Communication method within a dynamic-depth cluster of communicating electronic devices, communicating electronic device implementing said method and associated system

A communication method within a network comprising a plurality of communicating electronic devices, said method being implemented by a processing unit of a first communicating electronic device from among said communicating electronic devices within the network, said first communicating electronic device further including said processing unit, a data memory, first communication interface providing wireless nearby communication with a third-party communicating electronic device of the network situated within communication range, said data memory and said first communication interface cooperating with said processing unit, the data memory including the value of an identifier dedicated to said first communicating electronic device and a record to store the current value of an identifier of a second communicating electronic device acting as head of a cluster, said method including:

• a step for receiving, via the first communication interface, an enrollment message delivered and transmitted by a communicating electronic device within the network, said enrollment message encoding the identifier of the second communicating electronic device acting as cluster head;
• a step for decoding said enrollment message and deducing the value of said identifier of the second communicating electronic device acting as cluster head therefrom and, if applicable, the value of the identifier of a third communicating electronic device having relayed said enrollment message;
• a step for updating the record so that the latter stores, as current identifier value of the device acting as cluster head, said value of the identifier of the second device acting as cluster head deduced from the decoded enrollment message and, if applicable, said record also saves, as uplink route toward said second communicating electronic device acting as cluster head, the value of the identifier of the third communicating electronic device;
• wherein:
• said enrollment message further includes a datum TTL reflecting the ability of a communicating electronic device receiving said enrollment message to relay the latter;
• the step for decoding said enrollment message further deduces the value of said datum TTL therefrom;
• the step for updating the record is adapted so that said record stores the current value of said datum TTL previously decremented by one unit;
• and wherein method further includes:
• a step for producing a relayed enrollment message, said message comprising:
• a. a first field encoding the current identifier value of the device acting as cluster head recorded in the record;
• b. a second field characterizing an uplink route toward the second communicating electronic device acting as cluster head, and encoding the identifier of the first communicating electronic device;
• c. a third field encoding the current value of the datum TTL recorded in the record;
• and
• a step for triggering the transmission by the first communication interface of said relayed message if a prior step, comprising comparing the current value of the datum TTL recorded in the record to a determined floor value, attests that said current value of TTL is strictly greater than said floor datum.