Establishing a Mesh Network

A wireless node in a wireless mesh network, wherein the wireless node comprises:

• wireless communication circuitry, configured to perform wireless communication in the wireless mesh network;
• and
• processing hardware coupled the wireless communication circuitry, wherein the processing hardware is configured to operate with the wireless communication circuitry to:
• receive a first plurality of wireless messages from a first set of nodes in the wireless mesh network, wherein the wireless node is a neighboring node to the first set of nodes in the wireless mesh network, wherein each wireless message comprises hop count information of the respective node broadcasting the respective wireless message;
• in response to the first plurality of wireless messages, store hop count information for the wireless node, wherein the hop count information for the wireless node indicates a greater hop count than the hop count indicated in the hop count information of at least one of the first plurality of wireless messages;
• in response to the first plurality of wireless messages, broadcast a second wireless message to a second set of nodes in the wireless mesh network, wherein the second wireless message comprises hop count information indicating the hop count of the wireless node;
• wherein the hop count information of the wireless nodes in the wireless mesh network is used to establish routes from nodes to gateways for communications in the wireless mesh network.

A non-transitory, computer accessible memory medium storing program instructions for configuring a node in a wireless mesh network, wherein the program instructions are executable by a processor to:

• receive a first plurality of wireless messages from a first set of nodes in the wireless mesh network, wherein the wireless node is a neighboring node to the first set of nodes in the wireless mesh network, wherein each wireless message comprises hop count information of the respective node broadcasting the respective wireless message;
• in response to the first plurality of wireless messages, store hop count information for the wireless node, wherein the hop count information for the wireless node indicates a greater hop count than the hop count indicated in the hop count information of at least one of the first plurality of wireless messages;
• in response to the first plurality of wireless messages, broadcast a second wireless message to a second set of nodes in the wireless mesh network, wherein the second wireless message comprises hop count information indicating the hop count of the wireless node;
• wherein the hop count information of the wireless nodes in the wireless mesh network is used to establish routes from nodes to gateways for communications in the wireless mesh network.

A method for establishing routing information in a wireless mesh network, the method comprising:

• a wireless node in the wireless mesh network receiving a first plurality of wireless messages from a first set of nodes in the wireless mesh network, wherein the wireless node is a neighboring node to the first set of nodes in the wireless mesh network, wherein each wireless message comprises hop count information of the respective node broadcasting the respective wireless message;
• in response to the first plurality of wireless messages, the wireless node storing hop count information for the wireless node, wherein the hop count information for the wireless node indicates a greater hop count than the hop count indicated in the hop count information of at least one of the first plurality of wireless messages;
• in response to the first plurality of wireless messages, the wireless node broadcasting a second wireless message to a second set of nodes in the wireless mesh network, wherein the second wireless message comprises hop count information indicating the hop count of the wireless node;
• wherein the hop count information of the wireless nodes in the wireless mesh network is used to establish routes from nodes to gateways for communications in the wireless mesh network.