Forming a time synchronized channel hopping network using guaranteed time slots

A method for forming a time-slotted channel hopping (“TSCH”) network comprising:

• determining a first guaranteed time slot in a first occurrence of a hopping pattern is unassigned to any TSCH node of a plurality of TSCH nodes in the TSCH network;
• transmitting a beacon during the first guaranteed time slot in the first occurrence of the hopping pattern;
• receiving a signal from a TSCH node outside the TSCH network that requests joinder to the TSCH network;
• joining the TSCH node requesting joinder to the TSCH network as a joined TSCH node;
• assigning a second guaranteed time slot to the joined TSCH node;
• determining the second guaranteed time slot in a second occurrence of the hopping pattern is assigned to the joined TSCH node, the second occurrence of the hopping pattern occurring subsequent to the first occurrence of the hopping pattern;
• and
• listening for communication from the joined TSCH node during the second guaranteed time slot in the second occurrence of the hopping pattern.

A system comprising:

• one or more time-slotted channel hopping (“TSCH”) nodes communicatively coupleable to each other in a TSCH network;
• and
• a network coordinator comprising:
• a processing device;
• and
• a non-transitory computer-readable medium on which instructions are stored for causing the processing device to:
• determine a first guaranteed time slot in a first occurrence of a hopping pattern is unassigned to any TSCH node of the one or more TSCH nodes in the TSCH network;
• transmit a beacon during the first guaranteed time slot in the first occurrence of the hopping pattern;
• receive a signal from a TSCH node outside the TSCH network that requests joinder to the TSCH network;
• join the TSCH node requesting joinder to the TSCH network as a joined TSCH node;
• assign a second guaranteed time slot to the joined TSCH node;
• determine the second guaranteed time slot in a second occurrence of the hopping pattern is assigned to the joined TSCH node, the second occurrence of the hopping pattern occurring subsequent to the first occurrence of the hopping pattern;
• and
• listen for communication from the joined TSCH node during the second guaranteed time slot in the second occurrence of the hopping pattern.