Redirecting traffic via tunnels to discovered data aggregators

A method, comprising:

• generating a data aggregator discovery (DAD) message by a data aggregator in a directed acyclic graph (DAG) of a computer network, the DAD message identifying the data aggregator and configured to carry a recorded route taken from the data aggregator to corresponding receiving nodes as well as a total path cost including at least one hop for the corresponding receiving node to reach a root node of the DAG through the recorded route and via the data aggregator;
• distributing the DAD message into the computer network without regard to the DAG;
• receiving redirected traffic from one or more of the corresponding receiving nodes, the received redirected traffic being source-routed traffic according to the recorded route in the DAD message;
• and
• aggregating the redirected traffic.

An apparatus, comprising:

• one or more network interfaces to communicate within a directed acyclic graph (DAG) in a computer network;
• a processor coupled to the network interfaces and adapted to execute one or more processes;
• and
• a memory configured to store a process executable by the processor, the process when executed operable to:
• generate a data aggregator discovery (DAD) message in a directed acyclic graph (DAG) of a computer network, the DAD message identifying the apparatus as a data aggregator and configured to carry a recorded route taken from the apparatus to corresponding receiving nodes as well as a total path cost including at least one hop for the corresponding receiving node to reach a root node of the DAG through the recorded route and via the apparatus as the data aggregator;
• distribute the DAD message into the computer network without regard to the DAG;
• receive redirected traffic from one or more of the corresponding receiving nodes, the received redirected traffic being source-routed traffic according to the recorded route in the DAD message;
• and
• aggregate the redirected traffic.

A method, comprising:

• determining a location of one or more data aggregators in a directed acyclic graph (DAG) of nodes in a computer network;
• establishing one or more reporting groups based on the location of the one or more data aggregators in the DAG, the reporting groups each associated with an exclusive time at which nodes of the reporting groups are configured to redirect traffic, each reporting group based locally on a corresponding data aggregator;
• and
• assigning nodes within the DAG to an associated reporting group, the nodes configured to redirect traffic to a root node of the DAG via the corresponding data aggregator of the reporting group;
• and
• notifying the assigned nodes and data aggregators of their associated reporting group.

An apparatus, comprising:

• one or more network interfaces to communicate within a directed acyclic graph (DAG) in a computer network;
• a processor coupled to the network interfaces and adapted to execute one or more processes;
• and
• a memory configured to store a process executable by the processor, the process when executed operable to:
• determine a location of one or more data aggregators in a directed acyclic graph (DAG) of nodes in a computer network;
• establish one or more reporting groups based on the location of the one or more data aggregators in the DAG, the reporting groups each associated with an exclusive time at which nodes of the reporting groups are configured to redirect traffic, each reporting group based locally on a corresponding data aggregator;
• and
• assign nodes within the DAG to an associated reporting group, the nodes configured to redirect traffic to a root node of the DAG via the corresponding data aggregator of the reporting group;
• and
• notify the assigned nodes and data aggregators of their associated reporting group.