Dynamic wireless network topology for reduced spectrum flooding
In some configurations, the method of operating a system with dynamic wireless network topology with reduced spectrum flooding involve scanning with a first device in mesh network for beacon packets from other devices in the mesh network during a random back off period. In response to the first device not receiving a beacon packet from the other devices during the random back off period, the first device initiates an election protocol by sending an election protocol packet with its unique election protocol identifier to the other devices. In response to receiving a beacon packet from a second device, the first device stores the unique node identifier, assigns the second device as a leader node device, retransmits the unique node identifier of the second device and leader node information in a protocol packet. A command packet is communicated through the mesh network by way of at least one leader node device.
1. A method of operating a system with dynamic wireless network topology with reduced spectrum flooding, the method comprising:
scanning with a first device in a mesh network for beacon packets from other devices in the mesh network during a random back off period, the beacon packets comprising a unique node identifier of the other devices;
operating the first device to initiate an election protocol by sending an election protocol packet comprising a unique election protocol identifier of the first device to the other devices, in response to the first device not receiving at least one beacon packet from the other devices during the random back off period;
storing the unique node identifier of a second device on the first device, assigning the second device as a leader node device, retransmitting the unique node identifier of the second device and leader node information in a protocol packet to the second device to set the second device as the leader node device, in response to receiving a beacon packet from the second device on the first device;
operating the first device to set the second device as the leader node and retransmit the election protocol packet to the second device, if the unique election protocol identifier of the second device in the election protocol packet has precedence over the unique election protocol identifier of the first device, in response to the first device receiving the election protocol packet after being powered on; and
communicating a command packet through the mesh network by way of at least one leader node device.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprises:
identifying participating device states of devices in the mesh network as leader node devices, leaf node devices, and root node devices through the election protocol;
configuring the leader node devices to participate in re-transmitting data packets in the mesh network;
configuring the leaf node devices to not participate in re-transmitting the data packets in the mesh network; and
configuring the root node devices to initiate the election protocol during the random back off period.
3. The method of claim 2 further comprising:
operating the first device to set itself as the leader node device and respond to a third device to join its current mesh network, in response to the first device being a leaf node device when receiving the election protocol packet from the third device.
4. The method of claim 2 further comprising:
operating the first device to assign itself as the root node device, in response to the first device receiving the election protocol packet with the unique election protocol identifier of the first device.
5. The method of claim 2 further comprising:
operating the first device to assign itself as the leader node device, in response to the first device receiving the protocol packet with the leader node information and the unique node identifier of the first device.
6. The method of claim 2 further comprising:
configuring the first device from a participating device state on the mesh network into a limited operation state where it is temporarily unable to communicate with the leader node device, in response to the first device not receiving any packets from the other devices for a pre-defined amount of time while being the participating device state on the mesh network.
7. The method of claim 6 further comprising:
configuring the first device out of the limited operation state and into its previous participating device state, in response to receiving at least one packet from another device on its pervious mesh network.
8. The method of claim 6 further comprising:
configuring the first device to initiate a new election protocol and send out a new election protocol packet, in response to the first device not receiving any packets from the other devices for a pre-defined amount of time while in the limited operation state.
9. The method of claim 2 further comprising:
configuring the first device as a leaf node device, in response to the first device not receiving the protocol packet from the other devices with the leader node information and the unique node identifier for the first device.
10. The method of claim 2 further comprising:
configuring the first device as the leader node device from a leaf node device, in response to the first device receiving the protocol packet from the other devices with the leader node information and the unique node identifier for the first device.
11. A method of operating a system with dynamic wireless network topology with reduced spectrum flooding, the method comprising:
scanning with a first device in a mesh network for beacon packets from other devices in the mesh network during a random back off period, the beacon packets comprising a unique node identifier of the other devices;
operating the first device to initiate an election protocol by sending an election protocol packet comprising a unique election protocol identifier of the first device to the other devices, in response to the first device not receiving at least one beacon packet from the other devices during the random back off period;
storing the unique node identifier of a second device on the first device, assigning the second device as a leader node device, retransmitting the unique node identifier of the second device and leader node information in a protocol packet to the second device to set the second device as the leader node device, in response to receiving a beacon packet from the second device on the first device;
operating the first device to set the second device as the leader node and retransmit the election protocol packet, if the unique election protocol identifier in the election protocol packet has precedence over the unique election protocol identifier of the first device that it received and stored in a prior election protocol packet, in response to the first device receiving the election protocol packet while being temporarily unable to communicate with the leader node device; and
communicating a command packet through the mesh network by way of at least one leader node device.
12. A method of operating a system with dynamic wireless network topology with reduced spectrum flooding, the method comprising:
scanning with a first device in a mesh network for beacon packets from other devices in the mesh network during a random back off period, the beacon packets comprising a unique node identifier of the other devices;
operating the first device to initiate an election protocol by sending an election protocol packet comprising a unique election protocol identifier of the first device to the other devices, in response to the first device not receiving at least one beacon packet from the other devices during the random back off period;
storing the unique node identifier of a second device on the first device, assigning the second device as a leader node device, retransmitting the unique node identifier of the second device and leader node information in a protocol packet to the second device to set the second device as the leader node device, in response to receiving a beacon packet from the second device on the first device;
operating the first device to set itself as the leader node device and retransmit a previous election protocol packet with the unique election protocol identifier associated with the first device, if the unique election protocol identifier in the election protocol packet, received from the second device, does not have precedence over the unique election protocol identifier of the first device from the previous election protocol, in response to the first device receiving the election protocol packet while being temporarily unable to communicate with the leader node device; and
communicating a command packet through the mesh network by way of at least one leader node device.