Cisco Technology, Inc.

Wei Hong

Jonathan W Hui

Jean-Philippe Vasseur

Lik Chuen Alec Woo

Jeongyeup Paek

Navindra Yadav

Atul Mahamuni

Alec Woo

Philip Buonadonna

Krishna Kondaka

Anjum Ahuja

Ralph Droms

David E Culler

Paul Bernard Duffy

Raja Rajaram Kannan

Prabal Dutta

Malay Thaker

In one embodiment, asynchronous broadcast communication is performed based on time-based events in channel-hopping networks. The embodiments include determining a plurality of channels in a channel-hopping network, on which a plurality of nodes communicate, and identifying an asynchronous broadcast message to transmit from a particular node. A plurality of time-based events is determined, and in response to each time-based event, the asynchronous broadcast message is transmitted on a single selected channel of the plurality of channels per time-based event.

Asynchronous broadcast communication based on time-based events in channel-hopping networks

In one embodiment, a device in a network identifies one or more traffic classes used by one or more nodes in the network. The device determines routing requirements for a particular traffic class of the one or more traffic classes. The device generates a channel assignment that assigns the particular traffic class to a particular channel based on the routing requirements for the particular traffic class. The device provides the channel assignment to the one or more nodes. The one or more nodes use the channel assignment to route traffic of the particular traffic class within the network.

Traffic class capacity allocation in computer networks

In one embodiment, a device receives a router advertisement message after a power outage event in a network. The device joins the network, in response to receiving the router advertisement message. The device sends a power restoration notification message via the network. The device selectively delays a disconnected node from joining the network.

Phased network formation for power restoration

In one embodiment, a device in a network identifies an upcoming network formation event. The device instructs one or more nodes in the network to use a network formation broadcast schedule during the event. The device determines that a degree of functionality in the network during the event exceeds a threshold amount. The device instructs the one or more nodes to use a normal broadcast schedule, in response to determining that the degree of functionality in the network during the event exceeds the threshold amount. Channels of the network formation broadcast schedule are active more frequently than channels of the normal broadcast schedule when in use.

Proactive broadcast capacity adjustment for fast network joins

In one embodiment, a device in a network determines that one or more network nodes should use a stateful address configuration protocol to obtain network addresses. The device causes the one or more network nodes to use the stateful address configuration protocol, in response to determining that the one or more nodes should use the stateful address configuration protocol to obtain network addresses. The device determines that the one or more network nodes should use a stateless address configuration protocol to obtain network addresses. The device causes the one or more network nodes to use the stateless address configuration protocol, in response to determining that the one or more nodes should use the stateless address configuration protocol to obtain network address.

Optimizing global IPv6 address assignments

In a multi-PHY, low power and lossy network comprising a plurality of nodes, a sender determines that a dwell time threshold limit for transmission of data will be exceeded by transmission of the data over a first network interface or that the recipient is unknown. The sender determines transmission parameters for the transmission of the data over the first network interface and transmits the transmission parameters to a receiver device over a second network interface that is different than the first network interface. The sender determines a channel on the first network interface for transmission of the data and transmits the determined channel with the transmission parameters to the receiver, or the receiver determines the channel on the first network interface for transmission of the data and transmits an indication of the determined channel to the sender in response to receiving the transmission parameters.

Obtaining data reception parameters on-demand in a multiple interface network

In one embodiment, data packet messages are received in a Field Area Router (FAR) sent from one or more sources toward one or more destination devices in a Low-Power Lossy Network (LLN). An LLN routing topology for the data packet messages is interpolated in the FAR. An expected time for the data packet messages to reach a destination device in the LLN is determined based upon the routing topology interpolation. Traffic shaping is applied by the FAR for the data packet messages based upon the determined expected time for the data packet messages to reach destination devices in the LLN.

Network traffic shaping for low power and lossy networks

The techniques herein improve the performance of Trickle-based asynchronous broadcasts in a channel-hopping network, such as a low-power and lossy network (LLN). In particular, a plurality of channels in a channel-hopping network on which a plurality of nodes communicate is determined, and an asynchronous broadcast message is identified to transmit from a particular node. Additionally, a plurality of time-based events is determined, and in response to each time-based event, the asynchronous broadcast message is transmitted on a single selected channel of the plurality of channels per time-based event.

In one embodiment, a device in a network detects a bidirectional traffic flow along a primary path in the network. The device determines that a self-interference condition exists along the primary path. The device selects an alternate path in the network. The device causes the traffic flow to use the primary path for packets of the traffic flow sent in a first direction and to use the alternate path for packets of the traffic flow send in a second direction that is opposite that of the first direction.

Optimizing bidirectional traffic flows

In one embodiment, a device in a network determines a first channel hopping schedule for the device to receive unicast communications from one or more neighbors of the device. The first channel hopping schedule differs from channel hopping schedules used by the one or more neighbors to receive unicast communications. The device determines a second channel hopping schedule for the device that includes a common channel that is common to the device and the one or more neighbors at any given point in time, wherein the second channel hopping schedule is self-generated by each of the device and the one or more neighbors. The device switches from the first channel hopping schedule to the second channel hopping schedule, in response to a network event. The device causes a particular neighbor to join the network using the second channel hopping schedule.

Network discovery in low-power and lossy networks

In one embodiment, a device identifies inter-personal area network (PAN) traffic between a first PAN and a second PAN. The device identifies a network node in the first PAN associated with the inter-PAN traffic and determines that the network node should join the second PAN. The device causes the network node to join the second PAN, in response to determining that the network node should join the second PAN.

Optimizing inter-PAN traffic

In one embodiment, a device that is protected against a power outage event in a network receives metrics used by a first node in the network to select a routing link to a second node in the network. The device stores the metrics used by the first node to select the routing link to the second node. The device selects a set of one or more of the metrics to provide to the first node during network formation after a power outage event in the network. The device provides the selected set of one or more of the metrics to the first node, wherein the first node uses the provided set to reestablish connectivity to the network.

Utilizing remote storage for network formation in IoT networks

Utilizing multiple network interfaces when sending data and acknowledgement packages comprises, in a low power and lossy network (LLN) or other network, a sender device comprises two or more network interfaces for communicating with one or more recipient devices. The sender device assesses the transmission capabilities of the network interfaces to determine data rates available for each interface. The sender device specifies which network interface will be used to transfer data and which network interface will be used to receive an acknowledgement from the recipient device. The sender device selects the network interface with the larger data capacity for transmitting a data packet and the network interface with the smaller data capacity for receiving an acknowledgement. The data transmission and the acknowledgement transmission may be transmitted simultaneously. The recipient device uses transmission parameters received from the sender device to determine the data rate with which to transmit the acknowledgement.

Utilizing multiple interfaces when sending data and acknowledgement packets

In one embodiment, a rendezvous request message is generated (e.g., by a sender) that specifies a channel C and a rendezvous time T for which a distributed message is to be transmitted in a frequency-hopping computer network. The rendezvous request message is then transmitted on one or more channels used in the computer network based on reaching a plurality of intended recipients of the distributed message with the rendezvous request message prior to rendezvous time T. Accordingly, the distributed message is then transmitted on channel C at rendezvous time T. In another embodiment, a device receives a rendezvous request message, and in response to determining to honor the rendezvous request message, listens for the distributed message on channel C at rendezvous time T.

Growing community of inventors

Berkeley, CA, United States of America

Wei Hong