Methods For Limiting Number Of Routers In A Mesh Network
AssigneeSilicon Laboratories Inc.
InventorRichard Kelsey
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Abstract
In some cases, it may be desirable to limit the number of routers in a mesh network. Various techniques to limit the number of routers, without affecting connectivity, are disclosed. In some embodiments, a node enables its router capability if there are less than a predetermined number of routers already in the network. In other embodiments, a node enables its routing capability only is it is necessary to resolve a connectivity issue or a biconnectivity issue. In some cases, a node, which previously enabled its router capability, may no longer be required to be a router. In some embodiments, this node, upon making this determination, disables its routing capability.
Claims18
A method of limiting the number of routers in a mesh network, said mesh network comprising a plurality of nodes, each node comprising a processing unit and a network interface, said method comprising:
- determining, by a node of said plurality of nodes, a number of routers currently in said mesh network;
- enabling routing capability of said node if a number of routers currently in said mesh network is less than a predetermined threshold;
- monitoring network traffic, using said network interface, to identify a connectivity issue, if said number of routers is not less than said predetermined threshold;
- and
- enabling routing capability of said node if said connectivity issue is detected and said node can resolve said connectivity issue.
A method of creating a mesh network having biconnectivity, said mesh network comprising a plurality of nodes, said method executed by each node, comprising:
- monitoring network traffic to determine neighbors of a node;
- querying each of said neighbors to determine neighbors of said neighbors;
- determining that at least one of said neighbors is part of a first group and at least a second of said neighbors is part of a second group, where there are no nodes common to said first group and said second group;
- and
- sending a request from said node to find another node which is in communication with said first group and said second group.
A method of limiting the number of routers in a mesh network, said mesh network comprising a plurality of nodes, each node comprising a processing unit and a network interface, said method comprising:
- monitoring, at a node of said plurality of nodes, network traffic using said network interface;
- identifying, by said node, a connectivity issue;
- and
- enabling routing capability of said node if said node can resolve said connectivity issue.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.