System and method for using a device to operate on multiple networks
AssigneeSilicon Laboratories Inc.
InventorMaurizio Nanni
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system and method whereby a device may operate on two IEEE802.15.4 networks is disclosed. In one embodiment, the multi-network device comprises exactly one radio portion, a processing unit and a computer readable medium, in communication with the processing unit The computer read medium comprises instructions which, when executed, allow the device to share the radio portion among a plurality of IEEE802.15.4 networks. In a further embodiment, the multi-network device acts as a sleepy end device on one of the IEEE802.15.4 networks in which it participates. In another embodiment, it may operate as a coordinator node on one of the plurality of IEEE802.15.4 networks.
Claims16
A device, comprising:
- exactly one radio portion, wherein the radio portion comprises:
- an antenna;
- a radio circuit;
- protocol interfacing and processing circuitry;
- and
- one or more configuration registers;
- a processing unit;
- and
- a non-transitory computer readable medium, in communication with the processing unit, comprising instructions which, when executed, allow the device to share the radio portion among a first IEEE802.15.4 network and a second IEEE802.15.4 network by:
- configuring the radio portion to operate as a parent node on the second IEEE802.15.4 network;
- setting a timer to a predetermined value;
- and
- upon expiration of the timer, reconfiguring the radio portion to operate as a sleepy end device on the first IEEE802.15.4 network, wherein the device performs a function as a sleepy end device, and
- configuring the radio portion to operate on the second IEEE802.15.4 network after the function is performed, and
- wherein each time the timer expires, the radio portion is reconfigured to operate as a sleepy end device on the first IEEE802.15.4 network.
A method of using a device to operate on two different IEEE802.15.4 networks, comprising:
- configuring a radio portion of said device to operate as a parent node on a second IEEE802.15.4 network;
- configuring said radio portion of said device to operate as a sleepy end device on a first IEEE802.15.4 network after an expiration of a timer;
- polling a parent node of the first IEEE802.15.4 network;
- retrieving a communication from the parent node of the first IEEE802.15.4 network if a communication is determined to be available based on the polling;
- and
- reconfiguring said radio portion of said device to operate on the second IEEE802.15.4 network after the polling and retrieving steps,
- wherein the radio portion comprises:
- an antenna;
- a radio circuit;
- protocol interfacing and processing circuitry;
- and
- one or more configuration registers.
A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions allowing a device, having a radio portion, to operate as a parent node on a Zigbee HA network and as a sleepy end device on a Zigbee SE network, wherein, said instructions, when executed:
- configure said radio portion of said device to operate as a parent node on the Zigbee HA network;
- set a timer to a predetermined value;
- configure said radio portion of said device to operate on the Zigbee SE network after expiration of the timer;
- poll a parent node of the Zigbee SE network;
- retrieve a communication from the parent node of the Zigbee SE network if a communication is determined to be available based on the polling;
- and
- reconfigure said radio portion of said device to operate as a parent node on the Zigbee HA network after the polling and retrieving steps,
- wherein the radio portion comprises:
- an antenna;
- a radio circuit;
- protocol interfacing and processing circuitry;
- and
- one or more configuration registers.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.