Dynamic hopping sequence computation in channel hopping communication networks

A method for dynamically computing a channel hopping sequence in a channel hopping communication network, comprising:

• providing the channel hopping communication work including a plurality of devices that serve as receivers, each device configured to compute the channel hopping sequence;
• determining, by each device of the plurality of devices in the channel hopping communication network, a current neighbor slot of a slot counter and unique neighbor feature for a particular neighbor device;
• computing, by each device of the plurality of devices, a neighbor channel identification (ID) based on a function having inputs of i) the unique neighbor feature, ii) the current neighbor slot, and iii) a set of possible channel IDs, so as to compute the channel hopping sequence;
• and
• configuring, by each device of the plurality of devices, a radio of the device to transmit on the computed neighbor channel ID for the respective current neighbor slot.

An apparatus for dynamically computing a channel hopping sequence in a channel hopping communication network, comprising:

• a processor adapted to execute one or more processes;
• a plurality of transceivers provided in the channel hopping communication network, each transceiver configured to compute the channel hopping sequence;
• each transceiver of the plurality of transceivers configured to communicate in the channel hopping communication network;
• and
• a memory configured to store a process executable by the processor, the process when executed operable to:
• independently maintain a slot counter at each transceiver of the plurality of transceivers;
• compute, by each transceiver of the plurality of transceivers, a channel identification (ID) based on a function having inputs of i) a unique feature of the apparatus, ii) a current slot of the slot counter, and iii) a set of possible channel IDs, so as to compute the channel hopping sequence;
• and
• configure, by each transceiver of the plurality of transceivers, the transceiver to receive on the computed channel ID for the respective current slot.

A tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable medium having software encoded thereon that is configured to dynamically compute a channel hopping sequence in a channel hopping communication network, the software when executed by a processor operable to:

• provide the channel hopping communication network including a plurality of devices that serve as receivers, each device configured to compute the channel hopping sequence;
• independently maintain a slot counter at each device of the plurality of devices in the channel hopping communication network;
• compute, by each device of the plurality of devices, a channel identification (ID) based on a function having inputs of i) a unique feature of the device, ii) a current slot of the slot counter, and iii) a set of possible channel IDs, so as to compute the channel hopping sequence;
• and
• configure, by each device of the plurality of devices, a radio of the device to receive on the computed channel ID for the respective current slot.