Routing Packets on a Network Using Directed Graphs

A method of routing a data packet between a first node and a second node on a communication network, the method comprising:

• establishing a plurality of direct connections, wherein each of the plurality of direct connections connects a pair of nodes of the communication network;
• defining a first graph, including associating a plurality of nodes with the first graph, wherein each of the plurality of nodes belongs to the communication network;
• assigning a unique graph identifier to the first graph;
• providing partial definitions of the first graph and the first graph identifier to at least some of the plurality of nodes associated with the first graph;
• determining a type of data associated with a payload of the data packet;
• sending the data packet from the first node;
• if the data associated with the payload of the data packet is determined to be of a first type:
• sending the graph identifier with the data packet;
• directing the data packet to the second node via an intermediate node, including forwarding the data packet to a neighbor node of the intermediate node, wherein the intermediate node and the neighbor nodes are nodes associated with the first graph and wherein the intermediate node and the neighbor node are connected by at least one of the plurality of direct connections;
• and
• if the data associated with the payload of the data packet is determined to be of a second type:
• not sending the graph identifier with the data packet.

A method of routing data in a multi-node wireless network operating in a process control environment and having a plurality of direct wireless connections between a plurality of network devices, wherein each of the plurality of network devices is a node of the multi-node wireless network, the method comprising:

• attaching graph identifiers to data packets of a first type at originating network devices to send the data packets of the first type between pairs of the plurality of network devices;
• routing the data packets of the first type at intermediate network devices using the graph identifiers, wherein each of the graph identifiers corresponds to one of a plurality of graphs, each of the plurality of graphs associated with two or more of the plurality of nodes and one or more of the plurality of direct wireless connections;
• wherein at least two of the plurality of graphs differ in at least one node associated with the respective graph;
• and
• routing data packets of a second type at intermediate network devices based on information other than graph identifiers.