Low power wireless network for transportation and logistics
First Claim
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1. A method for enabling network devices to join a low-power wireless network, the method comprising:
- sending, with a first network device, beaconing information indicative of a time when authentication information will be sent;
sending, with the first network device, the authentication information relating to the low-power wireless network wherein;
the first network device is joined with the low-power wireless network,the low-power wireless network includes a plurality of network devices,the authentication information is sent prior to receiving any communication from a second network device, andthe authentication information is sent wirelessly toward the second network device;
receiving the authentication information with the second network device, the second network device not being joined with the low-power wireless network;
determining, with the second network device, that the authentication information is valid;
sending, with the second network device, a request to join the low-power wireless network, wherein the request to join the low-power wireless network;
comprises a unique identifier of the second network device,is sent wirelessly toward the first network device, andis sent after determining, with the second network device, that the authentication information is valid;
determining, with the first network device, a plurality of schedules;
sending scheduling data wirelessly with the first network device, the scheduling data indicative of the plurality of schedules;
receiving the scheduling data with the second network device;
determining, with the second network device, the plurality of schedules;
selecting, with the second network device, a schedule from the plurality of schedules;
sending selection data wirelessly with the second network device, the selection data indicative of the selected schedule;
sending slowdown data wirelessly with the first network device, wherein the slowdown data is indicative of a slowdown factor;
receiving the slowdown data with the second network device; and
reducing a frequency of subsequent communications between the first network device and the second network device based, at least in part, on the slowdown factor.
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Abstract
Embodiments of methods and devices are disclosed for enabling network devices to join a network. These embodiments generally include a first network device, which is joined to the network, sending authentication information. If the authentication information is determined as valid by a second network device, the second network device sends a join request toward the first network device. During or after the joining process, the first and second network devices can share scheduling information. These embodiments enable a network to have additional security while consuming low amounts of power.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A method for enabling network devices to join a low-power wireless network, the method comprising:
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sending, with a first network device, beaconing information indicative of a time when authentication information will be sent; sending, with the first network device, the authentication information relating to the low-power wireless network wherein; the first network device is joined with the low-power wireless network, the low-power wireless network includes a plurality of network devices, the authentication information is sent prior to receiving any communication from a second network device, and the authentication information is sent wirelessly toward the second network device; receiving the authentication information with the second network device, the second network device not being joined with the low-power wireless network; determining, with the second network device, that the authentication information is valid; sending, with the second network device, a request to join the low-power wireless network, wherein the request to join the low-power wireless network; comprises a unique identifier of the second network device, is sent wirelessly toward the first network device, and is sent after determining, with the second network device, that the authentication information is valid; determining, with the first network device, a plurality of schedules; sending scheduling data wirelessly with the first network device, the scheduling data indicative of the plurality of schedules; receiving the scheduling data with the second network device; determining, with the second network device, the plurality of schedules; selecting, with the second network device, a schedule from the plurality of schedules; sending selection data wirelessly with the second network device, the selection data indicative of the selected schedule; sending slowdown data wirelessly with the first network device, wherein the slowdown data is indicative of a slowdown factor; receiving the slowdown data with the second network device; and reducing a frequency of subsequent communications between the first network device and the second network device based, at least in part, on the slowdown factor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A network device for communicating sensor information, the network device comprising:
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a battery; a wireless interface; a processing unit, communicatively coupled with the battery and the wireless interface, configured to; detect, using the wireless interface, beaconing information indicative of a time when authentication information relating to a network will be sent; detect, using the wireless interface, the authentication information relating to the network prior to sending any communication to the network; determine that the authentication information is valid; send, using the wireless interface, a request to join the network, wherein the request to join the network; comprises a unique identifier of the network device, is sent after the network device determines that the authentication information is valid, and the network includes a plurality of network devices; determine, using scheduling data received with the wireless interface, a plurality of schedules; select a schedule from the plurality of schedules; send, using the wireless interface, selection data indicative of the selected schedule; determine, using slowdown data received with the wireless interface, wherein the slowdown data is indicative of a slowdown factor; and reduce a frequency of subsequent data communications with the wireless interface based, at least in part, on the slowdown factor. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A network device for communicating sensor information, the network device comprising:
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a battery; a wireless interface; a processing unit, communicatively coupled with the battery and the wireless interface, configured to; send, using the wireless interface, beaconing information indicative of a time when authentication information relating to a network will be sent; send, using the wireless interface, the authentication information relating to the network prior to receiving any communication from a second network device; detect, using the wireless interface, a request to join the network, wherein the request to join the network; comprises a unique identifier of the second network device, is detected after authentication information is sent, the network includes a plurality of network devices; determine a plurality of schedules; send, using the wireless interface, scheduling data, wherein the scheduling data is indicative of the plurality of schedules; detect, using the wireless interface, selection data, wherein the selection data indicative of a selected schedule; determine a slowdown factor; send, using the wireless interface, slowdown data indicative of the slowdown factor; and reduce a frequency of subsequent data communications with the wireless interface based, at least in part, on the slowdown factor. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification