PROCEDURES FOR MERGING THE MEDIATION DEVICE PROTOCOL WITH A NETWORK LAYER PROTOCOL

摘要

A process for merging and using the Mediation Device Protocol with a network layer protocol. Under the merged protocol, each device joining a network enters into two stages: the Set-Up Stage (502) and the Normal Operational Stage (602). During the Set-Up Stage (502), the device identifies its neighbors (504), builds a neighborhood list, obtains a Logical ID (508), and picks a parent node in the network. After the Set-Up Stage is complete, the device enters the Normal Operational Stage (602) where it will send/receive control and data messages (606), invite and help new nodes to join the network (608), recover from broken links or topology changes, and other normal network operations.