METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR LOAD BALANCING IN MESH NETWORKS
Provided is a technique for load balancing in a mesh network. The technique includes receiving a signal from a first gateway device of the mesh network and determining, responsive to the signal, whether a condition for connecting to the gateway device is satisfied. The method also includes initiating a first connection with the first gateway device when the condition is satisfied. A second connection is initiated between the node and a second gateway device (i) when the condition is not satisfied and (ii) when the first gateway device is at full capacity.
1 . A method, implemented in a node, for load balancing in a mesh network, comprising:
receiving a signal from a first gateway device of the mesh network;
determining, responsive to the signal, whether a condition for connecting to the first gateway device is satisfied;
initiating a first connection with the first gateway device when the condition is satisfied; and
initiating a second connection between the node and a second gateway device (i) when the condition is not satisfied and (ii) when the first gateway device is at full capacity.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the mesh network is an RF mesh network.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the mesh network is implemented according to an IEEE low-rate wireless personal area networks (LR-WPANs) standard.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein initiating the second connection occurs after the node performs a predetermined number of unsuccessful attempts to connect to the first gateway device.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein initiating the second connection occurs after a predetermined time period has expired and the node has not been connected to the first gateway device.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein initiating the second connection occurs after the node receives a message from the first gateway device indicating that the first gateway device is at full capacity.
7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising establishing the second connection via a parent node associated with the second gateway device.
8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising assigning a first network identifier to the first gateway device and a second network identifier to the second gateway device, the first network identifier being distinct from the second network identifier.
9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the first network identifier and the second network identifier are unique in the mesh network.
10 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium for performing load balancing in a mesh network that includes a node, the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium including instructions that when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
receiving a signal from a first gateway device of the mesh network;
determining, based on the signal, whether a condition for connecting the node to the first gateway device is satisfied;
initiating a first connection with the first gateway device, using a first network identifier of the first gateway device, when the condition is satisfied; and
initiating a second connection to a second gateway device, using a second network identifier of the second gateway device, (i) when the condition is not satisfied and (ii) when the first gateway device is at full capacity.
11 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 10 , wherein the mesh network is an RF mesh network.
12 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 10 , wherein initiating the second connection occurs either after the node performs a predetermined number of unsuccessful attempts to connect to the first gateway device or after a predetermined amount of time has elapsed without the node successfully connecting to the first gateway device.
13 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 10 , wherein initiating the second connection occurs after the node receives a message from the first gateway device indicating that the first gateway device is at full capacity.
14 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 10 , wherein the operations include retrieving the first network identifier and the second network identifier, the first network identifier being distinct from the second network identifier.
15 . A system for performing load balancing a mesh network including a node, the system comprising:
a processor; and
a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
receiving a signal from a first gateway device of the mesh network;
determining, based on the signal, whether a condition for connecting the node to the first gateway device is satisfied;
initiating a first connection with the first gateway device when the condition is satisfied; and
initiating a second connection between the node and a second gateway device (i) when the condition is not satisfied and (ii) when the first gateway device is at full capacity.
16 . The system for of claim 15 , wherein the mesh network is an RF mesh network.
17 . The system for of claim 15 , wherein initiating the second connection occurs either after the node performs a predetermined number of unsuccessful attempts to connect to the first gateway device or after a predetermined amount of time has elapsed without the node successfully connecting to the first gateway device.
18 . The system for of claim 15 , herein initiating the second connection occurs after the node has reached a predetermined number of unsuccessful attempts to connect to the first gateway device.
19 . The system for of claim 15 , wherein initiating the second connection occurs after the node receives a message from the first gateway device indicating that the first gateway device is at full capacity.
20 . The system for of claim 15 , further comprising assigning a first network identifier to the first gateway device and a second network identifier to the second gateway device, the first network identifier being distinct from the second network identifier.