# US 2018/0324609 A1 · Intelligent sequencing of multiple wireless nodes for transfer between wireless mesh networks in a process control system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2018/0324609 A1 - Document ID: US20180324609A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/585,381 - Filed: 2017-05-03 - Published: 2018-11-08 - Earliest claimed: 2017-05-03 - Assignees: Fisher-Rosemount Systems, Inc. - Applicants: Fisher-Rosemount Systems, Inc. - Inventors: Wynn Gervacio Diancin - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180324609A1 ## CPC - H04W 24/04: Arrangements for maintaining operational condition - H04L 47/83: based on usage prediction - H04W 84/18: Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks - H04W 92/20: between access points - 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 method of sequencing a logical transfer of wireless nodes between wireless mesh networks includes iteratively evaluating each wireless node in a first set of wireless nodes to be transferred. Each evaluation includes a predictive analysis of a source wireless mesh network which tests communications between the gateway of the source wireless mesh network and each of the remaining wireless nodes, and a predictive analysis of the wireless node under evaluation in a destination wireless mesh network which tests communications between the gateway of the destination wireless mesh network and the wireless node under evaluation. The wireless node under evaluation is appended to a second set of wireless nodes to be transferred in response to the first predictive analysis of the source mesh network, and the predictive analysis of the wireless node under evaluation. The wireless nodes are structured in the second set in order of priority of transfer. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of sequencing a logical transfer of multiple wireless nodes between multiple wireless mesh networks, each wireless mesh network comprising a gateway and a plurality of wireless nodes organized in a mesh topology in communication with the gateway, the method comprising: iteratively evaluating each wireless node in a first set of wireless nodes to be transferred beginning with the first wireless node in the first set, each evaluation comprising: a first predictive analysis of a source wireless mesh network from which the wireless node is transferred, the first predictive analysis of the source wireless mesh network adapted to test communications between the gateway of the source wireless mesh network without the wireless node under evaluation and each of the remaining wireless nodes within the source wireless mesh network, and identify ones of the remaining wireless nodes that are unable to communicate with the gateway of the source wireless mesh network, a predictive analysis of the wireless node under evaluation in a destination wireless mesh network to which the wireless node under evaluation is transferred, the predictive analysis of the wireless node under evaluation adapted to test communications between the gateway of the destination wireless mesh network and the wireless node under evaluation, and without wireless nodes to be transferred out of the destination wireless mesh network, and appending a second set of wireless nodes to be transferred between wireless mesh networks with the wireless node under evaluation in response to the first predictive analysis of the source mesh network, and the predictive analysis of the wireless node under evaluation, the wireless nodes to be transferred being structured in the second set in order of priority of transfer. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first set comprises a plurality of proper subsets of one or more wireless nodes, the one or more wireless nodes in each of the plurality of proper subsets being in communication with a common gateway and structured therein according to a hop count of a wireless connection with the gateway, and the plurality of proper subsets structured in the first set according to the wireless node having the highest hop count in each proper subset. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, further comprising removing the wireless node under evaluation from the first set in response to the first predictive analysis of the source wireless mesh network and the predictive analysis of the wireless node under evaluation before the next iteration. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein each subsequent iteration comprises the evaluation of the first wireless node in the next proper subset within the first set. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein appending the second set of wireless nodes to be transferred between wireless mesh networks with the wireless node under evaluation in response to the first predictive analysis of the source wireless mesh network comprises appending the second set of wireless nodes in response to all remaining wireless nodes are able to communicate with the gateway of the source wireless mesh network from the first predictive analysis of the source mesh network. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein appending the second set of wireless nodes to be transferred between wireless mesh networks with the wireless node under evaluation in response to the predictive analysis of the wireless node under evaluation comprises appending the second set of wireless nodes in response to the wireless node under evaluation being able to communicate with the gateway of the destination wireless mesh network from the predictive analysis of the wireless node under evaluation. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising evaluating a wireless node for a blind transfer to the destination network in response to: (1) at least one remaining wireless node being unable to communicate with the gateway of the source wireless mesh network from the first predictive analysis of the source mesh network, or (2) the wireless node under evaluation is unable to communicate with the gateway of the destination wireless mesh network from the predictive analysis of the wireless node under evaluation, the blind transfer evaluation comprising: structuring the first set of wireless nodes to be transferred into a third set of wireless nodes to be transferred from highest to lowest hop count; and iteratively evaluating each wireless node in the third set beginning with the first wireless node in the third set until the evaluation identifies a wireless node that allows the remaining wireless nodes in the source wireless mesh network to communicate with the gateway of the source wireless mesh network, each evaluation comprising: a second predictive analysis of the source wireless mesh network, the second predictive analysis of the source wireless mesh network adapted to test communications between the gateway of the source wireless mesh network without the wireless node under blind transfer evaluation and each of the remaining wireless nodes within the source wireless mesh network, and identify ones of the remaining wireless nodes that are unable to communicate with the gateway of the source wireless mesh network, and appending the second set with an identify wireless node under evaluation from the third set in response to identifying a wireless node from the second predictive analysis that allows the remaining wireless nodes in the source wireless mesh network to communicate with the gateway of the source wireless mesh network. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein evaluating a wireless node for a blind transfer to the destination network comprises evaluating a wireless node for a blind transfer to the destination network in response to: (3) each of the wireless nodes in the first set having been evaluated using the first predictive analysis of the source mesh network the predictive analysis of the wireless node under evaluation. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein evaluating a wireless node for a blind transfer to the destination network comprises evaluating a wireless node for a blind transfer to the destination network in response to: (3) the wireless node under evaluation having been evaluated using the predictive analysis of the wireless node under evaluation and the predictive analysis of the wireless node under evaluation in a threshold number of iterations. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising including the wireless node under evaluation in the destination wireless mesh network for subsequent predictive analyses in response to the first predictive analysis of the source mesh network, and the predictive analysis of the wireless node under evaluation before the next iteration. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising logically and individually transferring each of the plurality of wireless nodes to be transferred in the order of priority of transfer in the second set in response to a command from the gateway of the source wireless mesh network. ### Claim 12 A method of sequencing a logical transfer of multiple wireless nodes between multiple wireless mesh networks, each wireless mesh network comprising a gateway and a plurality of wireless nodes organized in a mesh topology in communication with the gateway, the method comprising: iteratively evaluating each wireless node in a first set of wireless nodes to be transferred beginning with the first wireless node in the first set, each evaluation comprising: a first predictive analysis of a source wireless mesh network from which the wireless node is transferred, the first predictive analysis of the source wireless mesh network adapted to test communications between the gateway of the source wireless mesh network without the wireless node under evaluation and each of the remaining wireless nodes within the source wireless mesh network, and identify ones of the remaining wireless nodes that are unable to communicate with the gateway of the source wireless mesh network, and appending a second set of wireless nodes to be transferred between wireless mesh networks with the wireless node under evaluation in response to the first predictive analysis of the source mesh network, the wireless nodes to be transferred being structured in the second set in order of priority of transfer. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first set comprises a plurality of proper subsets of one or more wireless nodes, the one or more wireless nodes in each of the plurality of proper subsets being in communication with a common gateway and structured therein according to a hop count of a wireless connection with the gateway, and the plurality of proper subsets structured in the first set according to the wireless node having the highest hop count in each proper subset. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, further comprising removing the wireless node under evaluation from the first set in response to the first predictive analysis of the source wireless mesh network. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein each subsequent iteration comprises the evaluation of the first wireless node in the next proper subset within the first set. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein appending the second set of wireless nodes to be transferred between wireless mesh networks with the wireless node under evaluation in response to the first predictive analysis of the source wireless mesh network comprises appending the second set of wireless nodes in response to all remaining wireless nodes are able to communicate with the gateway of the source wireless mesh network from the first predictive analysis of the source mesh network. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further comprising evaluating a wireless node for a blind transfer to the destination network in response to at least one remaining wireless node being unable to communicate with the gateway of the source wireless mesh network from the first predictive analysis of the source mesh network, the blind transfer evaluation comprising: structuring the first set of wireless nodes to be transferred into a third set of wireless nodes to be transferred from highest to lowest hop count; and iteratively evaluating each wireless node in the third set beginning with the first wireless node in the third set until the evaluation identifies a wireless node that allows the remaining wireless nodes in the source wireless mesh network to communicate with the gateway of the source wireless mesh network, each evaluation comprising: a second predictive analysis of the source wireless mesh network, the second predictive analysis of the source wireless mesh network adapted to test communications between the gateway of the source wireless mesh network without the wireless node under blind transfer evaluation and each of the remaining wireless nodes within the source wireless mesh network, and identify ones of the remaining wireless nodes that are unable to communicate with the gateway of the source wireless mesh network, and appending the second set with an identify wireless node under evaluation from the third set in response to identifying a wireless node from the second predictive analysis that allows the remaining wireless nodes in the source wireless mesh network to communicate with the gateway of the source wireless mesh network. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein evaluating a wireless node for a blind transfer to the destination network comprises evaluating a wireless node for a blind transfer to the destination network in response to: (3) each of the wireless nodes in the first set having been evaluated using the first predictive analysis of the source mesh network in a threshold number of iterations. ### Claim 19 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further comprising including the wireless node under evaluation in the destination wireless mesh network for subsequent predictive analyses in response to the first predictive analysis of the source mesh network. ### Claim 20 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further comprising logically and individually transferring each of the plurality of wireless nodes to be transferred in the order of priority of transfer in the second set in response to a command from the gateway of the source wireless mesh network. ### Claim 21 A method of sequencing a logical transfer of multiple wireless nodes between multiple wireless mesh networks, each wireless mesh network comprising a gateway and a plurality of wireless nodes organized in a mesh topology in communication with the gateway, the method comprising: iteratively evaluating each wireless node in a first set of wireless nodes to be transferred beginning with the first wireless node in the first set, each evaluation comprising: a predictive analysis of the wireless node under evaluation in a destination wireless mesh network to which the wireless node under evaluation is transferred, the predictive analysis of the wireless node under evaluation adapted to test communications between the gateway of the destination wireless mesh network and the wireless node under evaluation, and without wireless nodes to be transferred out of the destination wireless mesh network, and appending a second set of wireless nodes to be transferred between wireless mesh networks with the wireless node under evaluation in response to the first predictive analysis of the source mesh network, and the predictive analysis of the wireless node under evaluation, the wireless nodes to be transferred being structured in the second set in order of priority of transfer. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, wherein the first set comprises a plurality of proper subsets of one or more wireless nodes, the one or more wireless nodes in each of the plurality of proper subsets being in communication with a common gateway and structured therein according to a hop count of a wireless connection with the gateway, and the plurality of proper subsets structured in the first set according to the wireless node having the highest hop count in each proper subset. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The method of claim 22, further comprising removing the wireless node under evaluation from the first set in response to the predictive analysis of the wireless node under evaluation before the next iteration. ### Claim 24 (depends on 22) The method of claim 22, wherein each subsequent iteration comprises the evaluation of the first wireless node in the next proper subset within the first set. ### Claim 25 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, wherein appending the second set of wireless nodes to be transferred between wireless mesh networks with the wireless node under evaluation in response to the predictive analysis of the wireless node under evaluation comprises appending the second set of wireless nodes in response to the wireless node under evaluation being able to communicate with the gateway of the destination wireless mesh network from the predictive analysis of the wireless node under evaluation. ### Claim 26 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, further comprising evaluating a wireless node for a blind transfer to the destination network in response to the wireless node under evaluation is unable to communicate with the gateway of the destination wireless mesh network from the predictive analysis of the wireless node under evaluation, the blind transfer evaluation comprising: structuring the first set of wireless nodes to be transferred into a third set of wireless nodes to be transferred from highest to lowest hop count; and iteratively evaluating each wireless node in the third set beginning with the first wireless node in the third set until the evaluation identifies a wireless node that allows the remaining wireless nodes in the source wireless mesh network to communicate with the gateway of the source wireless mesh network, each evaluation comprising: a predictive analysis of the source wireless mesh network, the predictive analysis of the source wireless mesh network adapted to test communications between the gateway of the source wireless mesh network without the wireless node under blind transfer evaluation and each of the remaining wireless nodes within the source wireless mesh network, and identify ones of the remaining wireless nodes that are unable to communicate with the gateway of the source wireless mesh network, and appending the second set with an identify wireless node under evaluation from the third set in response to identifying a wireless node from the predictive analysis of the source wireless mesh network that allows the remaining wireless nodes in the source wireless mesh network to communicate with the gateway of the source wireless mesh network. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The method of claim 26, wherein evaluating a wireless node for a blind transfer to the destination network comprises evaluating a wireless node for a blind transfer to the destination network in response to: (3) the wireless node under evaluation having been evaluated using the predictive analysis of the wireless node under evaluation in a threshold number of iterations. ### Claim 28 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, further comprising including the wireless node under evaluation in the destination wireless mesh network for subsequent predictive analyses in response to the predictive analysis of the wireless node under evaluation before the next iteration. ### Claim 29 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, further comprising logically and individually transferring each of the plurality of wireless nodes to be transferred in the order of priority of transfer in the second set in response to a command from the gateway of the source wireless mesh network. ### Claim 30 A process control system comprising: a plurality of wireless mesh networks, each mesh network having a gateway and a plurality of wireless nodes communicatively coupled to the gateway; a network manager communicatively coupled to each gateway and adapted to iteratively evaluate each wireless node in a first set of wireless nodes to be transferred beginning with the first wireless node in the first set, each evaluation comprising: a first predictive analysis of a source wireless mesh network from which the wireless node is transferred, the first predictive analysis of the source wireless mesh network adapted to test communications between the gateway of the source wireless mesh network without the wireless node under evaluation and each of the remaining wireless nodes within the source wireless mesh network, and identify ones of the remaining wireless nodes that are unable to communicate with the gateway of the source wireless mesh network, a predictive analysis of the wireless node under evaluation in a destination wireless mesh network to which the wireless node under evaluation is transferred, the predictive analysis of the wireless node under evaluation adapted to test communications between the gateway of the destination wireless mesh network and the wireless node under evaluation, and without wireless nodes to be transferred out of the destination wireless mesh network, and appending a second set of wireless nodes to be transferred between wireless mesh networks with the wireless node under evaluation in response to the first predictive analysis of the source mesh network, and the predictive analysis of the wireless node under evaluation, the wireless nodes to be transferred being structured in the second set in order of priority of transfer. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) The process control system of claim 30, wherein the first set comprises a plurality of proper subsets of one or more wireless nodes, the one or more wireless nodes in each of the plurality of proper subsets being in communication with a common gateway and structured therein according to a hop count of a wireless connection with the gateway, and the plurality of proper subsets structured in the first set according to the wireless node having the highest hop count in each proper subset. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) The process control system of claim 31, wherein the evaluation further comprises removing the wireless node under evaluation from the first set in response to the first predictive analysis of the source wireless mesh network and the predictive analysis of the wireless node under evaluation before the next iteration. ### Claim 33 (depends on 31) The process control system of claim 31, wherein each subsequent iteration comprises the evaluation of the first wireless node in the next proper subset within the first set. ### Claim 34 (depends on 30) The process control system of claim 30, wherein appending the second set of wireless nodes to be transferred between wireless mesh networks with the wireless node under evaluation in response to the first predictive analysis of the source wireless mesh network comprises appending the second set of wireless nodes in response to all remaining wireless nodes are able to communicate with the gateway of the source wireless mesh network from the first predictive analysis of the source mesh network. ### Claim 35 (depends on 30) The process control system of claim 30, wherein appending the second set of wireless nodes to be transferred between wireless mesh networks with the wireless node under evaluation in response to the predictive analysis of the wireless node under evaluation comprises appending the second set of wireless nodes in response to the wireless node under evaluation being able to communicate with the gateway of the destination wireless mesh network from the predictive analysis of the wireless node under evaluation. ### Claim 36 (depends on 30) The process control system of claim 30, wherein the network manager is adapted to evaluate a wireless node for a blind transfer to the destination network in response to: (1) at least one remaining wireless node being unable to communicate with the gateway of the source wireless mesh network from the first predictive analysis of the source mesh network, or (2) the wireless node under evaluation is unable to communicate with the gateway of the destination wireless mesh network from the predictive analysis of the wireless node under evaluation, the blind transfer evaluation comprising: structuring the first set of wireless nodes to be transferred into a third set of wireless nodes to be transferred from highest to lowest hop count; and iteratively evaluating each wireless node in the third set beginning with the first wireless node in the third set until the evaluation identifies a wireless node that allows the remaining wireless nodes in the source wireless mesh network to communicate with the gateway of the source wireless mesh network, each evaluation comprising: a second predictive analysis of the source wireless mesh network, the second predictive analysis of the source wireless mesh network adapted to test communications between the gateway of the source wireless mesh network without the wireless node under blind transfer evaluation and each of the remaining wireless nodes within the source wireless mesh network, and identify ones of the remaining wireless nodes that are unable to communicate with the gateway of the source wireless mesh network, and appending the second set with an identify wireless node under evaluation from the third set in response to identifying a wireless node from the second predictive analysis that allows the remaining wireless nodes in the source wireless mesh network to communicate with the gateway of the source wireless mesh network. ### Claim 37 (depends on 36) The process control system of claim 36, wherein the network manager is adapted to evaluate a wireless node for a blind transfer to the destination network in response to: (3) each of the wireless nodes in the first set having been evaluated using the first predictive analysis of the source mesh network the predictive analysis of the wireless node under evaluation. ### Claim 38 (depends on 36) The process control system of claim 36, wherein the network manager is adapted to evaluate a wireless node for a blind transfer to the destination network in response to: (3) the wireless node under evaluation having been evaluated using the predictive analysis of the wireless node under evaluation and the predictive analysis of the wireless node under evaluation in a threshold number of iterations. ### Claim 39 (depends on 30) The process control system of claim 30, wherein the evaluation further comprises including the wireless node under evaluation in the destination wireless mesh network for subsequent predictive analyses in response to the first predictive analysis of the source mesh network, and the predictive analysis of the wireless node under evaluation before the next iteration. ### Claim 40 (depends on 30) The process control system of claim 30, wherein the network manager is adapted to logically and individually transfer each of the plurality of wireless nodes to be transferred in the order of priority of transfer in the second set in response to a command from the gateway of the source wireless mesh network.