Prioritized communication windows in a wireless mesh network

A system for implementing prioritized quality of service (QoS) windows in a wireless mesh network, comprising:

• a plurality of nodes configured to communicate wirelessly in an uncoordinated manner, each of the plurality of nodes configured to store priority data indicative of priorities associated with messages communicated by the plurality of nodes, wherein the priorities include at least a first priority and a second priority, and wherein each of the plurality of nodes is configured to:
• (1) determine an occurrence of the QoS window, (2) during the QoS window and based on the priority data, transmit first messages associated with the first priority by the priority data in an uncoordinated manner for which each respective node of the plurality of nodes determines when to transmit at least one of the first messages during the QoS window without time-division multiplexed (TDM) coordination of a timing of transmission of the at least one of the first messages with transmission of the first messages by other nodes during the QoS window such that collisions between the first messages are possible during the QoS window, and (3) during the QoS window and based on the priority data, refrain from transmitting second messages associated with the second priority by the priority data until at least expiration of the QoS window, thereby preventing the second messages from colliding with the first messages transmitted during the QoS window.

A method for use in a wireless mesh network, comprising:

• wirelessly communicating among a plurality of nodes of the wireless mesh network in an uncoordinated manner;
• storing in the plurality of nodes priority data indicative of priorities associated with messages communicated by the plurality of nodes, wherein the priorities include at least a first priority and a second priority;
• determining, by each of the plurality of nodes, an occurrence of a quality of service (QoS) window for the wireless mesh network;
• during the QoS window, transmitting by the plurality of nodes first messages associated with the first priority by the priority data in an uncoordinated manner for which each respective node of the plurality of nodes determines when to transmit at least one of the first messages during the QoS window without time-division multiplexed (TDM) coordination of a timing of transmission of the at least one of the first messages with transmission of the first messages by other nodes during the QoS window such that collisions between the first messages are possible during the QoS window;
• and
• during the QoS window, delaying at each of the plurality of nodes second messages associated with the second priority by the priority data until at least expiration of the QoS window, thereby preventing the second messages from colliding with the first messages during the QoS window.