Abstract: A network device establishes a depth-aware communication schedule for one or more nodes in a data network having a routing topology comprising a root node, the establishing including selecting from a slotframe of the depth-aware communication schedule a first subset of timeslots based on the depth, and allocating to each timeslot in the first subset an exclusive role (a transmit operation, a receive operation, or an idle state) for one or more of the nodes at the corresponding depth; the network device identifies one or more idle states in the depth-aware communication schedule, and selects a second subset of timeslots from the idle states as in-case-of-emergency timeslots, based on the network device identifying in the second subset a corresponding timeslot at a neighboring depth being allocated a corresponding transmit operation or receive operation; the network device causes selective transmission of a prioritized data packet in an allocated in-case-of-emergency timeslot.

Abstract: A network device receives a data packet sourced from a root of a tree-based topology and including a data structure identifying transmitted data packets transmitted by the root; in response to determining one or more absent transmitted data packets based on the data structure, the network device starts a deferred transmission timer requiring the network device to wait a first half of a selected minimum contention interval before attempting transmission to a parent at a randomized position within a second half of the selected minimum contention interval, the selected minimum contention interval based on the distance to the root and at least twice that of the parent; the network device selectively transmits a control message to the parent to request the absent transmitted data packets only if, upon reaching the corresponding randomized position of the deferred transmission timer, the network device has not received the absent transmitted data packets.

Abstract: A network device establishes a depth-aware communication schedule for one or more nodes in a data network having a routing topology comprising a root node, the establishing including selecting from a slotframe of the depth-aware communication schedule a first subset of timeslots based on the depth, and allocating to each timeslot in the first subset an exclusive role (a transmit operation, a receive operation, or an idle state) for one or more of the nodes at the corresponding depth; the network device identifies one or more idle states in the depth-aware communication schedule, and selects a second subset of timeslots from the idle states as in-case-of-emergency timeslots, based on the network device identifying in the second subset a corresponding timeslot at a neighboring depth being allocated a corresponding transmit operation or receive operation; the network device causes selective transmission of a prioritized data packet in an allocated in-case-of-emergency timeslot.

Abstract: A network device receives a data packet sourced from a root of a tree-based topology and including a data structure identifying transmitted data packets transmitted by the root; in response to determining one or more absent transmitted data packets based on the data structure, the network device starts a deferred transmission timer requiring the network device to wait a first half of a selected minimum contention interval before attempting transmission to a parent at a randomized position within a second half of the selected minimum contention interval, the selected minimum contention interval based on the distance to the root and at least twice that of the parent; the network device selectively transmits a control message to the parent to request the absent transmitted data packets only if, upon reaching the corresponding randomized position of the deferred transmission timer, the network device has not received the absent transmitted data packets.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a device receives data indicative of a routing topology of a network. The network comprises a root node and each node in the network has an associated network depth relative to the root node in the routing topology. The device assigns the nodes in the network to timeslots of a channel-hopping communication schedule in order of their associated network depths. The device assigns transmit and receive actions to the timeslots of the communication schedule for a particular time such that parent-to-child and child-to-parent communications alternate with network depth in the timeslots. The device sends the communication schedule with the node and action assignments to one or more of the nodes in the network.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a device receives data indicative of a routing topology of a network. The network includes a root node and each node in the network has an associated network depth relative to the root. The device selects a first subset of timeslots from a slotframe of a communication schedule based on the network depth of a particular node in the network. The device selects a second subset of timeslots from the first subset, based on a media access control (MAC) address of the particular node. The device assigns the second subset of timeslots to the particular node for reception in the slotframe of the communication schedule. The device sends the communication schedule to one or more nodes in the network.