US 9,439,218 B2 · Multiple appearance protocol for timely organized ad hoc network

Abstract

The present invention comprises a plurality of timely organized ad hoc data communications networks and a method for data communication. A network from the plurality of networks includes media-independent communications links and plurality of network nodes, where a network node in the plurality could be coupled to at least one other network node via a media independent communication link, and a plurality of access points, where each access point in the plurality is coupled to at least one other access point via another media-independent communications link. The network communicates during a data collection cycle that includes a broadcast interval, a time-slotted communications interval and a random access time-slotted communications interval. The plurality of network nodes are arranged in a self-assigned hierarchy where one or more nodes in the plurality of network nodes can be assigned more than one time slot to transmit the network information messages.

Claims21

Dependent claims

A data communications network having time-slotted communication intervals, said time-slotted communication intervals comprising an assigned time-slotted communication interval and a random access time-slotted communication interval, said data communications network comprising:

a plurality of network nodes arranged in a self-assigned hierarchy;
at least one network node in the plurality of network nodes assigned at least one assigned time slot during a single time-slotted communication interval to transmit and receive network node information, said network node information contained within a data packet, wherein said at least one network node obtains at least one additional assigned time slot automatically by previously appearing and transmitting information in at least one random time slot during a previous random access time-slotted interval which was utilized by said at least one network node without a prior reservation request.

A plurality of data communications networks having time-slotted communication intervals, said time-slotted communication intervals comprising an assigned time-slotted communication interval and a random access time-slotted communication interval, said data communications network comprising:

a plurality of media-independent communications links;
a plurality of access points in each data network, wherein each access point in the plurality is coupled to at least one other access point in the plurality via a media-independent communications link in the plurality of media-independent communications links;
a plurality of network nodes in each network, wherein each node in each network is arranged in a self-assigned hierarchy;
and
a first network node in a first plurality of network nodes in a first network assigned more than one assigned time slot during a single time-slotted communication interval to transmit and receive more than one network node information message;
wherein the first network node obtains the more than one assigned time slot automatically without a reservation request by appearing and transmitting information in time slots during a previous random access time-slotted interval;
and
wherein said network node information comprises information received from at least one from the group consisting of sensors, measuring devices, meters, and controlling devices.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Multiple appearance protocol for timely organized ad hoc network

Life of this patent

Multiple appearance protocol for timely organized ad hoc network

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims21