Device mobility in a mesh network

An apparatus, comprising:

• one or more network interfaces to communicate with a mesh network;
• a processor coupled to the network interfaces and configured to execute one or more processes;
• and
• a memory configured to store a process executable by the processor, the process when executed operable to:
• receive a notification using an IPv6 Routing Protocol for Low Power and Lossy Networks (RPL) protocol from a neighbor of the apparatus indicative of a child node of the apparatus requesting a parent change from the apparatus to the neighbor, wherein the notification includes a sequence number generated by the child node and an address of the child node;
• validate that the address of the child node is not a duplicate address used in the network;
• notify the neighbor that the address of the child node is valid;
• update an existing routing path from the apparatus to the child node to be routed through the neighbor;
• receive an instruction to remove the updated routing path from the apparatus to the child node, wherein the instruction includes a new sequence number;
• and
• remove the updated routing path from the apparatus to the child node if the new sequence number matches the sequence number received in the notification, in response to receiving the instruction to remove the updated routing path.

A tangible non-transitory computer readable medium storing program instructions that cause a computer to execute a process, the process comprising:

• receiving, at a device in a mesh network, a notification using an IPv6 Routing Protocol for Low Power and Lossy Networks (RPL) protocol from a neighbor of the device indicative of a child node of the device requesting a parent change from the device to the neighbor, wherein the notification includes a sequence number generated by the child node and an address of the child node;
• validating that the address of the child node is not a duplicate address used in the mesh network;
• notifying the neighbor that the address of the child node is valid;
• updating an existing routing path from the device to the child node to be routed through the neighbor, in response to receiving the notification from the neighbor;
• receiving an instruction to remove the updated routing path from the device to the child node through the neighbor, wherein the instruction includes a new sequence number;
• and
• removing, by the device, the updated routing path from the device to the child node if the new sequence number matches the sequence number received in the notification, in response to receiving the instruction to remove the updated routing path.