Assigning slots in a mesh network
View Patent ↗Assigning slots to nodes in a mesh network. Slot numbers are assigned to nodes in a wireless mesh network using a depth-first search combined with information on 2-hop neighborhoods for each node. Assigning slots using 2-hop neighborhood information allows slots to be safely reused. The slot assignment process may take process in parallel using different wireless channels for different subtrees rooted to a controller. Slot assignment may be repeated when the mesh topology changes. Reporting using the slot numbers allows for information from child nodes to be aggregated or filtered at parent nodes.
1. A system comprising:
at least one device comprising a hardware processor;
the system being configured to perform operations comprising:
selecting, for each mesh node of a plurality of mesh nodes, a respective time period from a set of time periods to (a) wirelessly transmit data to another mesh node on a communication path toward a mesh portal or (b) wirelessly transmit data directly to the mesh portal;
wherein a child mesh node, of any particular mesh node in the plurality of mesh nodes, is a mesh node that is communicatively coupled with the mesh portal at least through the particular mesh node;
wherein the mesh portal is a mesh node with a wired connection to a wired network;
wherein the respective time period selected for each mesh node, with one or more child mesh nodes, is selected after the respective time periods for all the child mesh nodes of that mesh node has been selected.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein selecting the respective time period for each mesh node comprises selecting a first available time period in the set of time periods when the selection of the respective time period for that mesh node is made.
3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the first available time period for a particular mesh node is an earliest time period in the set of time periods for using a particular frequency channel to be used by the particular mesh node that has not been selected for any other mesh nodes that are within a radio frequency (RF) interference range from the particular mesh node.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein selecting the respective time period for each mesh node of the plurality of mesh nodes comprises: selecting a time period for that mesh node that is later than a time period selected for any child mesh node of that mesh node.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein selecting the respective time period for each mesh node of the plurality of mesh nodes comprises: selecting a time period for that mesh node that is different than a time period, for using a particular frequency channel to be used by that mesh node, already selected for any other mesh node within a 2-hop distance from that mesh node.
6. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions which, when executed by one or more hardware processors, causes performance of operations comprising:
selecting, for each mesh node of a plurality of mesh nodes, a respective time period from a set of time periods to (a) wirelessly transmit data to another mesh node on a communication path toward a mesh portal or (b) wirelessly transmit data directly to the mesh portal;
wherein a child mesh node, of any particular mesh node in the plurality of mesh nodes, is a mesh node that is communicatively coupled with the mesh portal at least through the particular mesh node;
wherein the mesh portal is a mesh node with a wired connection to a wired network;
wherein the respective time period selected for each mesh node, with one or more child mesh nodes, is selected after the respective time periods for all the child mesh nodes of that mesh node has been selected.
7. The medium of claim 6 , wherein selecting the respective time period for each mesh node comprises selecting a first available time period in the set of time periods when the selection of the respective time period for that mesh node is made.
8. The medium of claim 6 , wherein the first available time period for a particular mesh node is an earliest time period in the set of time periods for using a particular frequency channel to be used by the particular mesh node that has not been selected for any other mesh nodes that are within an radio frequency (RF) interference range from the particular mesh node.
9. The medium of claim 6 , wherein selecting the respective time period for each mesh node of the plurality of mesh nodes comprises: selecting a time period for that mesh node that is later than a time period selected for any child mesh node of that mesh node.
10. The medium of claim 6 , wherein selecting the respective time period for each mesh node of the plurality of mesh nodes comprises: selecting a time period for that mesh node that is different than a time period, for using a particular frequency channel to be used by that mesh node, already selected for any other mesh node within a 2-hop distance from that mesh node.
11. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions which, when executed by one or more hardware processors, causes performance of operations comprising:
selecting, for each mesh node of a plurality of mesh nodes, a respective time period from a set of time periods to (a) wirelessly transmit data to another mesh node on a communication path toward a mesh portal or (b) wirelessly transmit data directly to the mesh portal;
wherein a child mesh node, of any particular mesh node in the plurality of mesh nodes, is a mesh node that is communicatively coupled with the mesh portal at least through the particular mesh node;
wherein the mesh portal is a mesh node with a wired connection to a wired network;
wherein the respective time period selected for each mesh node with one or more child mesh nodes is a time period that is chronologically subsequent, in the set of time periods, to the respective time periods selected for all the child mesh nodes of that mesh node.
12. A system comprising:
at least one device comprising a hardware processor;
the system being configured to perform operations comprising:
selecting, for each mesh node of a plurality of mesh nodes, a respective time period from a set of time periods to (a) wirelessly transmit data to another mesh node on a communication path toward a mesh portal or (b) wirelessly transmit data directly to the mesh portal;
wherein a child mesh node, of any particular mesh node in the plurality of mesh nodes, is a mesh node that is communicatively coupled with the mesh portal at least through the particular mesh node;
wherein the mesh portal is a mesh node with a wired connection to a wired network;
wherein the respective time period selected for each mesh node with one or more child mesh nodes is a time period that is chronologically subsequent, in the set of time periods, to the respective time periods selected for all the child mesh nodes of that mesh node.