Wakeup beacons for mesh networks
First Claim
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1. A method comprising:
- receiving, from a transmitting node of a mesh network, data intended for a receiving node currently in a power-saving mode;
transmitting, according to a previously determined wakeup beacon schedule and by an intermediate node between the transmitting node and the receiving node, a wakeup beacon to the receiving node, the wakeup beacon indicating that the data is available but not including the data within the wakeup beacon, the previously determined wakeup beacon schedule including a start time and a broadcast interval, the start time offset from non-wakeup beacon broadcasts and the broadcast interval about equal to or about a multiple of a non-wakeup beacon broadcast interval;
receiving, at the intermediate node and from the receiving node, an indication that the receiving node is able to receive the data; and
responsive to the indication from the receiving node, transmitting the data to the receiving node.
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Abstract
This disclosure describes techniques and apparatuses for wakeup beacons for mesh networks, which often permits nodes of a mesh network to save power when operating in a power-save mode. These wakeup beacons can be sent at high transmission rates and/or be small in size, thereby reducing the time a node must be awake to transmit and receive communications.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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receiving, from a transmitting node of a mesh network, data intended for a receiving node currently in a power-saving mode; transmitting, according to a previously determined wakeup beacon schedule and by an intermediate node between the transmitting node and the receiving node, a wakeup beacon to the receiving node, the wakeup beacon indicating that the data is available but not including the data within the wakeup beacon, the previously determined wakeup beacon schedule including a start time and a broadcast interval, the start time offset from non-wakeup beacon broadcasts and the broadcast interval about equal to or about a multiple of a non-wakeup beacon broadcast interval; receiving, at the intermediate node and from the receiving node, an indication that the receiving node is able to receive the data; and responsive to the indication from the receiving node, transmitting the data to the receiving node. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A System-on-Chip (SoC) capable of operating within an intermediate node of a mesh network, the SoC having:
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a transceiver; and a manager, the manager configured to; receive, at the transceiver of the intermediate node and from a transmitting node of the mesh network, data intended for a receiving node currently in a power-save mode, the transceiver of the intermediate node receiving the data intended for the receiving node during an awake period of the intermediate node and following an exit from a power-saving state of the intermediate node; transmit, in accordance with a previously determined wakeup beacon schedule and by the intermediate node between the transmitting node and the receiving node, a wakeup beacon to the receiving node and through the transceiver, the wakeup beacon indicating that the data is available but not including the data within the wakeup beacon; receive, through the transceiver of the intermediate node and from the receiving node, an indication that the receiving node is able to receive the data or has exited the power-save mode; and transmit, in response to the indication from the receiving node and through the transceiver, the data to the receiving node through a management beacon. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method comprising:
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determining a wakeup beacon schedule for a node of a mesh network, the wakeup beacon schedule including a start time and a wakeup beacon broadcast interval, the start time offset from non-wakeup beacon broadcasts and the wakeup beacon broadcast interval about equal to or about a multiple of a non-wakeup beacon broadcast interval; having the node enter a power-saving state, the power-saving state in which the node has insufficient power to permit communications with one or more peer nodes of the mesh network; in accordance with the wakeup beacon schedule, having the node exit the power-saving state and enter into a communication state, the communication state in which the node has sufficient power to communicate with the one or more peer nodes of the mesh network; receiving, at the node, one or more wakeup beacons from the one or more peer nodes of the mesh network, each of the one or more wakeup beacons indicating whether or not data is waiting to be received by the node; determining that at least one of the one or more wakeup beacons indicates data is waiting to be received by the node, and; maintaining the node in the communication state responsive to determining that at least one of the one or more wakeup beacons indicates that data is waiting to be received by the node, the maintaining of the node to permit the node to receive the data indicated by the one or more wakeup beacons;
orhaving the node re-enter the power-saving state responsive to determining that none of the one or more wakeup beacons indicates data is waiting to be received by the node. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. A method comprising:
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receiving, from a transmitting node of a mesh network, data intended for a receiving node currently in a power-save mode; transmitting, in accordance with a wakeup beacon schedule and by an intermediate node between the transmitting node and the receiving node, a wakeup beacon to the receiving node, the wakeup beacon indicating that the data is available but not including the data within the wakeup beacon, the wakeup beacon schedule including a start time and a wakeup beacon broadcast interval, the start time offset from non-wakeup beacon broadcasts and the wakeup beacon broadcast interval about equal to, or about a multiple of, a non-wakeup beacon broadcast interval; receiving, at the intermediate node and from the receiving node, an indication that the receiving node is able to receive the data or has exited the power-save mode; and transmitting, in response to the indication from the receiving node, the data to the receiving node through a management beacon. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification