Device mobility in a mesh network

#The present disclosure relates generally to computer networks, and, more particularly, to facilitating device mobility in a mesh network.

#Low power and Lossy Networks (LLNs), e.g., sensor networks, have a myriad of applications, such as Smart Grid and Smart Cities. Various challenges are presented with LLNs, such as lossy links, low bandwidth, battery operation, low memory and/or processing capability of a device, etc. Changing environmental conditions may also affect device communications. For example, physical obstructions (e.g., changes in the foliage density of nearby trees, the opening and closing of doors, etc.), changes in interference (e.g., from other wireless networks or devices), propagation characteristics of the media (e.g., temperature or humidity changes, etc.), and the like, also present unique challenges to LLNs.

#The myriad of challenges in LLNs makes supporting device mobility particularly difficult. Generally speaking, device mobility refers to the ability of a device to move from using one parent node in the network to using another node for purposes of routing traffic. In some cases, for example, the device may physically move to another location, necessitating the parent change. In other cases, a parent change may also be necessitated by other factors, such as changing environmental conditions typical in LLNs (e.g., the current parent of a node becomes unreachable due to an obstruction, etc.), without physical movement of the device.

#The embodiments herein may be better understood by referring to the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals indicate identically or functionally similar elements, of which:

#FIG. 1 illustrates an example communication network;

#FIG. 2 illustrates an example network device/node;

#According to one or more embodiments of the disclosure, a device in a network receives a notification from a neighbor of the device indicative of a child node of the device requesting a parent change from the device to the neighbor. The device updates an existing routing path from the device to the child node to be routed through the neighbor, in response to receiving the notification from the neighbor. The device receives an instruction to remove the updated routing path from the device to the child node through the neighbor. The device removes the updated routing path from the device to the child node, in response to receiving the instruction to remove the updated routing path.

#In further embodiments, a device in a network receives a request from a node in the network to establish the device as a parent of the node. The request indicates an existing parent of the node in the network. The device provides a notification to the existing parent of the node regarding the received request to establish the device as the parent of the node. The device adds the node as a child of the device. The device causes installation of a routing path from a root of the network to the node via the device.

#In additional embodiments, a device in a network receives a routing protocol message that indicates a new routing path to a particular node in the network and an associated new sequence number. The device performs a comparison between the new sequence number and an existing sequence number associated with an existing routing path to the particular node maintained by the device. The device replaces the existing routing path to the particular node with the new routing path based on the comparison between the new sequence number and the existing sequence number.