Improved zoning configuration in a mesh network

Abstract

A wireless mesh network comprises a controller and a plurality of wireless networked devices arranged to transmit messages to and receive messages from the controller. The plurality of devices are arranged in zones, such that a device that is arranged to communicate directly with the controller is designated a “Zone 1” device and a device that is arranged to communicate with the controller via a “Zone 1” device is designated a “Zone 2” device. One or more or each of the plurality of devices periodically sends a positioning message to the controller to determine its zone and if it can communicate directly with the controller it determines that it is a “Zone 1” device and if it cannot communicate directly with the controller, but it can communicate with the controller via a “Zone 1” device and therefore arranged to do so, it determines that it is a “Zone 2” device.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.