SYNCHRONIZED RECEPTION IN MESH NETWORKS

Abstract

A method of synchronizing reception of communications by a parent device with an end device that operates in a receiver-off-when-idle mode in a wireless mesh network, the method comprising: receiving, by the parent device, a parent request message from the end device; in response to the receiving the parent request message, transmitting a parent response message including an indication of a clock accuracy of the parent device that is effective to cause the end device to determine parameters for synchronized reception of communications from the parent device; receiving, by the parent device, a child request message including the parameters for synchronized reception of communications from the parent device; in response to the receiving the child request message, transmitting communications to the end device based on the parameters; and based on the parameters for synchronized reception of communications, determining to suspend the transmitting the communications to the end device. FIG : 1

Specification

Description:AS UPLOADED , Claims:1. A method of synchronizing reception of communications by a parent device with an end device that operates in a receiver-off-when-idle mode in a wireless mesh network, the method comprising:
receiving, by the parent device, a parent request message from the end device;
in response to the receiving the parent request message, transmitting a parent response message including an indication of a clock accuracy of the parent device that is effective to cause the end device to determine parameters for synchronized reception of communications from the parent device;
receiving, by the parent device, a child request message including the parameters for synchronized reception of communications from the parent device;
in response to the receiving the child request message, transmitting communications to the end device based on the parameters; and
based on the parameters for synchronized reception of communications, determining to suspend the transmitting the communications to the end device.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the parameters for synchronized reception include a synchronized timeout value calculated by the end device, and wherein the determining to suspend the transmitting the communications to the end device comprises:
determining to suspend the transmitting the communications to the end device based on an expiration of a timer for a synchronized timeout value.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 or 2, further comprising:
receiving, from the end device, a resynchronization message that is effective to resynchronize the reception of communications from the parent device; and
in response to the receiving the resynchronization message, transmitting synchronized communications to the end device.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3, further comprising:
in response to the receiving the resynchronization message, resetting a timer for a synchronized timeout value.

5. The method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising:
periodically receiving, from the end device, a polling message that causes the parent device to transmit data to the end device.

6. The method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the transmitting communications to the end device occurs during a window of time when the end device activates a receiver to receive the communications.

7. The method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising:
including an indication in a data packet that additional data packets for the end device are queued at the parent device; and
transmitting the data packet to the end device, the transmitting being effective to cause the end device to keep a receiver active to receive the additional data packets.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7, further comprising:
transmitting the additional data packets to the end device.

9. The method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the parameters for synchronized reception of communications from the parent device include an indication of a channel for synchronized communications between the parent device and the end device, an indication of a maximum time that the end device will remain synchronized to the parent device, or both.

10. The method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the parent request message is a Mesh Link Establishment (MLE) Parent Request message.

11. A mesh network device configured as a parent device, the mesh network device comprising:
a mesh network interface configured for communication in a mesh network; and
a memory and processor system to implement a reception manager application that is configured to:
receive a parent request message from an end device;
in response to the reception of the parent request message, transmit a parent response message including an indication of a clock accuracy of the parent device that is effective to cause the end device to determine parameters for synchronized reception of communications from the parent device;
receive a child request message including the parameters for synchronized reception of communications from the parent device;
in response to the reception of the child request message, transmit communications to the end device based on the parameters; and
based on the parameters for synchronized reception of communications, determine to suspend the transmission of the communications to the end device.

12. The mesh network device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the parameters for synchronized reception include a synchronized timeout value calculated by the end device, and wherein the reception manager application is configured to:
determine to suspend the transmission of the communications to the end device based on an expiration of a timer for a synchronized timeout value.

13. The mesh network device as claimed in claim 11 or 12, wherein the reception manager application is further configured to:
receive, from the end device, a resynchronization message that is effective to resynchronize the reception of communications from the parent device; and
in response to reception of the resynchronization message, transmit synchronized communications to the end device.

14. The mesh network device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the reception manager application is further configured to:
in response to the reception of the resynchronization message, reset a timer for a synchronized timeout value.

15. The mesh network device as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 14, wherein the reception manager application is further configured to:
periodically receive, from the end device, a polling message that causes the parent device to transmit data to the end device.

16. The mesh network device as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 15, wherein the transmission of communications to the end device occurs during a window of time when the end device activates a receiver to receive the communications.

17. The mesh network device as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 16, wherein the reception manager application is further configured to:
include an indication in a data packet that additional data packets for the end device are queued at the parent device; and
transmit the data packet to the end device, the transmission being effective to cause the end device to keep a receiver active to receive the additional data packets.

18. The mesh network device as claimed in claim 17, herein the reception manager application is further configured to:
transmit the additional data packets to the end device.

19. The mesh network device as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 18, wherein the parameters for synchronized reception of communications from the parent device include an indication of a channel for synchronized communications between the parent device and the end device, an indication of a maximum time that the end device will remain synchronized to the parent device, or both.

20. The mesh network device as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 19, wherein the parent request message is a Mesh Link Establishment (MLE) Parent Request message.

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