Methods and systems for adding a device to a sequential personal area network chain

A communications device comprising:

• an electronic processor configured to
• detect a new device to be added in a sequential personal area network chain, the sequential personal area network chain having a hierarchy of transmission intervals across two or more devices already in the sequential personal area network chain including the communications device at a first end of the sequential personal area network chain opposite a second end of the sequential personal area network chain;
• determine an expected transmission interval for the new device;
• determine a position at which to insert the new device within the sequential personal area network chain based on the expected transmission interval of the new device and the hierarchy of transmission intervals across the two or more devices already in the sequential personal area network chain, the position of the new device preceding the communications device in the sequential personal area network chain in a direction from the second end to the first end;
• and
• cause the new device to be inserted into the sequential personal area network chain at the determined position.

A system for forming a sequential personal area network chain, the system comprising:

• a new sensor;
• and
• a target device communicating with the new sensor over a wireless personal area network and including an electronic processor, the electronic processor configured to
• detect the new sensor to be added in the sequential personal area network chain;
• determine an expected transmission interval for the new sensor;
• determine a position at which to insert the new sensor within the sequential personal area network chain based on the expected transmission interval of the new sensor and a hierarchy of transmission intervals across two or more sensors already in the sequential personal area network chain, the sequential personal area network chain including the target device at a first end of the sequential personal area network chain opposite a second end of the sequential personal area network chain, the position of the new sensor preceding the target device in the sequential personal area network chain in a direction from the second end to the first end;
• and
• cause the new sensor to be inserted into the sequential personal area network chain at the determined position.