Itron Gmbh

Itron Global Sarl

Jérôme Bartier

Fabrice Monier

Yacine Khaled

Khalid Maallem

One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for establishing communications within a multicast group of nodes included in a mesh network. The technique includes receiving a first unicast message that includes a multicast join request from a member node included in the multicast group, wherein the multicast join request specifies a first shortest path from the member node to a multicast group leader also included in the multicast group. The technique also includes forwarding the first unicast message to the multicast group leader along the first shortest path, and forwarding a second unicast message from the multicast group leader to the member node along a second shortest path, wherein the second unicast message includes a multicast join acknowledgment. The technique further includes declaring a first node as a multicast forwarder in the multicast group, wherein the first node is responsible for forwarding the second unicast message.

Unicast discovery of forwarders in a multicast group

Techniques for managing multi-mode communications between nodes in a network include initiating, by a first node in a mesh network, a carrier sense multiple access with collision avoidance (CSMA/CA) session while the first node is in a first mode. The CSMA/CA session is associated with a request to transmit a data message to a second node in the mesh network. Initiating the CSMA/CA session includes determining availability of a channel associated with a channel schedule of the second node associated with the first mode.

Managing multi-mode communications between nodes in a network

One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for establishing communications within a multicast group of nodes included in a mesh network. The technique includes detecting that a first message related to the member node joining the multicast group has not been received from a multicast group leader included in the multicast group. The technique also includes in response, generating a first broadcast message for the member node that includes a multicast join request. The technique further includes forwarding the first broadcast message to one or more nodes included in the mesh network that are direct neighbors of the member node, wherein at least one node included in the one or more nodes further forwards the first broadcast message based on a first maximum hop limit.

Discovery of forwarders to mitigate asymmetric links in a multicast group

Various embodiments disclose a computer-implemented method for managing multi-mode communications between node devices in a network comprising initiating a carrier sense multiple access with collision avoidance (CSMA/CA) session at a first node while in a first mode, where the CSMA/CA session is associated with a request to transmit a data message to a second node, switching from the first mode to a second mode, in response to switching to the second mode, suspending the CSMA/CA session at the first node, switching back to the first mode, and in response to switching back to the first mode, resuming the CSMA/CA session at the first node.

Growing community of inventors

Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Jérôme Bartier