Abstract: A communication device capable of communicating over a network on behalf of a consumer device, the network being configured such transport of packets through the network is provided by each communication device in the network listening for and relaying packets, the communication device comprising a relay unit configured to listen for packets and relay them over the network, a mode unit configured to identify whether the consumer device is active or non-active with respect to the network, and a timing unit configured to control the time that the relay unit listens for packets in dependence on that identification.

Abstract: A method of determining the proximity of a first device to a second device, the method comprising, at the second device: receiving a first packet having a first payload and a first lifetime value, the first lifetime value being such so as to cause a device receiving the first packet to not retransmit the first payload; and generating, in dependence on the first packet, a second packet having a second payload and a second lifetime value, the second payload being indicative of the proximity of the first device to the second device and the second lifetime value being such as to cause a device receiving the second packet to retransmit the second payload.

Abstract: A network including a plurality of wireless communication devices capable of operating according to a wireless protocol that imposes no common timebase at the network level, the plurality of devices comprising: an initiator device configured to detect an event and in response transmit an event message having a payload comprising a time field; and a set of appliance devices configured to receive and automatically retransmit messages received from others of the devices, each appliance device being associated with an appliance supplementary to its wireless communication function and being configured to, on receiving an event message comprising a time field, cause their respective associated appliance to perform a function at a time indicated by the content of the time field in the received message.

Abstract: A communication device capable of communicating according to two communication protocols, the device being configured to: in response to receiving a first message according to a first one of the protocols, the first message including data defining a payload, automatically retransmit a second message according to the first protocol, the second message comprising data defining an identical payload to that of the first message; and in response to receiving the first message, automatically transmit a third message according to the second protocol, the second message also comprising data defining an identical payload to the first message.

Abstract: A network including a plurality of wireless communication devices capable of operating according to a wireless protocol that imposes no common timebase at the network level, the plurality of devices comprising: an initiator device configured to detect an event and in response transmit an event message having a payload comprising a time field; and a set of appliance devices configured to receive and automatically retransmit messages received from others of the devices, each appliance device being associated with an appliance supplementary to its wireless communication function and being configured to, on receiving an event message comprising a time field, cause their respective associated appliance to perform a function at a time indicated by the content of the time field in the received message.

Abstract: A method for identifying packets received at a wireless communication device capable of operating according to a wireless communications protocol and capable of communicating in a network, the method comprising: receiving a first packet; processing, in accordance with a predetermined algorithm, a portion of the first packet in dependence on a first network key associated with a first network; and determining if a result of said processing is successful or unsuccessful and, if successful, identifying the first packet as being addressed to devices in the first network.

Abstract: A communication device capable of communicating according to two communication protocols, the device being configured to: in response to receiving a first message according to a first one of the protocols, the first message including data defining a payload, automatically retransmit a second message according to the first protocol, the second message comprising data defining an identical payload to that of the first message; and in response to receiving the first message, automatically transmit a third message according to the second protocol, the second message also comprising data defining an identical payload to the first message.

Abstract: A communication device capable of communicating over a network on behalf of a consumer device, the network being configured such transport of packets through the network is provided by each communication device in the network listening for and relaying packets, the communication device comprising a relay unit configured to listen for packets and relay them over the network, a mode unit configured to identify whether the consumer device is active or non-active with respect to the network, and a timing unit configured to control the time that the relay unit listens for packets in dependence on that identification.

Abstract: An analysis device for analysing a communication network comprising a plurality of communication devices, the communication network being configured such that transport of packets through the network is provided by the communication devices in the network listening for and relaying packets, the analysis device being configured to: receive a traffic statistics log from a profile device, the traffic statistics log comprising a traffic statistics message from each of the plurality of communication devices, each traffic statistics message comprising data defining at least one reception property of the reception of at least one probe message at the respective communication device; and identify, based on the at least one reception property, at least one restriction point communication device from the plurality of communication devices that is a restriction point in the network.

Abstract: A wireless communication device configured to receive a first data packet identified as being of a broadcast packet type, the first packet comprising a first mesh network data packet that comprises a payload and a first lifetime value. A portion of the first packet may be compared against a record of mesh network data packets previously received by the device. If the record indicates that the first packet has not been previously received by the device and if the first lifetime value of the first packet is not equal to a predetermined threshold value, then form a second mesh network data packet that is unaltered from the first packet except that the first lifetime value is changed to indicate that the first packet has been received. The second packet may be transmitted within a second data packet that is identified as being of the broadcast packet type.

Abstract: A method of determining the proximity of a first device to a second device, the method comprising, at the second device: receiving a first packet having a first payload and a first lifetime value, the first lifetime value being such so as to cause a device receiving the first packet to not retransmit the first payload; and generating, in dependence on the first packet, a second packet having a second payload and a second lifetime value, the second payload being indicative of the proximity of the first device to the second device and the second lifetime value being such as to cause a device receiving the second packet to retransmit the second payload.

Abstract: A communication device capable of communicating over a communication network that is configured such transport of packets through the network is provided by each communication device in the network listening for and relaying packets, the communication device comprising a relay unit configured to listen for packets and relay them over the network, a detection unit configured to identify other communication devices in the network that are also capable of acting as relay devices and a power controller configured to adjust the power that the communication device uses to listen for packets in dependence on the other devices identified by the detection unit.