SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SELECTIVELY DISABLING ROUTING TABLE PURGES IN WIRELESS NETWORKS

• US 20100074146A1
• Filed: 05/08/2009
• Published: 03/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Synapse Wireless Incorporated (Mcwane Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Synapse Wireless Incorporated (Mcwane Incorporated)
• Inventors: Banks, Kevin R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,644,187 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/254
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1867 Arrangements specially adapted for the transmitter end
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2001/0093 Point-to-multipoint
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/10 based on available power or energy
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/24 Connectivity information management, e.g. connectivity discovery or connectivity update
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0209 in terminal devices terminal devices per se H04W88/02
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

The present disclosure generally pertains to systems and methods for disabling routing table purges in wireless networks. In one exemplary embodiment, a node is for use in a wireless sensor network and comprises memory that is configured to store a routing table specifying at least one data route through the wireless sensor network. The node also comprises logic that is configured to track time and to automatically purge at least one entry of the routing table based on the tracked time thereby forcing a rediscovery of a data route for the purged entry. The logic is further configured to selectively disable automatic routing table purges based on user input.

Claims

1. A node for use in a wireless sensor network, comprising:

memory configured to store a routing table specifying at least one data route through the wireless sensor network; and

logic configured to track time and to automatically purge at least one entry of the routing table based on the tracked time thereby forcing a rediscovery of a data route for the purged entry, wherein the logic is configured to selectively disable automatic routing table purges based on user input.

2. The node of claim 1, wherein the logic is configured to receive a remote procedure call transmitted by another node of the wireless sensor network, and wherein the logic is configured to disable the automatic routing table purges in response to the remote procedure call.

3. The node of claim 1, wherein the logic is configured to maintain a time value and to compare the time value to a threshold in order to determine when to purge the routing table.

4. The node of claim 3, wherein the logic is configured to disable the automatic routing table purges by setting the threshold to a value that is outside of a range of the time value.

5. The node of claim 3, wherein the logic is configured to disable the automatic routing table purges by setting the threshold to a first value such that the routing table is not purged until the threshold is later adjusted to a second value by the logic.

6. The node of claim 5, wherein the logic is configured to receive a remote procedure call transmitted by another node of the wireless sensor network, and wherein the logic is configured to set the threshold to the first value in response to the remote procedure call.

7. A method for use in a wireless sensor network, comprising the steps of:

storing a routing table in a memory of a node of the wireless sensor network, the routing table specifying at least one data route through the wireless sensor network;

tracking time;

automatically purging at least one entry of the routing table based on the tracking step; and

selectively disabling automatic purging of the routing table based on user input.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of receiving, at the node, a remote procedure call transmitted by another node of the wireless sensor network, wherein the selectively disabling step comprises the step of disabling the automatic purging of the routing table in response to the remote procedure call.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the tracking step comprises the step of adjusting a time value over time, wherein the method further comprises the step of comparing the time value to a threshold, and wherein the purging step is based on the comparing step.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the selectively disabling step comprises the step setting the threshold to a value that is outside of a range of the time value.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the selectively disabling step comprises the step setting the threshold to a value such that the routing table is not purged by the purging step until the threshold is later adjusted.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of receiving, at the node, a remote procedure call transmitted by another node of the wireless sensor network, wherein the setting step is performed in response to the remote procedure call.