# US 12,015,547 B2 · Method of and an arrangement for communicating by a server with a node device of a network of interconnected node devices > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,015,547 B2 - Document ID: US12015547B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/634,255 - Filed: 2020-07-20 - Published: 2022-10-06 - Granted: 2024-06-18 - Earliest claimed: 2019-08-14 - Assignees: Signify Holding B.V. - Applicants: Signify Holding B.V. - Inventors: Lei Feng; Changjie Wang; Jaya Karthik; Ronny Andreas Antonius Maria Jacobs - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12015547B2 ## CPC - H04L 45/32: {Flooding (denial of service attacks H04L63/1458)} - H04L 63/20: {for managing network security; network security policies in general (filtering policies H04L63/0227)} - H04L 45/124: {using a combination of metrics} - H04L 45/20: {Hop count for routing purposes, e.g. TTL} - H04L 45/24: Multipath - H04L 67/59: Providing operational support to end devices by off-loading in the network or by emulation, e.g. when they are unavailable - H04W 4/12: Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) ## Abstract A method (50) of and an arrangement for communicating, by a server, with a target node device in a network of operatively interconnected node devices, wherein each node device of the network comprises a first communication interface for direct wireless communication with the server, and a second communication interface for inter-node device communication. The server determines (51) a current communication status of a target node device based on a last received uplink message of the target node device, prior to initiating message exchange with the target node device. The server then may communicate directly (52) with the target node device via the first communication interface, or via at least one other or delegate node device of the network selected by the server (53). ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of communicating between a server and a target node device operating in a network of operatively interconnected node devices, each node device comprising a first communication interface and a second communication interface, wherein said first communication interface is arranged for direct uplink and downlink wireless message exchange via a wireless communication system between said server and a node device, and said second communication interface is arranged for inter-node device communication between node devices in said network, wherein said server is arranged for keeping a record of a last communication message successfully exchanged with each node device via the first communication interface, and wherein said last communication message excludes a heartbeat message, said method comprising: determining, by said server, prior to communicating with said target node device, a current communication status of said target node device, wherein said current communication status is based on information in the record of said last communication message successfully exchanged with said target node device via said first communication interface; communicating, by said server with said target node device, via said first communication interface of said target node device, if said determined current communication status of said target node device indicates availability for data exchange via said first communication interface; and communicating, by said server, with said target node device, via at least one other node device of said network selected by said server, if said determined current communication status of said target node device indicates non-availability for data exchange via said first communication interface, wherein the record for said target node device comprises a time stamp of the last successfully exchanged communication message, wherein said current communication status of said target node device is determined by said server to be non-availability for data exchange via said first communication interface when said last successfully exchanged communication message with said target node device is exchanged at a point in time prior to a predetermined time period from determining said current communication status by said server, and wherein the predetermined time period comprises a sleep mode cycle, known by said server, of said target node device. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein said record of a last successfully exchanged communication message with a node device further comprises at least one of an identification of said node device, an address of said node device, a geographical location of said node device, a delivery status, and type of said last successfully exchanged communication message. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein said late successfully exchanged communication message comprises an uplink message. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein communicating, by said server, with said target node device, via at least one other node device comprises: transmitting, by said server, a downlink message to said at least one other node device, via said first communication interface of said at least one other node device, wherein said downlink message is of a type to be forwarded, by said at least one other node device via said second communication interface, to said target node device. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method according to claim 4, wherein said downlink message comprises an activation command for activating said target node device. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The method according to claim 4, further comprising: receiving, by said server, an uplink response message transmitted from said target node device, via said first communication interface, in response to receiving said activation command; and communicating, by said server, with said target node device via said first communication interface of said target node device. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein communicating, by said server, with said target node device, via at least one other node device comprises: transmitting, by said server, a downlink message to said at least one other node device, via said first communication interface of said at least one other node device, wherein said downlink message comprises an instruction of requesting said other node device to transmit an activation command, via said second communication interface, to said target node device. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein said communicating, by said server, with said target node device, via at least one other node device is performed according to one of a single hop and a multi-hop protocol, in particular wherein said multi-hop protocol is a flooding routing algorithm. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein said communicating, by said server, with said target node device, via at least one other node device is performed according to a secure algorithm including at least one of data encryption, source validation and integrity check. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein a number of said at least one other node device is limited, in particular, smaller than or equal to five. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein said at least one other node device is selected by said server based on at least one of a geographical distance between said at least one other node device and said target node device, and geographical locations of said at least one other node device and said target node device in said network. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein said determining comprises determining a current communication status of a group of target node devices, and said communicating are performed for each target node device of said group of target node devices. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein said node devices comprise lighting fixtures, and said communicating comprises exchanging control commands for controlling lighting of said lighting fixtures. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein said record is unchanged as a result of communicating via said at least one other node device of said network when said determined current communication status of said target node device indicates non-availability for data exchange via said first communication interface. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein said sleep mode cycle of said target node device is unchanged after said server communicates with said target node device via said at least one other node device of said network selected by said server. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein said sleep mode cycle of said target node device is estimated by said server. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein said sleep mode cycle of said target node device is set by said target node device and communicated to said server. ### Claim 18 A communication arrangement comprising a server and a network of operatively interconnected node devices, each node device of said network comprising a first communication interface and a second communication interface, wherein said first communication interface is arranged for direct uplink and downlink wireless message exchange via a wireless communication system between said server and a node device, and said second communication interface is arranged for inter-node device communication between node devices in said network, wherein said server is arranged for keeping a record of a last communication message successfully exchanged with each node device via said first communication interface, wherein said last communication message excludes a heartbeat message, wherein said server is arranged for: determining, prior to communicating with a target node device, a current communication status of said target node device, wherein said current communication status is based on information in said record of said last communication message successfully exchanged with said target node device via said first communication interface; communicating, with said target node device, via said first communication interface of said target node device, if said determined current communication status of said target node device indicates availability for data exchange via said first communication interface; and communicating, with said target node device, via at least one other node device of said network selected by said server, if said determined current communication status of said target node device indicates non-availability for data exchange via said first communication interface, wherein the record for said target node device comprises a time stamp of the last successfully exchanged communication message, wherein said current communication status of said target node device is determined by said server to be non-availability for data exchange via said first communication interface when said last successfully exchanged communication message with said target node device is exchanged at a point in time prior to a predetermined time period from determining said current communication status by said server, wherein said predetermined time period comprises a sleep mode cycle, known by said server, of said target node device, wherein said at least one other node device is arranged for: receiving, from said server, via said first communication interface, at least one of: a second communication message to be forwarded to said target node device, wherein said second communication message excludes a heartbeat message, and an instruction for requesting transmission of an activation command to said target node device, and transmitting, to said target node device, via said second communication interface at least one of: the second communication message received from said server, and the activation command. ### Claim 19 A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising computer readable program code executed by at least one processor, said computer readable program code arranged for performing a method of communicating between a server and a target node device operating in a network of operatively interconnected node devices, each node device comprising a first communication interface and a second communication interface, wherein said first communication interface is arranged for direct uplink and downlink wireless message exchange via a wireless communication system between said server and a node device, and said second communication interface is arranged for inter-node device communication between node devices in said network, wherein said server is arranged for keeping a record of a last communication message successfully exchanged with each node device via said first communication interface, and wherein said last communication message excludes a heartbeat message, said method comprising: determining, prior to communicating with said target node device, a current communication status of said target node device, wherein said current communication status is based on information in said record of said last communication message successfully exchanged with said target node device via said first communication interface; communicating, using said server with said target node device, via said first communication interface of said target node device, if said determined current communication status of said target node device indicates availability for data exchange via said first communication interface; and communicating, using said server, with said target node device, via at least one other node device of said network selected by said server, if said determined current communication status of said target node device indicates non-availability for data exchange via said first communication interface, wherein said record for said target node device comprises a time stamp of said last successfully exchanged communication message, wherein said current communication status of said target node device is determined by said server to be non-availability for data exchange via said first communication interface when said last successfully exchanged communication message with said target node device is exchanged at a point in time prior to a predetermined time period from determining said current communication status by said server, and wherein said predetermined time period comprises a sleep mode cycle, known by said server, of said target node device.