IDENTIFYING A DESIRED MESH NETWORK IN A MULTIPLE NETWORK ENVIRONMENT

• US 20100080200A1
• Filed: 10/01/2008
• Published: 04/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Digi International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Digi International Inc.
• Inventors: Stewart, Damon M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,493,946 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/12 using downlink control channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

Network devices in a multi-network wireless mesh network environment identify themselves as members of the network by receiving a broadcast message from a first mesh network device that has joined the wireless mesh network, and identifying that the broadcast transmission has been received such as by actuating a light, playing a sound, or sending an identifying reply message back to a broadcasting mesh network device.

Claims

1. A method of identifying network devices in a multi-network wireless mesh network environment, comprising:

sending a broadcast message from a first mesh network device that has joined or synchronized to a wireless mesh network; and

identifying that the broadcast transmission has been received in one or more other network devices on the wireless mesh network.

2. The method of identifying network devices in a multi-network wireless mesh network environment of claim 1, wherein sending a broadcast message is triggered by an installer.

3. The method of identifying network devices in a multi-network wireless mesh network environment of claim 2, wherein triggering sending a broadcast message comprises at least one of receiving input in the first mesh network device via a switch, a data interface, or a software command.

4. The method of identifying network devices in a multi-network wireless mesh network environment of claim 1, wherein identifying that the broadcast transmission has been received in one or more other network devices on the wireless mesh network comprises the one or more other network devices actuating a light or playing a sound.

5. The method of identifying network devices in a multi-network wireless mesh network environment of claim 4, wherein at least one of actuating a light and playing a sound comprises indicating at least one of a node ID or a network ID.

6. The method of identifying network devices in a multi-network wireless mesh network environment of claim 1, wherein identifying that the broadcast transmission has been received in one or more other network devices on the wireless mesh network comprises the one or more other network devices sending identifying reply messages back to the first mesh network device.

7. A wireless mesh network device, comprising:

a network module operable to send an identification broadcast message to other network devices that have joined or synchronized to a wireless mesh network, and

an indicator module operable to identify that the wireless mesh network device has received an identification broadcast message.

8. The wireless mesh network device of claim 7, wherein network module operable to send an identification broadcast message sends the identification broadcast message when triggered by an installer.

9. The wireless mesh network device of claim 8, wherein triggering by an installer comprises at least one of receiving input via a switch, a data interface, or a software command.

10. The wireless mesh network device of claim 7, wherein identifying that the wireless mesh network device has received an identification broadcast message comprises at least one of actuating a light or playing a sound.

11. The wireless mesh network device of claim 10, wherein at least one of actuating a light and playing a sound comprises indicating at least one of a node ID or a network ID.

12. The wireless mesh network device claim 7, wherein identifying that the wireless mesh network device has received an identification broadcast message comprises sending an identifying reply message back to a broadcasting mesh network device.

13. A wireless mesh network comprising a plurality of network devices, each of the plurality of network devices comprising:

a network module operable to send an identification broadcast message to other network devices that have joined or synchronized to a wireless mesh network, and

an indicator module operable to identify that the wireless mesh network device has received an identification broadcast message.

14. The wireless mesh network of claim 13, wherein network module operable to send an identification broadcast message sends the identification broadcast message when triggered by an installer.

15. The wireless mesh network of claim 14, wherein triggering by an installer comprises at least one of receiving input via a switch, a data interface, or a software command.

16. The wireless mesh network of claim 13, wherein identifying that the wireless mesh network device has received an identification broadcast message comprises at least one of actuating a light or playing a sound.

17. The wireless mesh network of claim 16, wherein at least one of actuating a light and playing a sound comprises indicating at least one of a node ID or a network ID.

18. The wireless mesh network claim 13, wherein identifying that the wireless mesh network device has received an identification broadcast message comprises sending an identifying reply message back to a broadcasting mesh network device.

19. A method of identifying network devices in a multi-network wireless mesh network environment, comprising:

receiving a broadcast message from a first mesh network device; and

identifying to an installer that the broadcast transmission has been received.

20. The method of identifying network devices in a multi-network wireless mesh network environment of claim 19, wherein identifying to an installer that the broadcast transmission has been received comprises at least one of actuating a light, playing a sound, and sending an identifying reply message back to a broadcasting mesh network device.