Overlaying receive schedules for energy-constrained devices in channel-hopping networks

An apparatus, comprising:

• one or more network interfaces that communicate with a frequency-hopping communication network as a second device;
• a processor coupled to the one or more network interfaces and configured to execute a process;
• and
• a memory configured to store program instructions which contain the process executable by the processor, the process comprising:
• determining a time at which a first device in the network is expected to transmit a data message;
• generating a first schedule based on the determined time the first device is expected to transmit the data message, the first schedule defining a first timeslot during which the second device in the network listens for the data message;
• and
• overlaying the first schedule on a frequency-hopping schedule for the second device,
• wherein
• the frequency-hopping schedule defines a plurality of second timeslots during which the second device listens for data messages from other devices in the network, and a duration of the first timeslot is greater than respective durations of the plurality of second timeslots.

A tangible non-transitory computer readable medium storing program instructions that cause a computer to execute a process, the process comprising:

• determining a time at which a first device in a frequency-hopping communication network is expected to transmit a data message;
• generating a first schedule based on the determined time the first device is expected to transmit the data message, the first schedule defining a first timeslot during which a second device in the network listens for the data message;
• overlaying the first schedule on a frequency-hopping schedule for the second device, wherein
• the frequency-hopping schedule defines a plurality of second timeslots during which the second device listens for data messages from other devices in the network, and a duration of the first timeslot is greater than respective durations of the plurality of second timeslots;
• and
• setting the duration of the first timeslot based on a predetermined maximum amount of retransmissions necessary for the second device to receive the data message.