Abstract: A wireless communications system, together with devices to be clustered to make up such a system. The system operates a one-button initiated installation procedure whereby a device not previously installed will determine whether it is within transmission range of a device cluster in installation mode. If so, the device adopts the cluster address and goes through a routine of selecting a device address unique within the cluster. If there is no existing cluster in installation mode, the device selects a network address different to any other within transmission range, as well as a device address. The same one-button procedure places an installed device in a mode to initiate a new device to a cluster. Through a periodic enrolment procedure, performed by each device in a cluster, all devices are enabled to maintain their own list of required functionalities in other devices and to address them directly, thereby removing any requirement for one of the devices to act as a base station.

Abstract: A wireless communication system includes a number of devices to be clustered for the exchange of data and control message packets. Each node (ON, IN1 to IN5) has a unique address within the cluster and is arranged to accept only messages transmitted to it. A dynamic re-routing technique is provided whereby a message packet (M) not received by its target node is detected and re-routed via one or a succession of other nodes of the cluster until either transmission is successful or a predetermined number of failed attempts has been made. The system provides distributed control and intelligence with intermediate nodes for re-routing being selected randomly and current count values for unsuccessful transmission attempts being included within the transmitted packet.

Abstract: A wireless communication system includes a number of devices to be clustered for the exchange of data and control message packets. Each node (ON, IN1 to IN5) has a unique address within the cluster and is arranged to accept only messages transmitted to it. A dynamic re-routing technique is provided whereby a message packet (M) not received by its target node is detected and re-routed via one or a succession of other nodes of the cluster until either transmission is successful or a predetermined number of failed attempts has been made. The system provides distributed control and intelligence with intermediate nodes for re-routing being selected randomly and current count values for unsuccessful transmission attempts being included within the transmitted packet.