Overlaying independent unicast frequency hopping schedules with a common broadcast schedule

摘要

In one embodiment, each device in a frequency hopping communication network independently determines its own local unicast listening schedule, and discovers a neighbor unicast listening schedule for each of its neighbors. The devices also synchronize to a common broadcast schedule for the network that simultaneously overlays a configured portion of all unicast listening schedules in the network. Accordingly, the device operate in a receive mode according to their local unicast listening schedule and the common broadcast schedule during the overlaid configured portion, and in a transmit mode according to each neighbor unicast listening schedule and the common broadcast schedule during the overlaid configured portion depending upon a destination of transmitted traffic.

主权项

1. A method, comprising:
independently determining, by a device in a frequency hopping communication network, a local unicast listening schedule for the device, wherein the local unicast listening schedule is maintained on the device; discovering a neighbor unicast listening schedule for each of one or more neighbors of the device in the network, each neighbor unicast listening schedule independently determined by a corresponding neighbor, wherein each neighbor locally maintains its neighbor unicast listening schedule; synchronizing the device to a common broadcast schedule for the network that simultaneously overlays a configured portion of all unicast listening schedules in the network; operating in a receive mode according to the local unicast listening schedule and the common broadcast schedule during the overlaid configured portion; and operating in a transmit mode according to each neighbor unicast listening schedule and the common broadcast schedule during the overlaid configured portion depending upon a destination of transmitted traffic.