US 7,529,217 B2Granted

Low-power autonomous node for mesh communication network

AssigneeDust Networks, Inc.

InventorsKristofer S. J. Pister, Yuri S. Zats, Rob Conant, Noah Treuhaft

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

In a packet communication network, a method and apparatus for packet switched transport is provided among intelligent nodes wherein the duty cycling of the intelligent nodes is minimized in order to maximize power life using a synchronization algorithm that assures all nodes are able to propagate information through the network without undue use of transmission and reception power. Frequency hopping time-division multiple access supports packet communication between intelligent nodes via assigned directed links, each link being assigned to a time-channel offset (cell) in a superframe, so that a link carrying a packet string between any two intelligent nodes is active only during its assigned time slot. The result is efficient use of spectrum and minimal expenditure of power.

Claims10

Dependent claims

In a multi-hop packet-switched communication network, a method for routing packets comprising:

providing at least a first intelligent node and a second intelligent node, said first intelligent node and said second intelligent node serving as intelligent nodes in said packet communication network and each said first intelligent node and said second intelligent node having independent intelligence for storing and redirecting units of communication traffic;
providing at least one digraph, each said digraph being expressed as routing information for directional links at each intelligent node in the network, including at least a first intelligent node having a plurality of outgoing directional links from said first intelligent node to a second intelligent node, wherein each directed link in said digraph is specific to a time slot in a time-frequency space;
generating a plurality of packets, each of said packets having a header;
wherein, at each said individual intelligent node that is operative to receive a packet, determining:
a) whether the packet is intended for said individual intelligent node;
and
b) whether the packet is of interest to said individual intelligent node;
directing, via said routing information at each said intelligent node, said packets to flow between selected ones of said intelligent nodes according to one of said digraphs in accordance with a synchronized time and frequency communication plan;
otherwise
turning off transmission and receiving elements of said intelligent nodes to minimize power consumption when not receiving and directing said packets.

7 more elements

In a multi-hop packet-switched communication network, a method for routing packets comprising:

providing at least a first intelligent node and a second intelligent node, said first intelligent node and said second intelligent node serving as intelligent nodes in said packet communication network and each said first intelligent node and said second intelligent node having independent intelligence for storing and redirecting units of communication traffic;
providing at least one digraph, each said digraph being expressed as routing information for directional links at each intelligent node in the network, including at least a first intelligent node having a plurality of outgoing directional links from said first intelligent node to a second intelligent node;
generating a plurality of packets, each of said packets having a header;
wherein at least one said packet is assigned to a position in a selected time slot of fixed duration that is substantially longer in duration than any packet, wherein all said time slots are assembled into a superframe consisting of a variable number of said time slots;
and wherein each one of said time slots is assigned to a selected frequency channel;
directing, via said routing information at each said intelligent node, said packets to flow between selected ones of said intelligent nodes according to one of said digraphs in accordance with a synchronized time and frequency communication plan;
otherwise
turning off transmission and receiving elements of said intelligent nodes to minimize power consumption when not receiving and directing said packets.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 10/960,709Filed 6 Oct 2004 · continuation in part
Priority: 27 Mar 2004
Published: US 2006/0029060 A19 Feb 2006
Granted: 5 May 2009
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification6 codes

H04W 40/02
Communication routing or communication path finding: communication route or path selection, e.g. power-based or shortest path routing
H04W 52/0222
Managed by the network, e.g. network or access point is leader and terminal is follower: in packet switched networks
H04W 84/18
Network topologies: self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
Y02D 30/70
Reducing energy consumption in communication networks: in wireless communication networks

Family

Application60/557,148Us provisional application · filed 27 Mar 2004
Application10/914,056Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 5 Aug 2004
US 2006/0029061 A1Pre-grant publication · published 9 Feb 2006
US 2006/0029060 A1Published application
US 8,194,655 B2Related patent
US 7,529,217 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.