Mesh network system and techniques

A method for operating a node adapted to cooperate within a network of nodes, the node comprising a main module and an external sleep controller connected thereto via an external serial bus, having standard communication pins the main module comprising a main controller having a main clock, the main controller being operable between an active configuration wherein the main clock oscillates and an inactive configuration wherein the main clock sleeps, the method comprising:

• sending, by the main controller and to the external sleep controller, timing information hidden in a standard communication protocol of the external serial bus, said timing information comprising sleep period data representative of a time period during which the main controller is intended to operate in the inactive configuration and being hidden within a standardized signal of the standard communication pins, without affecting communication with third-party hardware sharing the standard communication pins of the external serial bus, the external serial bus being configured for external peripheral communication to allow the external serial bus to be shared with external components;
• at the external sleep controller, measuring elapsed time via a clock of the external sleep controller;
• and
• when the elapsed time has reached said time period, sending, by the external sleep controller, via the external serial bus, and to the main module, a wake signal to operate the main controller in the active configuration, wherein:
• the sleep period data is based at least in part on a guard time configured to compensate for an error in the clock of the external sleep controller, and
• the guard time is calculated according to guard time =e×n+fsafety, wherein e represents said error of the clock of the external sleep controller, n represents a number of packet failures tolerated, and fsafety represents a safety factor.