System and method for communicating broadcast messages in a mesh network

• US 20060056331A1
• Filed: 09/10/2004
• Published: 03/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nivis LLC
• Original Assignee: Nivis LLC
• Inventors: Chilom, Marius Ovidiu, Ratiu, Ovidiu, Ticus, Ion
• Granted Patent: US 7,505,734 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/316
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/22 using selective relaying for reaching a BTS [Base Transceiver Station] or an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/28 for reactive routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/32 for defining a routing cluster membership
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A method for a gateway node to wirelessly communicate with a plurality of satellite nodes coupled to a sensing device or an actuator on one or more logical layers is disclosed. The gateway node generates a broadcast message for communication to the plurality of satellite nodes that is thereafter transmitted during a gateway node transmit communication time to one or more satellite nodes on a first logical layer of nodes that are within a broadcast range of the gateway node. The satellite nodes on the first logical layer receive the broadcast message, execute instructions contained in the broadcast message, and repeat the broadcast message to one or more additional satellite nodes on a logical layer beyond the broadcast range of the gateway node. An acknowledgement message is communicated back to the gateway node from each satellite node indicating receipt and execution of the broadcast message.

Claims

1. A method for a gateway node to wirelessly communicate with a plurality of satellite nodes, each satellite node coupled to a sensing device or an actuator and the gateway node coupled to a computer, comprising the steps of:

generating a broadcast message for communication to the plurality of satellite nodes;

transmitting during a gateway node transmit communication time the broadcast message from the gateway node to one or more satellite nodes on a first logical layer of satellite nodes that are within a broadcast range of the gateway node;

receiving the broadcast message from the gateway node at one or more satellite nodes on the first logical layer of satellite nodes;

executing instructions contained in the broadcast message at the one or more satellite nodes;

repeating the broadcast message to one or more additional satellite nodes on a logical layer beyond the broadcast range of the gateway node; and

communicating an acknowledgement message back to the gateway node indicating receipt and execution of the broadcast message.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the broadcast message is repeated to the one or more additional satellite nodes on a logical layer beyond the broadcast range of the gateway node if the satellite node has been used as a repeater during a configurable previous period.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the acknowledgement message is communicated back to the gateway node to indicate receipt and execution of the broadcast message during an inbound communication time for the satellite node.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

waiting until a next gateway node transmit time to communicate the acknowledgement message back to the gateway node.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

receiving the broadcast message at a satellite node on an outer logical layer of satellite nodes from a transmitting satellite node on a logical layer that is one logical layer closer to the gateway node than the satellite node on the outer logical layer of satellite nodes;

executing instructions contained in the broadcast message by the satellite node on the outer logical layer of satellite nodes if the broadcast message has not been previously received; and

transmitting an acknowledgement message back to the transmitting satellite node indicating receipt of the broadcast message and execution of one or more instructions contained in the broadcast message, the acknowledgement message transmitted during an inbound communication time for the satellite node on an outer logical layer of satellite nodes.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of:

repeating the broadcast message to one or more additional satellite nodes that are one logical layer further away from the gateway node than the satellite node, if the satellite node has been used as a repeater during a configurable previous period.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the broadcast message contains firmware update information for the plurality of satellite nodes.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the broadcast message contains a type indication and configuration parameters.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

maintaining a list of acknowledgement messages received from the plurality of satellite nodes; and

retransmitting the broadcast message to one or more satellite nodes for which an acknowledgement message is not received by the gateway node.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the broadcast message propagates outwardly from the gateway node to the plurality of satellite nodes arranged on logical layers of satellite nodes until the broadcast message is received by one or more satellite nodes on the most outer logical layer of satellite nodes.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more satellite nodes executes the broadcast message if the broadcast message has not been previously received by the one or more satellite nodes.

12. A communication device coupled to a sensor or an actuator configured to wirelessly communicate with a gateway node coupled to a computer, comprising:

a wireless transceiver configured to wirelessly transmit and receive communications, wherein the wireless transceiver may receive a broadcast communication directly or indirectly from the gateway node;

a memory electrically coupled to the wireless transceiver for storing logic related to broadcast communication received by the wireless transceiver;

a processor electrically coupled the wireless transceiver configured to execute logical instructions stored in memory related to the broadcast communication;

logic stored in memory and executed by the processor configured to determine whether the broadcast communication has been previously received and executed by the processor in accordance with predetermined identification information contained in the broadcast communication;

logic executed by the processor configured to implement the wireless transceiver to transmit the broadcast communication to one or more other communication devices within a transmission range of the communication device but beyond a transmission range of the gateway node; and

logic executed by the processor configured to implement the wireless transceiver to transmit an acknowledgement communication message to the gateway node indicating that the broadcast communication is received and executed by the communication device.

13. The communication device of claim 12, further comprising:

logic executed by the processor configured to cause the communication device to disregard the broadcast communication if the broadcast communication has been previously received and implemented by the communication device.

14. The communication device of claim 12, wherein the broadcast communication comprises a firmware update for the communication device such that the processor updates a firmware portion of the communication device contained in memory.

15. The communication device of claim 12, wherein the broadcast communication includes an update to one or more configuration parameters for the communication device.

16. The communication device of claim 12, wherein the communication device transmits the broadcast communication to one or more other communication devices within a transmission range of the communication device but beyond a transmission range of the gateway node if the communication device has been utilized as a repeater communication device within a previous predetermined time.

17. The communication device of claim 12, wherein the communication device transmits the broadcast communication to one or more other communication devices within a transmission range of the communication device but beyond a transmission range of the gateway node if the communication device has been designated as a repeater communication device by one or more other communication devices.