Landis+gyr Innovations, Inc.

Landis+gyr Technology, Inc.

Christopher Scott Hett

James Patrick Hanley

Lawrence S Harris

Michael Sean Holcombe

Vidya Prakash

Justin Clifford Matthews

Chris Calvert

Saurabh Jain

Darrell Jefferson

A node includes a processor coupled to a wireless transceiver and a memory. The memory includes instructions that can cause the processor to store a broadcast channel hopping timing interval and a broadcast channel hopping sequence, as well as, channel hopping timings and channel hopping sequences for tracked neighbor nodes. The instructions can also cause the processor to determine whether a destination node for a unicast message corresponds to tracked neighbor nodes. Based on a determination that the destination node does not correspond to any tracked neighbor nodes, the processor can determine (i) a broadcast dwell interval based on the broadcast channel hopping timing interval and (ii) a next broadcast channel based on the broadcast channel hopping sequence. Additionally, instructions can cause the processor to transmit the unicast message to the destination node during the broadcast dwell interval.

Overloading broadcast dwell intervals in unsynchronized channel hopping mesh networks

A deployed node may automatically switch from one configuration to another configuration. The node includes a first firmware image that corresponds to a first configuration and a second firmware image that corresponds to a second configuration. The node executes the first firmware image to run the first configuration. At some point, the node determines that a switch to the second configuration is appropriate and switches to the second configuration by activating the second firmware image. The switch does not require intervention by a central system or any manual intervention. In some instances, the configurations are associated with different communication protocols.

Automatic configuration switch for a node joined to a wireless network

A system for switching between different communication modes by network nodes according to a time-division schedule to transmit and receive data packets is provided. For example, a transmitting node is configured to determine a scheduled communication mode of an upcoming time division according to a time-division schedule, and transmit a data packet in that time division when the scheduled communication mode matches a selected communication mode supported by both the transmitting node and a receiving node. The receiving node operates in a scheduled communication mode specified for a current time division by the time-division schedule and determines whether a header of the data packet is detected in the current time division. If not, the receiving node switches to a second scheduled communication mode specified for the subsequent time division by the time-division schedule to detect the header of the data packet in a subsequent time division.

Time division physical layer access for network communications

Systems and methods are disclosed for facilitating communications in heterogeneous networks that include different data networks. A gateway device is configured to communicate with a first network using a TSCH protocol and with a second network using a channel hopping CSMA protocol. The gateway device can determine, during a first part of a TSCH timeslot, whether a message is received from the first network. If no message is received, the gateway device switches to the second network during a second part of the timeslot. If the gateway device receives a message from the second network, the gateway device may continue to receive the message. The receipt of the message in the second network may continue into a subsequent TSCH timeslot or may be interrupted if certain conditions are met.

Heterogeneous networks using two channel hopping protocols

A multi-radio border router for synchronizing communications of multiple border router radios is provided. For example, the border router includes a border router component connected to each of the plurality of border router radios. The border router component configured for selecting one of the plurality of border router radios as a master radio and assigning channel offset parameters for each of the plurality of border router radios. The master radio is configured for broadcasting synchronization beacons based on which the non-master radios synchronize their respective clocks with that of the master radio. After the synchronization, each of the border router radios communicates with endpoints associated therewith according to a channel hopping pattern modified by applying a channel offset determined based on the channel offset parameters assigned to the respective radio.

Multi-radio synchronization within a single connected system

A method for transmitting unicast messages includes: obtaining, by a first node configured to communicate on a primary time-slotted channel hopping (TSCH) network, a media access control (MAC) address of a second node configured to communicate on the primary TSCH network; determining whether the first node and the second node are also configured to communicate on a secondary TSCH network; and in response to determining that the first node and the second node are also configured to communicate on the secondary TSCH network: offsetting transmission of a unicast message until a second portion of a timeslot for the primary TSCH network; synchronizing to a channel hopping sequence and frequency of the secondary TSCH network for the second node, and transmitting, by the first node, the unicast message to the second node on the secondary TSCH network during the second portion of the timeslot.

Optimized unicast and broadcast communication in TSCH primary and secondary networks

Systems and methods for managing nodes in mesh networks are provided. A parent node may switch PANs and coordinate the switch with its child nodes. The parent node and its child nodes may maintain timing synchronization information for a current PAN and a new PAN. The parent node and its child nodes may switch to the new PAN using the same switching time.

Switching PANs while maintaining parent/child relationships

Systems and methods optimize broadcast transmissions from a parent device operating on a time-slotted channel hopping (TSCH) network to one or more low-energy endpoint devices connected and synchronized to the communications of the TSCH parent device. As part of a Receiver Initiated Transmit (RIT) communication process, the TSCH parent device receives a check-in communication from a connected low-energy endpoint device during a wake state of a wake/sleep cycle of the low-energy endpoint device. In response to the check-in message, the TSCH parent device transmits an acknowledgment message identifying a broadcast timeslot during which the TSCH parent device will broadcast stored broadcast messages. During the identified timeslot, the TSCH parent device broadcasts stored broadcast messages to any connected low-energy endpoint devices that are tuned in to the corresponding frequency channel according to the TSCH protocol.

Optimization of broadcast messaging for low-energy devices communicating with a node on a time-slotted channel hopping network

Systems and methods for managing nodes in mesh networks are provided. A critical node may determine a status of a backhaul connection prior to joining a PAN. A critical path may be created and maintained that includes the critical node and any intervening nodes between the critical node and the root. A critical node may switch PANs when a backhaul connection becomes unavailable. The switch may be facilitated by a node on the critical path other than the critical node. A node may switch PANs and coordinate the switch with its child nodes.

Managing connectivity for critical path nodes

Systems and methods are disclosed for synchronizing communications between a parent device operating on a time-slotted channel hopping (TSCH) protocol and a low-energy network device operating on a low-energy channel hopping protocol. The parent device sub-divides TSCH timeslots and communicates with adjacent TSCH devices during a primary portion of the timeslot and listens for communications from a connected low-energy device during the secondary portion of the timeslot. Upon receiving a synchronization request from a low-energy device, the TSCH device transmits a synchronization response comprising synchronization data. The synchronization data allows the low-energy device to synchronize communications with the TSCH network by synchronizing with the channel hopping pattern of the TSCH protocol.

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Smyrna, GA, United States of America

Christopher Scott Hett