Multi-PHY synchronized diversity receiver

1. A system, comprising:

a transmitting node configured to:

generate and transmit a data packet to a receiving node using a communication mode selected from a plurality of supported communication modes, the data packet comprising:

a pilot prefix generated to have a predetermined frequency, and

a preamble and additional data generated using the selected communication mode; and

the receiving node configured to:

operate in a base communication mode, wherein the base communication mode is one of the plurality of supported communication modes;

while operating in the base communication mode, detect the pilot prefix;

in response to determining that the pilot prefix is detected, determine the communication mode used to transmit the data packet based on the preamble received after the detected pilot prefix; and

receive and process a remaining portion of the data packet using the determined communication mode.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein determining the communication mode used to transmit the data packet comprises:

receiving preamble signals contained in the preamble;

evaluating the plurality of supported communication modes by cycling through the plurality of supported communication modes according to a descending order of data rates of the plurality of supported communication modes until a quality of the received preamble signals exceeds a threshold value of preamble quality; and

determining a currently evaluated supported communication mode as the communication mode used to transmit the data packet.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the pilot prefix is further generated to have a predetermined amplitude and a predetermined length.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined frequency of the pilot prefix is a carrier frequency of the transmitting node.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the base communication mode comprises one of the plurality of supported communication modes that has a longer range of communication than a majority of the plurality of supported communication modes.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of supported communication modes comprise one or more FSK communication modes or one or more OFDM communication modes.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein a portion of the data packet that does not include the pilot prefix is generated to conform to 802.15.4 standard.

8. A node of a network, comprising:

a processor configured to execute computer-readable instructions; and

a memory configured to store the computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

operating in a base communication mode, wherein the base communication mode is one of a plurality of supported communication modes;

while operating in the base communication mode, detecting a pilot prefix of a data packet, wherein the pilot prefix comprises a signal with a predetermined frequency;

in response to determining that the pilot prefix is detected, determining a communication mode used to transmit the data packet based on preamble signals that are contained in a preamble of the data packet and received after the detected pilot prefix; and

receiving and processing a remaining portion of the data packet using the determined communication mode.

9. The node of claim 8 , wherein determining the communication mode used to transmit the data packet comprises:

receiving the preamble signals;

evaluating the plurality of supported communication modes by cycling through the plurality of supported communication modes according to a descending order of data rates of the plurality of supported communication modes until a quality of the received preamble signals exceeds a threshold value of preamble quality; and

determining a currently evaluated supported communication mode as the communication mode used to transmit the data packet.

10. The node of claim 8 , wherein the pilot prefix is further generated with a predetermined amplitude and a predetermined length.

11. The node of claim 8 , wherein the predetermined frequency of the pilot prefix is a carrier frequency of the node.

12. The node of claim 8 , wherein the base communication mode comprises one of the plurality of supported communication modes that has a longer range of communication than a majority of the plurality of supported communication modes.

13. The node of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of supported communication modes comprise one or more FSK communication modes or one or more OFDM communication modes.

14. The node of claim 8 , wherein the data packet except for the pilot prefix is generated to conform to 802.15.4 standard.

15. A method, comprising:

operating, by a receiving node in a mesh network, in a base communication mode, wherein the base communication mode is one of a plurality of supported communication modes;

while operating in the base communication mode, detecting a pilot prefix of a data packet, wherein the pilot prefix comprises a signal with a predetermined frequency;

in response to determining that the pilot prefix is detected, determining, by the receiving node, a communication mode used to transmit the data packet based on preamble signals that are contained in a preamble of the data packet and received after the detected pilot prefix; and

receiving and processing, by the receiving node, a remaining portion of the data packet using the determined communication mode.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein determining the communication mode used to transmit the data packet comprises:

receiving the preamble signals;

evaluating the plurality of supported communication modes by cycling through the plurality of supported communication modes according to a descending order of data rates of the plurality of supported communication modes until quality of the received preamble signals exceeds a threshold value of preamble quality; and

determining a currently evaluated supported communication mode as the communication mode used to transmit the data packet.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the signal in the pilot prefix further has a predetermined amplitude and a predetermined length.

18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the predetermined frequency of the pilot prefix is a carrier frequency of the receiving node.

19. The method of claim 15 , wherein the base communication mode comprises one of the plurality of supported communication modes that has a longer range of communication than a majority of the plurality of supported communication modes.

20. The method of claim 15 , wherein the plurality of supported communication modes comprise one or more FSK communication modes or one or more OFDM communication modes.