# US 2018/0027477 A1 · System and method for mixed-mesh wireless networking > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2018/0027477 A1 - Document ID: US20180027477A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/670,858 - Filed: 2017-08-07 - Published: 2018-01-25 - Earliest claimed: 2010-11-01 - Inventors: Costa Apostolakis - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180027477A1 ## CPC - H04W 40/28: for reactive routing - H04L 69/18: Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols - H04L 45/04: {Interdomain routing, e.g. hierarchical routing} - H04W 24/00: Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements - H04W 84/18: Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract A mixed mesh networking system includes Wi-Fi devices, ZigBee end devices, and a mixed network communications device including a Wi-Fi transceiver and PCB, a ZigBee transceiver and PCB, and an antenna connector. The mixed network communications device communicates with another mixed network communication device via the Wi-Fi transceiver and PCB and the antenna connector, communicates with the plurality of ZigBee end devices via the ZigBee transceiver and PCB and the antenna connector, self-configures as an Internet access point after finding a path to the Internet or scan the another mixed network communication device via WiFi to find the Internet access point, and self-configures as a ZigBee coordinator or a ZigBee gateway after identifying the plurality of ZigBee end devices that are connected to the mixed network communications device via ZigBee communication. The mixed network communications device may be a separate device relative to the plurality of ZigBee end devices. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A mixed mesh networking system, comprising: a plurality of Wi-Fi devices; a plurality of ZigBee end devices; and a mixed network communications device, including: a Wi-Fi transceiver and PCB; a ZigBee transceiver and PCB; and an antenna connector, the mixed network communications device being configured to: communicate with another mixed network communication device via the Wi-Fi transceiver and PCB and the antenna connector; communicate with the plurality of ZigBee end devices via the ZigBee transceiver and PCB and the antenna connector; self-configure as an Internet access point after finding a path to the Internet or scan the another mixed network communication device via WiFi to find the Internet access point; and self-configure as a ZigBee coordinator or a ZigBee gateway after identifying one or more of the plurality of ZigBee end devices that are connected to the mixed network communications device via ZigBee communication, wherein the mixed network communications device is a separate device relative to the plurality of ZigBee end devices. ### Claim 2 (depends on 2) The mixed mesh networking system of claim 2, further comprising a multi-mesh processor configured to integrate both the Wi-Fi transceiver and PCB, and the ZigBee transceiver and PCB. ### Claim 3 (depends on 3) The mixed mesh networking system of claim 3, wherein the Wi-Fi transceiver and PCB is an 802.11 transceiver and PCB. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The mixed mesh networking system of claim 3, wherein the ZigBee transceiver and PCB is an 802.15.4 transceiver and PCB. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The mixed mesh networking system of claim 1, wherein the mixed network communication device is further configured to track a plurality of routes to the Internet and a quality of each of the plurality of routes to the Internet. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The mixed mesh networking system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of ZigBee end devices comprise at least one member of the group consisting of thermostats, switches, meters, and appliances. ### Claim 7 A mixed network communications device, comprising: a Wi-Fi transceiver and PCB; a ZigBee transceiver and PCB configured to communicate with a plurality of ZigBee end devices; and an antenna connector, the mixed network communications device being configured to: communicate with another mixed network communication device via the Wi-Fi transceiver and PCB and the antenna connector; communicate with a plurality of ZigBee end devices via the ZigBee transceiver and PCB and the antenna connector; self-configure as an Internet access point after finding a path to the Internet or scan the another mixed network communications device via WiFi to find the Internet access point; and self-configure as a ZigBee coordinator or a ZigBee gateway after identifying one or more of the plurality of ZigBee end devices that are connected to the mixed network communications device via ZigBee communication, wherein the mixed network communications device a separate device relative to the plurality of ZigBee end devices. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The mixed network communication device of claim 7, further comprising a multi-mesh processor configured to integrate both the Wi-Fi transceiver and PCB, and the ZigBee transceiver and PCB. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The mixed network communication device of claim 8, wherein the Wi-Fi transceiver and PCB is an 802.11 transceiver and PCB. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The mixed network communication device of claim 8, wherein the ZigBee transceiver and PCB is an 802.15.4 transceiver and PCB. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The mixed network communications device of claim 7, wherein the mixed network communication device is further configured to track a plurality of routes to the Internet and a quality of each of the plurality of routes to the Internet. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The mixed network communication device of claim 7, wherein the plurality of ZigBee end devices comprise at least one member of the group consisting of thermostats, switches, meters, and appliances. ### Claim 13 A mixed mesh networking method, comprising providing a plurality of Wi-Fi devices; providing a plurality of ZigBee end devices; and providing a mixed network communications device, including: a Wi-Fi transceiver and PCB to communicate with the plurality of Wi-Fi devices including another mixed network communications device; a ZigBee transceiver and PCB to communicate with the plurality of ZigBee end devices; and an antenna connector, the mixed network communications device self-configuring as an Internet access point after finding a path to the Internet or scan the another mixed network communications device via WiFi to find the Internet access point; the mixed network communications device self-configuring as a ZigBee coordinator or a ZigBee gateway after identifying one or more of the plurality of ZigBee end devices that are connected to the mixed network communications device via ZigBee communication, wherein the mixed network communications device is a separate device relative to the plurality of ZigBee end devices. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The mixed mesh networking method of claim 13, wherein the provided mixed network communications device further comprises a multi-mesh processor configured to integrate both the Wi-Fi transceiver and PCB, and the ZigBee transceiver and PCB. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The mixed mesh networking method of claim 14, wherein the Wi-Fi transceiver and PCB is an 802.11 transceiver and PCB. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The mixed mesh networking method of claim 14, wherein the ZigBee transceiver and PCB is an 802.15.4 transceiver and PCB. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The mixed mesh networking method of claim 13, wherein the plurality of ZigBee end devices comprise at least one member of the group consisting of thermostats, switches, meters, and appliances, and ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The mixed mesh networking method of claim 13, further comprising: the mixed network communication device tracking a plurality of routes to the Internet and a quality of each of the plurality of routes to the Internet.