Methods and apparatus for scanning for mesh nodes
First Claim
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1. A method for scanning for a mesh network, comprising:
- monitoring, by a passively scanning node, a shared communication channel for an awake window of a mesh node in a power save mode;
detecting a receive window start frame associated with the awake window that is transmitted by the mesh node in the power save mode and prior to the awake window of the mesh node;
determining whether to send a probe request based on mesh network information included within the receive window start frame;
sending the probe request to the mesh node in accordance with a determination of the mesh network information included within the receive window start frame, wherein the probe request is received by the mesh node during the awake window;
receiving a probe response from the mesh node, wherein the probe response includes a set of information for the mesh network enabling the passively scanning node to join the mesh network; and
attempting to join the mesh network based on the probe response,wherein the receive window start frame indicates that the awake window of the mesh node is upcoming, and wherein the receive window start frame is smaller in size than a beacon frame configured to indicate when transmitted by the mesh node that the mesh node is not in the power save mode.
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus are provided for scanning for mesh nodes. A communication device monitors a shared communication channel to detect receive window start frames indicating that a mesh node is awake and available to receive data. The scanning device transmits a probe request during the awake window.
35 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method for scanning for a mesh network, comprising:
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monitoring, by a passively scanning node, a shared communication channel for an awake window of a mesh node in a power save mode; detecting a receive window start frame associated with the awake window that is transmitted by the mesh node in the power save mode and prior to the awake window of the mesh node; determining whether to send a probe request based on mesh network information included within the receive window start frame; sending the probe request to the mesh node in accordance with a determination of the mesh network information included within the receive window start frame, wherein the probe request is received by the mesh node during the awake window; receiving a probe response from the mesh node, wherein the probe response includes a set of information for the mesh network enabling the passively scanning node to join the mesh network; and attempting to join the mesh network based on the probe response, wherein the receive window start frame indicates that the awake window of the mesh node is upcoming, and wherein the receive window start frame is smaller in size than a beacon frame configured to indicate when transmitted by the mesh node that the mesh node is not in the power save mode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An apparatus, comprising:
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a processor; a network scanning module configured to detect an awake window of a mesh node in a power save mode, wherein the network scanning module comprises; a scanning engine for passively monitoring a shared communication channel to detect a receive window start frame associated with the awake window that is transmitted by the mesh node in the power save mode and prior to the awake window of the mesh node, and for determining whether to send a probe request based on mesh network information included within the receive window start frame, wherein the receive window start frame indicates that the awake window of the mesh node is upcoming; and a probe exchange engine for transmitting the probe request to the mesh node during the awake window in accordance with a determination of the mesh network information included within the receive window start frame, and for receiving a probe response from the mesh node, wherein the probe request is received by the mesh node during the awake window and the probe response includes a set of information for the mesh network enabling the apparatus to join the mesh network; and a communications component for attempting to join the mesh network based on the probe response, wherein the receive window start frame is smaller in size than a beacon frame configured to indicate when transmitted by the mesh node that the mesh node is not in the power save mode. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. An apparatus, comprising:
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means for monitoring, at a passively scanning node, a shared communication channel for an awake window of a mesh node in a power save mode; means for detecting a receive window start frame associated with the awake window that is transmitted by the mesh node in the power save mode and prior to the awake window of the mesh node; means for determining whether to send a probe request based on mesh network information included within the receive window start frame; means for sending the probe request to the mesh node in accordance with a determination of the mesh network information included within the receive window start frame, wherein the probe request is received by the mesh node during the awake window; means for receiving a probe response from the mesh node, wherein the probe response includes a set of information for the mesh network enabling the passively scanning node to join the mesh network; and means for attempting to join the mesh network based on the probe response, wherein the receive window start frame indicates that the awake window of the mesh node is upcoming, and wherein the receive window start frame is smaller in size than a beacon frame configured to indicate when transmitted by the mesh node that the mesh node is not in the power save mode.
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Specification