Wireless data networking
AssigneeRaytheon Company
InventorsAnthony Paul Bata, Kenneth Ray Crismon, David Kramer, Randy Lyle Engle
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A meshing network comprising one full function controller (WDC) and a plurality of nodes (WDN, WSN), that is RF quiet capable with very low power consumption and the ability to quickly heal itself and create new network paths. The network uses an addressing scheme that allows for each node to not have a network map but still be able to route messages. A piping scheme allows a mesh to become a high throughput network. A sensor rail protocol definition allows sensor devices to connect to nodes and route messages through the network.
Claims20
In a wireless network comprising a network controller (NC) and a plurality of wireless network nodes (NN) arranged in a hierarchy, from a first group (GR1) which is closest to the NC to a last group (GRn) which is farthest from the NC, a method of operating the network comprising:
- configuring a sync period to have twice a number (2n) of sub-periods as groups (n) of the hierarchy wherein n is at least three;
- providing a sleep mode of operation, wherein the NC does not send out sync messages;
- and
- providing a Network Running mode of operation, wherein the NC sends out sync messages to achieve network synchronization by propagating a sync message through the hierarchy,
- wherein during the network running mode, a sync message is propagated downstream through the hierarchy in a group-by-group manner wherein the NNs of each group except for the last group are configured to receive, modify and retransmit the modified sync messages to a next group of NNs which are downstream in the hierarchy during each successive sub-period of the sync period.
A wireless network comprising a single network controller (NC) and a plurality of network nodes (NNs) arranged in a hierarchy from a first group (GR1) which is closest to the NC to a last group (GRn) which is farthest from the NC, the network configured to implement an addressing scheme that permits the network nodes (NNs) to route messages without a network map, and wherein network timing information is sent out on a sync message,
- wherein the network controller is configured to
- configure a sync period to have twice a number (2n) of sub-periods as groups (n) of the hierarchy wherein n is at least three;
- provide a sleep mode of operation, wherein the NC does not send out sync messages;
- and
- provide a network running mode of operation, wherein the NC sends out sync messages to achieve network synchronization by propagating a sync message through the hierarchy,
- wherein during the network running mode, the sync message is propagated downstream through the hierarchy in a group-by-group manner wherein the NNs of each group except for the last group are configured to receive, modify and retransmit the modified sync messages to a next group of NNs which are downstream in the hierarchy during each successive sub-period of the sync period.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.