Simple wireless network with store and forward methods incorporating anti-looping codes
US6594272B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 23, 1999 |
| Grant date | Jul 15, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 23, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04W88/04
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A plurality of wireless nodes in a network, such as elements of a residential or office home computer system, security system, HVAC or sprinkler system, or the like, communicate with each other over a radio frequency channel. A node generates a packet and transmits it to all the other nodes within range. All the receiving nodes in turn retransmit the packet to all the nodes within range of them. This process floods the network with packets, insuring that all of the nodes at the site receive the packet. The packet contains a de-looping code that is processed by all the nodes that receive the packet. The de-looping code insures that the packet is broadcast by any given node only once. Collisions resulting from multiple nodes simultaneously trying to gain access to the RF medium is avoided by implementing an exponential backoff algorithm, by which all the nodes wait for a random period of time before attempting transmission on the medium. The nodes may communicate with higher level logical domains by virtue of selected nodes functioning as bridges to higher domains. The higher level domains can include neighborhood, regional, or global networks, including global IP-based cabled networ…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.