Home electrical device control within a wireless mesh network

• US 9,166,812 B2
• Filed: 04/19/2007
• Issued: 10/20/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Silicon Laboratories Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Sigma Designs Incorporated
• Inventors: Shorty, Peter, Christensen, Tommas Jess, Johansen, Niels Thybo, Midtgaard, Jacob, Sigfredsson, Johann
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Hitesh
• Application Number:
  US11/737,717
• Publication Number:
  US 20070248047A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,106 Days
• Field of Search: 370/254, 370/310, 370/329, 370225-228, 709/219, 709/224, 379/67.1, 379/88.23, 379/102.01, 379/167.01
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2818 from a device located outside both the home and the home network access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless eletrical link G08C17/00; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with remote control systems H04M11/007
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2838 Distribution of signals within a home automation network, e.g. involving splitting/multiplexing signals to/from different paths adaptations of television systems for transmission by electric cable for domestic distribution H04N7/106; hybrid transport H04L12/6418; home network arrangements specially adapted for distribution of digital video signals H04N7/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2841 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/285 Generic home appliances, e.g. refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/44 Distributed routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/30 for proactive routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/00 Local resource management
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for associating a first node in a mesh network with an electrical device, wherein the electrical device comprises a home control device, enabling the mesh network to perform channel adjustment, transmitting data through the mesh network between the first node and a second node in the mesh network, wherein the transmission utilizes channel adjustment; and performing an action based at least in part on the transmitted data.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

tuning a wireless receiver to a channel;

at the wireless receiver, receiving a preamble on the channel;

determining that the preamble contains more than a threshold number of symbols;

at the wireless receiver, receiving a message on the channel; and

upon receipt of the message, retuning the wireless receiver to another channel.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting, to an intended recipient, a concatenation of a second preamble and a second message;

determining that an intended recipient of the second message failed to receive the second message;

determining a change to a topology of a wireless mesh network; and

in view of the change to the topology, retransmitting the second message to a different intended recipient.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein determining the change comprises:

requesting a network topology update from a computer other than the intended recipient.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein determining the change comprises:

broadcasting an explore frame into the wireless mesh network.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein determining the change comprises:

receiving a broadcast from a computer other than the intended recipient, the broadcast including network topology update.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein determining that an intended recipient failed to receive the second message comprises:

during a time interval, failing to detect transmission of the message by a node other than the intended recipient; and

retransmitting the concatenation after expiration of the time interval.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein determining that the intended recipient failed to receive the second message further comprises:

during the time interval, failing to receive an acknowledgement frame from the intended recipient.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

powering up the wireless receiver prior to tuning it to the channel;

retransmitting the message; and

powering down the wireless receiver upon retransmitting the message.