Scheduling algorithm and method for time slotted channel hopping (TSCH) MAC

A wireless local area network comprising a network device and a network node wherein

• the network device is configured to:
• define a schedule, the schedule comprising:
• a number of cells allocated to a link as redundancy cells for communicating a packet when a communication of the packet fails, the communication being performed by the link during an earlier allocated cell;
• wherein
• the number of cells allocated to the link as redundancy cells is dependent on a number of packets communicated during a scheduling period by the link and is at least one:
• a cell is a timeslot on a frequency channel;
• and the link represents communication between two network nodes or a network node and the network device;
• and
• transmit the schedule to the network node;
• and
• the network node is configured to:
• receive the schedule from the network device;
• and
• implement the schedule.

A method for defining a schedule allocating cells to links for a wireless local area network comprising a network device and a plurality of wireless network nodes;

• wherein a cell is a timeslot on a frequency channel and a link represents communication between two network nodes or a network node and the network device;
• the method comprising:
• defining a primary schedule for communicating all of the packets the network nodes plan to transmit during a scheduling period if no communication fails;
• and
• allocating to a link a number of cells as redundancy cells for communicating a packet when a communication of the packet fails, the communication being performed by the link during the primary schedule and, wherein:
• the number of cells allocated to the link as redundancy cells is dependent on a number of packets communicated during a scheduling period by the link and is at least one.