Method of configuring a network comprising a plurality of node devices, a method of transmitting a message in a network so configured and a lighting system so configured

Abstract

A method of configuring a network comprising a plurality of node devices and a method of transmitting a message in such as network are disclosed. Each node device comprises a long range communication interface and a short range communication interface, the method comprises the steps of: commissioning all of the plurality of node devices to form a single flat network sharing same network credentials and communication resources; dividing the plurality of node devices into a plurality of groups; selecting one or more node devices from each group as delegating node devices for delegating messages from other node devices by way of their long range communication interface(s); and activating the long range communication interfaces of the delegating node devices. When a message is received by a node device in such a network, it first determines whether the message is a time-critical message. The message is transmitted immediately if the message is time-critical. Otherwise the message is transmitted at a specific timeslot different than a timeslot allocated for messages from a neighboring group of node devices, if the message is non-time-critical.