Abstract: A wireless communication network includes a network coordinator (NC) having plural channels and plural wireless transceivers, and plural nodes. Each node has status information, a number of channels and a number of wireless transceivers. Each node and the NC communicate in a Carrier Sense Multiple Access mode. Each node communicates the status information thereof to or toward the NC in a Time Division Multiple Access mode having plural time slots. The NC assigns the time slots and the channels to the nodes to provide a plurality of collision-free schedules therefor. The NC sends, for each node, a corresponding one of the collision-free schedules to or toward a corresponding one of the nodes. Each collision-free schedule includes a corresponding number of the time slots and a corresponding number of the channels that the corresponding one of the nodes employs to communicate the status information thereof to or toward the NC.

Abstract: A method of network communication includes employing a communication network protocol stack with a plurality of independent communication layers providing a plurality of different corresponding services. A plurality of circular communication buffers are employed. A buffer manager is employed for the circular communication buffers, the buffer manager being independent of the independent communication layers. One of the circular communication buffers is requested from the buffer manager by one of the independent communication layers. A plurality of different operations are provided in the buffer manager to read first data from or write second data to such one of the circular communication buffers for a number of the independent communication layers.

Abstract: A wireless system includes a plurality of wireless nodes structured to participate in a system test of the wireless nodes. The system test includes a plurality of test packets. A packet sniffer node includes a wireless receiver, a memory storing a schedule defining transmission and reception of the test packets by the wireless nodes, and a processor cooperating with the wireless receiver and the memory to receive at least some of the test packets responsive to the schedule, and to output data corresponding to the received test packets of the system test. A monitoring computer receives the output data from the processor of the packet sniffer node. Operation of the packet sniffer node, which does not transmit, does interfere with or alter execution of the system test.

Abstract: An ad-hoc network includes an ad-hoc network coordinator (NC) having a first processor, a first memory, and a first communication interface; and a plurality of ad-hoc network devices (NDs). Each of the NDs includes a second processor, a second memory, and a second communication interface structured to communicate with the first communication interface of the NC or with the second communication interface of at least another one of the NDs. The first processor cooperates with at least some of the NDs to globally optimize a route based on a plurality of link costs for: (i) pairs of the NDs, or (ii) pairs of the NDs and at least one pair including one of the NDs and the NC, in order to minimize cost along the route that: (a) one of the NDs or the NC employs to send a packet to: (b) another one of the NDs or the NC.

Abstract: A wireless communication network includes a plurality of wireless devices and a reconfigurable wireless control or monitoring device structured to wirelessly communicate with the wireless devices. The wireless control or monitoring device includes a wireless transceiver, a user output device, a user input device, and a processor cooperating with the wireless transceiver, the user output device and the user input device. The processor includes a routine structured to output first information from the wireless devices to the user output device, or to input second information from the user input device to the wireless devices. The routine is further structured to employ an XML schema to define the first information output from the wireless devices to the user output device, or to define the second information input from the user input device to the wireless devices.

Abstract: A method of network communication includes employing a communication network protocol stack having a plurality of independent communication layers providing a plurality of different corresponding services. A buffer manager is employed for a plurality of communication buffers. The buffer manager is independent of the independent communication layers. An application framework provides asynchronous communications among the buffer manager and the independent communication layers. For a plurality of pairs of the buffer manager and one of the independent communication layers and for a plurality of pairs of the independent communication layers, the method provides subscribing by the buffer manager and by the independent communication layers to a plurality of events through the application framework and publishing by the buffer manager and by the independent communication layers a plurality of corresponding events through the application framework.

Abstract: A circuit breaker includes separable contacts, an operating mechanism opening and closing the contacts, a first processor determining an open or closed state of the contacts, and a wireless transceiver transmitting the open or closed state from the first processor and receiving a signal. A first accessory includes a wireless receiver, a second processor and outputs. A second accessory includes a wireless transmitter, a third processor and a circuit generating the signal for or communicating the signal to the third processor, which outputs the signal to the wireless transmitter, which transmits the signal to the wireless transceiver. The first processor receives the signal from the wireless transceiver and causes the mechanism to open or close the contacts. The wireless receiver receives the open or closed state from the wireless transceiver. The second processor receives the open or closed state from the wireless receiver and outputs the same to the outputs.

Abstract: A method of network communication includes employing a communication network protocol stack with a plurality of independent communication layers providing a plurality of different corresponding services. A plurality of circular communication buffers are employed. A buffer manager is employed for the circular communication buffers, the buffer manager being independent of the independent communication layers. One of the circular communication buffers is requested from the buffer manager by one of the independent communication layers. A plurality of different operations are provided in the buffer manager to read first data from or write second data to such one of the circular communication buffers for a number of the independent communication layers.

Abstract: A wireless communication network includes a network coordinator (NC) having plural channels and plural wireless transceivers, and plural nodes. Each node has status information, a number of channels and a number of wireless transceivers. Each node and the NC communicate in a Carrier Sense Multiple Access mode. Each node communicates the status information thereof to or toward the NC in a Time Division Multiple Access mode having plural time slots. The NC assigns the time slots and the channels to the nodes to provide a plurality of collision-free schedules therefor. The NC sends, for each node, a corresponding one of the collision-free schedules to or toward a corresponding one of the nodes. Each collision-free schedule includes a corresponding number of the time slots and a corresponding number of the channels that the corresponding one of the nodes employs to communicate the status information thereof to or toward the NC.

Abstract: A wireless communication adapter is for a programmable logic controller including a local wired communication port, such as an expansion port. The wireless communication adapter includes a first wireless communication port structured to wirelessly communicate with a plurality of remote wireless sensors and a plurality of remote wireless output devices. A second wired communication port is structured to communicate with the expansion port of the programmable logic controller. A processor cooperates with the first wireless communication port and the second wired communication port. The processor, the first wireless communication port and the second wired communication port are structured to communicate a plurality of inputs from the remote wireless sensors to the expansion port of the programmable logic controller and a plurality of outputs from the expansion port of the programmable logic controller to the remote wireless output devices.

Abstract: An embedded system includes a first wireless node and a number of second wireless nodes, each of which includes a wireless transceiver, a memory storing a schedule defining transmission and reception of test packets, and a processor transmitting and receiving the test packets responsive to the schedule. The memories store a corresponding predetermined application employing some of the wireless communications, and a corresponding predetermined measurement function measuring wireless communication performance. A corresponding one of the schedules is executed by the corresponding predetermined measurement function. The second wireless nodes wait to receive a number of the test packets before being synchronized with their schedule and receiving and transmitting the test packets according to their schedule. The processors store data from the test packets to assess wireless communication performance between corresponding nodes.

Abstract: A system for assessing wireless communication performance includes a first master wireless node and a number of second wireless nodes. A first schedule of the first node defines transmission and reception of a first set of test packets. A second schedule of the second nodes defines transmission and reception of a second set of the test packets. After start up, each of the second nodes is initialized, and waits to receive a number of the second set of test packets before being synchronized with the second schedule and beginning to receive and transmit the second set of test packets according to the second schedule. First and second processors store data from the first and second sets of test packets, respectively.

Abstract: A wireless system includes a plurality of wireless nodes structured to participate in a system test of the wireless nodes. The system test includes a plurality of test packets. A packet sniffer node includes a wireless receiver, a memory storing a schedule defining transmission and reception of the test packets by the wireless nodes, and a processor cooperating with the wireless receiver and the memory to receive at least some of the test packets responsive to the schedule, and to output data corresponding to the received test packets of the system test. A monitoring computer receives the output data from the processor of the packet sniffer node. Operation of the packet sniffer node, which does not transmit, does interfere with or alter execution of the system test.