration if the preamble includes a first number of symbols; and

changing to another channel after the predetermined duration if the preamble contains a number of symbols different from the first number of symbols.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising resuming scanning each one of the plurality of channels after the message is received.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the message includes a plurality of messages or a command.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the command relates to a communication speed.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein the command relates to a communication channel.

6. The method of claim 3 wherein the command relates to a communication channel availability.

7. A method for operating a node in a wireless mesh network comprising:

scanning each one of a plurality of channels received at a processing node in a wireless mesh network in a predetermined order for a predetermined duration to detect a preamble;

detecting the preamble on one of the plurality of channels;

remaining on a current one of the plurality of channels to receive a message after the predetermined duration if the preamble includes a predetermined series of symbols; and

changing to another channel after the predetermined duration if the preamble contains a series of symbols different from the predetermined series of symbols.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising resuming scanning each one of the plurality of channels after the message is received.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the message includes a plurality of messages or a command.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the command relates to a communication speed.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the command relates to a communication channel.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein the command relates to a communication channel availability.

13. A system comprising:

a processing node receiving a plurality of channels in a wireless mesh network, wherein the processing node scans each one of the plurality of channels in a predetermined order for a predetermined duration to detect a preamble, and upon detecting the preamble on one of the plurality of channels, remaining on the one of the plurality of channels to receive a message after the predetermined duration if the preamble includes a predetermined number of symbols, and if the preamble contains a number of symbols different from the predetermined number of symbols, changing to a different channel.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the system is adapted to resume scanning each one of the plurality of channels after the message is received.

15. The system of claim 13 wherein the message includes a plurality of messages or a command.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the command relates to a communication speed.

17. The system of claim 15 wherein the command relates to a communication channel.

18. The system of claim 15 wherein the command relates to a communication channel availability.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein a selection of the different channel is based on an algorithm.