Distributed coordination of mesh network configuration updates
In embodiments of distributed coordination of mesh network configuration updates, pending commissioning datasets are managed and distributed to coordinate configuration changes of parameters that control participation in, and secure communication over, a mesh network. Pending network commissioning datasets are managed across fragmentation of the mesh network into multiple partitions and subsequent merging of the fragments to ensure that the most recent updates to pending commissioning datasets are propagated to mesh network devices and that all mesh network devices will receive pending commissioning datasets before the time that the pending commissioning dataset becomes the active commissioning dataset for the mesh network.
1. A method of managing commissioning data sets by a wireless mesh network device, the method comprising:
receiving, at the wireless mesh network device, a pending commissioning dataset including a delay timer value, the pending commissioning dataset usable by the wireless mesh network device for communication on a wireless mesh network partition;
initializing a delay timer with the delay timer value;
in response to the delay timer expiring, updating parameters in an active commissioning dataset, at the wireless mesh network device, with values of corresponding parameters included in the pending commissioning dataset to generate an updated active commissioning dataset; and
operating on the wireless mesh network partition using the updated active commissioning dataset.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the pending commissioning dataset includes a pending timestamp, the method further comprising:
in response to the receiving the pending commissioning dataset, comparing the value of the pending timestamp to another pending timestamp from another pending commissioning dataset that is stored in the wireless mesh network device;
based on the comparing, determining that the pending timestamp is newer than the other pending timestamp; and
in response to the determining, updating the value of the delay timer to the value of the delay timer included in the pending commissioning dataset.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the pending commissioning dataset includes a pending timestamp, the method further comprising:
in response to the receiving the pending commissioning dataset, comparing the value of the pending timestamp to another pending timestamp from another pending commissioning dataset that is stored in the wireless mesh network device;
based on the comparing, determining that the pending timestamp is older than the other pending timestamp; and
in response to the determining, sending a copy of the other pending commissioning dataset to a leader device of the wireless mesh network partition, the sending causing the leader device to propagate the other pending commissioning dataset to the wireless mesh network partition.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the receiving the pending commissioning dataset is in response to the wireless mesh network device initiating joining the wireless mesh network partition.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the pending commissioning dataset comprises one or more of:
a channel;
a mesh-local prefix;
a network master key; or
a Personal Area Network Identifier (PAN ID).
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving a first active commissioning dataset at the wireless mesh network device, the first active commissioning dataset being usable by the wireless mesh network device for communication on the wireless mesh network partition;
comparing an active timestamp included in the first active commissioning dataset with an active timestamp included in a second active commissioning dataset that is stored in the wireless mesh network device;
determining, from the comparing, that the active timestamp included in the second active commissioning dataset is more recent than the active timestamp included in the first active commissioning dataset; and
in response to the determining, transmitting a message to a leader device of the wireless mesh network partition, the message comprising the second active commissioning dataset, the transmitting the message enabling the leader device to accept the second active commissioning dataset as the active commissioning dataset for the wireless mesh network partition, and propagate the second active commissioning dataset to the wireless mesh network partition.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the wireless mesh network device is a sleepy end device, and wherein the delay timer value is chosen to guarantee that the sleepy end device will receive the pending commissioning dataset.
8. A wireless mesh network device comprising:
a wireless mesh network interface configured for communication in a wireless mesh network;
a memory and processor system to implement a dataset manager application that is configured to:
receive a pending commissioning dataset including a delay timer value, the pending commissioning dataset usable by the wireless mesh network device for communication on a wireless mesh network partition;
initialize a delay timer with the delay timer value;
in response to the delay timer expiring, update parameters in an active commissioning dataset, at the wireless mesh network device, with values of corresponding parameters included in the pending commissioning dataset to generate an updated active commissioning dataset; and
operate on the wireless mesh network partition using the updated active commissioning dataset.
9. The wireless mesh network device of claim 8 , wherein the pending commissioning dataset includes a pending timestamp, and wherein the dataset manager application is configured to:
in response to the reception of the pending commissioning dataset, compare the value of the pending timestamp to another pending timestamp from another pending commissioning dataset that is stored in the wireless mesh network device;
based on the comparison, determine that the pending timestamp is newer than the other pending timestamp; and
in response to the determination, update the value of a delay timer to the value of the delay timer included in the pending commissioning dataset.
10. The wireless mesh network device of claim 8 , wherein the pending commissioning dataset includes a pending timestamp, and wherein the dataset manager application is configured to:
in response to the reception of the pending commissioning dataset, compare the value of the pending timestamp to another pending timestamp from another pending commissioning dataset that is stored in the wireless mesh network device;
based on the comparison, determine that the pending timestamp is older than the other pending timestamp; and
in response to the determination, send a copy of the other pending commissioning dataset to a leader device of the wireless mesh network partition, the sending causing the leader device to propagate the other pending commissioning dataset to the wireless mesh network partition.
11. The wireless mesh network device of claim 8 , wherein the reception of the pending commissioning dataset is in response to the wireless mesh network device initiating joining the wireless mesh network partition.
12. The wireless mesh network device of claim 8 , wherein the pending commissioning dataset comprises one or more of:
a channel;
a mesh-local prefix;
a network master key; or
a Personal Area Network Identifier (PAN ID).
13. The wireless mesh network device of claim 8 , wherein the dataset manager application is configured to:
receive a first active commissioning dataset, the first active commissioning dataset being usable by the wireless mesh network device for communication on the wireless mesh network partition;
compare an active timestamp included in the first active commissioning dataset with an active timestamp included in a second active commissioning dataset that is stored in the wireless mesh network device;
determine, from the comparison, that the active timestamp included in the second active commissioning dataset is more recent than the active timestamp included in the first active commissioning dataset; and
in response to the determination, transmit a message to a leader device of the wireless mesh network partition, the message comprising the second active commissioning dataset, the transmission of the message enabling the leader device to accept the second active commissioning dataset as the active commissioning dataset for the wireless mesh network partition, and propagate the second active commissioning dataset to the wireless mesh network partition.
14. The wireless mesh network device of claim 8 , wherein the wireless mesh network device is a sleepy end device, and wherein the delay timer value is chosen to guarantee that the sleepy end device will receive the pending commissioning dataset.
15. A wireless mesh network system, comprising:
a wireless mesh network device configured for communication on a wireless mesh network partition, the wireless mesh network device configured to:
receive a pending commissioning dataset including a delay timer value, the pending commissioning dataset usable by the wireless mesh network device for communication on the wireless mesh network partition;
initialize a delay timer with the delay timer value;
in response to the delay timer expiring, update parameters in an active commissioning dataset, at the wireless mesh network device, with values of corresponding parameters included in the pending commissioning dataset to generate an updated active commissioning dataset; and
operate on the wireless mesh network partition using the updated active commissioning dataset.
16. The wireless mesh network system of claim 15 , wherein the pending commissioning dataset includes a pending timestamp, and wherein the wireless mesh network device is configured to:
in response to the reception of the pending commissioning dataset, compare the value of the pending timestamp to another pending timestamp from another pending commissioning dataset that is stored in the wireless mesh network device;
based on the comparison, determine that the pending timestamp is newer than the other pending timestamp; and
in response to the determination, update the value of a delay timer to the value of the delay timer included in the pending commissioning dataset.
17. The wireless mesh network system of claim 15 , further comprising:
a leader device configured to maintain commissioning datasets for the wireless mesh network;
wherein the pending commissioning dataset includes a pending timestamp, and wherein the wireless mesh network device is configured to:
in response to the reception of the pending commissioning dataset, compare the value of the pending timestamp to another pending timestamp from another pending commissioning dataset that is stored in the wireless mesh network device;
based on the comparison, determine that the pending timestamp is older than the other pending timestamp; and
in response to the determination, send a copy of the other pending commissioning dataset to the leader device, the sending causing the leader device to propagate the other pending commissioning dataset to the wireless mesh network partition.
18. The wireless mesh network system of claim 17 , wherein the wireless mesh network device is configured to:
receive a first active commissioning dataset, the first active commissioning dataset being usable by the wireless mesh network device for communication on the wireless mesh network partition;
compare an active timestamp included in the first active commissioning dataset with an active timestamp included in a second active commissioning dataset that is stored in the wireless mesh network device;
determine, from the comparison, that the active timestamp included in the second active commissioning dataset is more recent than the active timestamp included in the first active commissioning dataset; and
in response to the determination, transmit a message to the leader device, the message comprising the second active commissioning dataset, the transmission of the message enabling the leader device to accept the second active commissioning dataset as the active commissioning dataset for the wireless mesh network partition, and propagate the second active commissioning dataset to the wireless mesh network partition.
19. The wireless mesh network system of claim 15 , wherein the reception of the pending commissioning dataset is in response to the wireless mesh network device initiating joining the wireless mesh network partition.
20. The wireless mesh network system of claim 15 , wherein the pending commissioning dataset comprises one or more of:
a channel;
a mesh-local prefix;
a network master key; or
a Personal Area Network Identifier (PAN ID).