# US 10,772,028 B2 · Method for communicating in a network comprising a batteryless ZigBee device, network and device therefor > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,772,028 B2 - Document ID: US10772028B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/201,291 - Filed: 2010-02-10 - Published: 2011-12-01 - Granted: 2020-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2009-02-13 - Assignees: Signify Holding B.V. - Applicants: Bozena Erdmann; Armand Michel Marie Lelkens; Willem Franke Pasveer - Inventors: Bozena Erdmann; Armand Michel Marie Lelkens; Willem Franke Pasveer - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10772028B2 ## CPC - H04W 40/246: {Connectivity information discovery} - H04W 40/12: based on transmission quality or channel quality - Y02D 30/70: in wireless communication networks - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) - Y02D: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES [ICT], I.E. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES AIMING AT THE REDUCTION OF THEIR OWN ENERGY USE ## Abstract The present invention relates to method for wireless communicating in a network comprising a resource-constrained end device, and a first router device, wherein the method comprises the following steps:—the end device (ZBLD) sending a trigger for proxy search procedure,—the first router (R1) device receiving the trigger for proxy search procedure, the first router (R1) determining whether it fulfills conditions for acting as a router for the end device, and in case conditions are fulfilled, the first router appointing itself as a proxy router for the end device, for relaying communication between the end device and the rest of the network. The invention also relates to an end device, a router device, and net work therefor. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for wireless communication in a network, wherein the network includes a parent-child relationship between a child-end device and its parent-end router device, the method comprising: sending, via the child-end device which is power constrained, wherein the child-end device addresses all communication to its parent-end router for forwarding to a final destination, a trigger to enable a proxy search procedure, when an acknowledgement message from an old parent-end router configured to relay communication between the child-end device and the network is not received, and wherein an identity of the parent-end router is unknown to the child-end device during said communication with the parent-end router; receiving, at a first parent-end router device, the trigger for the proxy search procedure, in response to the trigger for the proxy search procedure, determining whether the first parent-end router device fulfills a condition for acting as a new proxy router for the child-end device in place of the old parent-end router; appointing the first router device as the new parent-end router for the child-end device when the first parent-end router device fulfills the condition. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method as recited in claim 1, wherein determining whether the first parent-end router device fulfills the condition comprises: determining that the conditions are fulfilled, when the parent-end first router device is linked to the end device based on the identification of the child-end device; and linking the first parent-end router device to the child-end device, when the first parent-end router device is not linked to the child-end device. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method as recited in claim 2, further comprising: determining a performance indicator of a link between the child-end device and the first router device, comparing the performance indicator with a predetermined criteria, and appointing the first parent-end router device as the new parent-end router for the child-end device, when the performance indicator fulfills the predetermined criteria. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method as recited in claim 3, wherein the performance indicator is a link cost indicator. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The method as recited in claim 3, wherein the performance indicator indicates whether a parent-end router application is being controlled by the child-end device. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The method as recited in claim 2, further comprising sending, via the first parent-end router device, a proxy resolution message. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method as recited in claim 6, wherein the proxy resolution message is sent after a delay based on a performance indicator of a link between the child-end device and the first parent-end router device. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising: receiving, by a second parent-end router device within a transmission range of the first parent-end router device, the trigger for the proxy search procedure and a proxy resolution message from the first parent-end router device; determining whether the first router device and the second parent-end router device are linked to the child-end device; and determining whether the second parent-end router device is the new parent-end router for the child-end device, based on the proxy resolution message, an end device identification, and a performance indicator of links between the end device and the first and second router devices. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method as recited in claim 8, wherein determining whether the second parent-end router device is the new parent-end router further comprises: determining whether the second parent-end router device is linked to the child-end device; determining, via the second parent-end router device, the performance indicator for the child-end device; comparing an address of the second parent-end router device with an address of the first parent-end router device; and, sending a proxy resolution message when the address of the second parent-end router device is lower than the address of the first parent-end router device. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The method as recited in claim 8, further comprising: receiving, by a third parent-end router device situated out of the transmission range of the first parent-end router device, the proxy search procedure comprising a proxy search command frame; appointing the third parent-end router device as the new parent-end router for the child-end device when the first parent-end router device and the third parent-end router device fulfill the conditions for acting as the new parent-end router for the child-end device; and the child-end device sending a proxy resolution command frame when a collision between the acknowledgment messages is detected. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method as recited in claim 10, wherein a group identifier is used for communication of the proxy resolution command frame between the routers in a wireless range of the child-end device. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the network is an 802.15.4/ZigBee network. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the proxy search trigger is implemented as a command frame on a MAC layer. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the proxy search procedure indicates to parent-end router devices in the network that the child-end device has lost connection with the old parent-end router and needs a new parent-end router device. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The method as recited in claim 1, wherein end device is a battery less device or an energy-harvesting device. ### Claim 16 A method for communicating in a network, wherein the network includes a parent-child relationship between a child-end device and its parent-end router device, the method comprising: the child-end device, which is power constrained, wherein the child-end device addresses all communication to its parent-end router, sending a data frame to be forwarded by an old parent-end router to a destination; the child-end device waiting for reception of an acknowledgment message during a predetermined time from the only parent-end router; sending, via the child-end device, a trigger to enable a proxy search procedure, when the acknowledgement message from the old parent-end router is not received, and wherein an identity of the parent-end router is unknown to the child-end device during said communication with the parent-end router; receiving, at a first parent-end router device, the trigger for the proxy search procedure; in response to the trigger, determining whether the first parent-end router device fulfills a condition for acting as a new parent-end router for the child-end device in place of the old parent-end router; and appointing the first parent-end router device as the new parent-end router for the child-end device when the first parent-end router device fulfills the condition. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method as recited in claim 16, wherein the network is an 802.15.4/ZigBee network. ### Claim 18 A system for communicating in a network, wherein the network includes a parent-child relationship between a child-end device and its parent-end router device, the system comprising: the parent-end router device having, a wireless receiver configured to receive a data frame and a command frame from its child-end device, wherein the child-end device addresses all communication to its parent-end router for forwarding to a final destination, and wherein an identity of the parent-end router is unknown to the child-end device during said communication with the parent-end router, a wireless transmitter configured to transmit an acknowledgment message and a resolution message, in response to a proxy search request trigger, such that the parent-end router device replaces another parent-end router device; a transmitter configured to forward a child-end device message, in response to the proxy search request trigger; a comparator configured to compare an address of the parent-end router device with an address of at least one child-end device, in response to the proxy search request trigger; and a memory configured to store a neighbor table, wherein the table comprises a list of child-end devices and a status of a relationship between the parent-end router device and each child-end device; wherein the at least one child-end device has limited energy resources and includes a wireless transmitter configured to send the trigger for the proxy search procedure, a wireless receiver configured to receive at least an acknowledgement message and a processor configured to track the acknowledgement message and trigger the proxy search procedure. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The parent-end router device of claim 18, wherein the network is an 802.15.4/ZigBee network. ### Claim 20 A method for wireless communication in a network, wherein the network includes a parent-child relationship between a child-end device and its parent-end router device, the method comprising: sending, via the child-end device which is batteryless, all communication to the parent-end router for forwarding to a final destination, wherein the child-end device does not know the identity of the parent-end router during said communication; when an acknowledgement message from an old parent-end router configured to relay communication between the child-end device and the network is not received during said communication, sending a trigger to enable a proxy search procedure; receiving, at a first parent-end router device, the trigger for the proxy search procedure, in response to the trigger for the proxy search procedure, determining whether the first parent-end router device fulfills a condition for acting as a new proxy router for the child-end device in place of the old parent-end router; appointing the first router device as the new parent-end router for the child-end device when the first parent-end router device fulfills the condition.