System and method for operating mesh devices in multi-tree overlapping mesh networks
View Patent ↗Methods, systems, and devices described herein can allow a mesh device to participate in multiple mesh networks. The method comprises associating with a first access point over a first mesh network, wherein the first access point manages the first mesh network; responsive to receiving a neighbor information broadcast from a neighboring mesh device, updating a neighborhood table stored in an accessible memory, wherein the neighbor information includes a neighboring mesh device information and a neighboring mesh device network identifier; responsive to a request to transmit a message to a destination, determining a next device, wherein the next device is on a calculated path towards the destination, the path including mesh devices from a plurality of mesh networks; and transmitting the message to the next device.
1. A method for a first mesh device to communicate in an overlapping mesh network environment, the method comprising:
associating with a first access point over a first mesh network, wherein the first access point manages the first mesh network;
responsive to receiving a neighbor information broadcast from a neighboring mesh device, updating a neighborhood table stored in an accessible memory, wherein the neighbor information includes a neighboring mesh device information and a neighboring mesh device network identifier;
responsive to detecting a problem mesh network, deleting entries in the neighborhood table associated with the problem mesh network;
responsive to a request to transmit a message to a destination, determining a next device, wherein the next device is on a calculated path towards the destination, the path including mesh devices from a plurality of mesh networks; and
transmitting the message to the next device.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the calculated path is calculated by at least one of: the first mesh device and the first access point.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the next device is one hop closer to the destination.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first access point manages the first mesh network by handling association requests from mesh devices of the first mesh network and maintaining a mesh device information table of mesh devices within the first mesh network.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the destination is at least one of: a server, an access point, and another mesh device.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the calculated path includes mesh devices associated with any number of mesh networks.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the first mesh device is associated with the first access point when it is included in a neighborhood table of the first access point and utilizes services provided by the first access point.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the request to transmit is received from at least one of: the first mesh device, and a message received from the neighboring mesh device for forwarding.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the destination is any access point reachable from the first mesh device.
10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the message is received from any access point reachable from the first mesh device.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein an access point is reachable from the first mesh device when there exists a bidirectional path between the access point and the first mesh device over the mesh network.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the calculated path is received from the first access point and stored in the accessible memory.
13. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
responsive to a neighbor request or predetermined trigger, broadcasting neighbor information to neighboring mesh devices.
14. A system for communicating in an overlapping mesh network environment, comprising:
a plurality of access points, each access point managing a mesh network; and
a plurality of mesh devices, each mesh device associated with a mesh network, wherein each mesh device is configured to:
(i) responsive to receiving a neighbor information broadcast from a neighboring mesh device, update a neighborhood table stored in an accessible memory, wherein the neighbor information includes a neighboring mesh device information and a neighboring mesh device network identifier;
(ii) responsive to detecting a problem mesh network, delete entries in the neighborhood table associated with the problem mesh network;
(iii) responsive to a request to transmit a message to a destination, determine a next device, wherein the next device is on a calculated path towards the destination, the path including mesh devices from a plurality of mesh networks; and
(iv) transmit the message to the next device.
15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the destination is at least one of: a server, an access point, and another mesh device.
16. The system of claim 14 , wherein the calculated path includes mesh devices associated with at least two mesh networks.
17. The system of claim 14 , wherein the request to transmit is received from at least one of: the mesh device, and a message received from the neighboring mesh device for forwarding.
18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the destination is any access point reachable from the mesh device.
19. The system of claim 17 , wherein the message is received from any access point reachable from the mesh device.
20. The system of claim 19 , wherein an access point is reachable from the first mesh device when there exists a bidirectional path between the access point and the first mesh device over the mesh network.
21. The system of claim 14 , wherein the calculated path is received from an access point and stored in the accessible memory.
22. The system of claim 14 , where each mesh device is further configured to:
responsive to a neighbor request or predetermined trigger, broadcast the neighbor information to neighboring mesh devices.
23. The system of claim 14 , wherein different mesh networks communicate on different predetermined radio frequencies.
24. A mesh device for communicating in an overlapping mesh network environment, comprising:
a radio for communicating on a predetermined mesh network channel;
a memory for storing a neighborhood table;
a processor configured to:
associate with a first access point over a first mesh network via the radio, wherein the first access point manages the first mesh network;
responsive to receiving a neighbor information broadcasted from a neighboring mesh device, update the neighborhood table stored in the memory, wherein the neighbor information includes a neighboring mesh device information and a neighboring mesh device network identifier;
responsive to detecting a problem mesh network, delete entries in the neighborhood table associated with the problem mesh network;
responsive to a request to transmit a message to a destination, determine a next device, wherein the next device is on a calculated path towards the destination, the path including mesh devices from a plurality of mesh networks; and
transmit the message to the next device via the radio.
25. A non-transitory computer-readable medium including instructions adapted to execute a method for a first mesh device to communicate in an overlapping mesh network environment, the method comprising:
associating with a first access point over a first mesh network, wherein the first access point manages the first mesh network;
responsive to receiving a neighbor information broadcasted from a neighboring mesh device, updating a neighborhood table stored in an accessible memory, wherein the neighbor information includes a neighboring mesh device information and a neighboring mesh device network identifier;
responsive to detecting a problem mesh network, deleting entries in the neighborhood table associated with the problem mesh network;
responsive to a request to transmit a message to a destination, determining a next device, wherein the next device is on a calculated path towards the destination, the path including mesh devices from a plurality of mesh networks; and
transmitting the message to the next device.