Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for evaluating connections between nodes in a mesh network.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for communicating within a network. The technique includes receiving, by a first node in a mesh network at a first receive time, a first beacon from a second node in the mesh network, the first beacon including a first network time associated with the second node; determining, by the first node, a first transmission time of a first unicast message to the second node based on (a) the first receive time, (b) the first network time, and (c) a unicast interval between consecutive unicast listening times on the second node; and transmitting, by the first node, the first unicast message to the second node at the first transmission time.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for performing time synchronization within a network. The technique includes detecting a first scheduling conflict between a first transmission time associated with a first periodic beacon from a first node in the network and a second transmission time associated with a second periodic beacon from a second node in the network. The technique also includes determining a first alternate transmission time associated with the first periodic beacon based on a position of the first node in the network and the first transmission time. The technique further includes transmitting the first periodic beacon at the first transmission time, and transmitting an alternate periodic beacon at the first alternate transmission time.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for performing time synchronization within a network. The technique includes detecting a first scheduling conflict between a first transmission time associated with a first periodic beacon from a first node in the network and a first listening window associated with receiving a second periodic beacon from a second node in the network. The technique also includes determining a first alternate transmission time for the second periodic beacon based on a second transmission time associated with the second periodic beacon and a position of the second node in the network and calculating a second listening window associated with transmission of the second periodic beacon from the second node at the first alternate transmission time. The technique further includes listening for the second periodic beacon during the second listening window.

Abstract: Techniques for path selection in a network include a first node in a mesh network receiving, from a second node in the mesh network, a first battery life metric for a path through the mesh network, determining a value representing a remaining battery life of the first node, calculating a second battery life metric based on at least one of the first battery life metric for the path or the value representing the remaining battery life for the first node, and transmitting, to a third node in the mesh network, the second battery life metric.

Abstract: Targeted parent selection for nodes within a network include, filtering, by a node in a mesh network using one or more first network optimization criteria, a set of potential parent nodes to generate a subset of potential parent nodes; selecting, by the node using one or more second network optimization criteria, a target parent node from the subset of potential parent nodes; and transmitting, by the node, a connection request to the target parent node.

Abstract: Techniques for performing time synchronization within a network include a method comprising: determining, by a first node, a receive time at which a periodic beacon from a second node is expected to be received based on timing information associated with the second node; determining, by the first node, a first listening window for the periodic beacon based on the receive time and one or more of a drift uncertainty associated with an anticipated drift in a correction of a timing error between the first node and the second node or a jitter uncertainty associated with timing jitter in the first node or the second node; and listening, by the first node, for the periodic beacon during the first listening window.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for communicating within a network. The technique includes receiving, from a first node in the network and at a first receive time, a first periodic beacon that includes a first network time associated with the first node. The technique also includes determining a first transmission time of a first unicast message to the first node based on the first network time and a unicast interval between consecutive unicast listening times on the first node. The technique further includes transmitting the first unicast message to the first node at the first transmission time.

Abstract: A network system includes a main network implementing a conventional network protocol and a subtree of battery-powered nodes implementing a custom network protocol. The main network and the subtree are managed according to different subtree parameters. When a root node receives a request by a battery-powered node to join the subtree, the root node determines whether to allow the battery-powered node to join based on the subtree parameters for the subtree before sending a response to the battery-powered node.

Abstract: In various embodiments, a system within a wireless network comprises a set of battery-powered device (BPD) nodes within the wireless network, and a joining BPD node that identifies, in a subset of BPD nodes, a set of potential parent nodes, filters the set of BPD nodes based on network optimization criteria to identify a target parent node, and transmits a request message to establish a communications link with the target parent node as a child node, where the target parent node in the set of BPD nodes executes instructions to receive the request message from the joining BPD node, evaluate data associated with the joining BPD node with acceptance criteria, and upon determining that the joining BPD node meets the acceptance criteria, establish the communications link with the joining BPD node, where, upon the communications link being established, the joining BPD node is a child to the target parent node.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for performing time synchronization within a network. The technique includes receiving, from a first node in the network and at a first receive time, a first periodic beacon that includes a first network time associated with the first node. The technique also includes determining a second receive time at which a second periodic beacon from the first node is to be received based on the first network time and the first receive time. The technique further includes calculating a first listening window for the second periodic beacon based on the second receive time, a first jitter uncertainty, and a first drift uncertainty, and listening for the second periodic beacon during the first listening window.

Abstract: A network system implements a network protocol for devices and nodes withing a wireless network. A first node within a subtree of nodes in the wireless network performs a method including receiving a discovery request from a second node included in the wireless network, determining that an address associated with the second node is not included in a first address list that includes addresses of nodes along a node path between the first node and a root node of the subtree of nodes, and sending, in response to the determining, a response to the discovery request.

Abstract: A network system includes a main network implementing a conventional network protocol and a BPD subtree implementing a custom network protocol. The main network comprises a plurality of MPD nodes, the conventional network protocol being configured for MPD nodes. The BPD subtree comprises a plurality of BPD nodes, the custom network protocol being configured for BPD nodes. The custom network protocol defines smaller and simpler subtrees relative to the conventional network protocol. As a result, the custom network protocol defines less complex functions relative to the conventional network protocol, including functions for discovery, messaging, and loop management. A root node of the BPD subtree is connected with an MPD node of the main network and one or more descendant nodes of the BPD subtree. The root node implements the conventional network protocol and the custom network protocol.

Abstract: A network system includes a main network implementing a conventional network protocol and a BPD subtree implementing a custom network protocol. The main network comprises a plurality of MPD nodes, the conventional network protocol being configured for MPD nodes. The BPD subtree comprises a plurality of BPD nodes, the custom network protocol being configured for BPD nodes. The custom network protocol defines smaller and simpler subtrees relative to the conventional network protocol. As a result, the custom network protocol defines less complex functions relative to the conventional network protocol, including functions for discovery, messaging, and loop management. A root node of the BPD subtree is connected with an MPD node of the main network and one or more descendant nodes of the BPD subtree. The root node implements the conventional network protocol and the custom network protocol.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for evaluating connections between nodes in a mesh network.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for evaluating connections between nodes in a mesh network. The technique includes identifying a plurality of potential parent nodes for a first node included in the mesh network; computing, for each potential parent node, one or more accumulated message success rates associated with transmitting messages from the first node to a target destination within the mesh network via the potential parent node and with receiving messages from the target destination via the potential parent node; and selecting, from the plurality of potential parent nodes and based on the accumulated message success rates, a parent node for the first node.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for processing packets transmitted within a network in accordance with a network protocol. The technique includes a network device in a mesh network receiving a type-length-value (TLV) element, determining, based on a type field of the TLV element, an expected length of a value field of the TLV element, and processing the value field up to the expected length.

Abstract: Techniques for determining network reliability using message success rates include a first node in a mesh network computing a transmitted message success rate associated with a connection from the first node to a second node, wherein the second node is a neighbor node to the first node; computing, based on a first accumulated transmitted message success rate and the transmitted message success rate, a second accumulated transmitted message success rate for a route from the first node to a target destination using the second node, wherein the first accumulated transmitted message success rate is received from the second node and is associated with intermediary connections between the second node and the target destination; selecting, based on the second accumulated transmitted message success rate, the second node from a plurality of neighbor nodes; and transmitting a message to the target destination via the second node.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for evaluating connections between nodes in a mesh network.

Abstract: Techniques for path selection in a network include a first node in a mesh network receiving, from a second node in the mesh network, a first battery life metric for a path through the mesh network, determining a value representing a remaining battery life of the first node, calculating a second battery life metric based on at least one of the first battery life metric for the path or the value representing the remaining battery life for the first node, and transmitting, to a third node in the mesh network, the second battery life metric.