Abstract: An extender device for communication in a multihop network comprises: a first wireless transceiver operable in electronic communication with a border router; a second wireless transceiver operable in electronic communication with one or more network attachable devices; and a routing component operable to cause said extender device to assume routing control of messages received at said first wireless transceiver for one or more said network attachable devices operable to handle messages having a specified identifier.

Abstract: Provided is a machine-implemented method for operating a device in a network, comprising entering the device into a non-router membership relation with a self-organizing subnet of the network; receiving at least one message making known parameters of the subnet, the at least one message comprising a centrally-generated and propagated sequence number; detecting, based on the received at least one message comprising a sequence number, a deterioration in propagation of said at least one message; and responsive to the detecting, entering the device into a router membership relation with the self-organizing subnet of the network.

Abstract: Provided is a machine-implemented method to send data from an electronic device, comprising positioning transmission of a packet in a channel slot preferred zone of a channel slot instance according to a statistical profile of at least one component of message flow in a network over which the packet is to be transmitted. The method may determine a statistical profile of components of the message flow and select at least one statistical profile as a basis for composing the channel slot preferred zone. The components of the message flow may comprise a sender electronic device, a network, a packet for transmission, a recurring channel slot and a receiver electronic device.

Abstract: Provided is a machine-implemented method of operating a device, comprising entering the device into a membership relation with a first self-organizing subnet at a first rank in a hierarchy of subnets of the network; receiving at the device a message from a second device making known parameters of a second subnet at a second rank in the hierarchy of subnets of the network; and responsive to receipt of the message, sending a message from the first device making known parameters of the first subnet at the first rank to the second device to render the subnet at the second rank operable to merge with the subnet at the first rank.

Abstract: An extender device for communication in a multihop network comprises: a first wireless transceiver operable in electronic communication with a border router; a second wireless transceiver operable in electronic communication with one or more network attachable devices; and a routing component operable to cause said extender device to assume routing control of messages received at said first wireless transceiver for one or more said network attachable devices operable to handle messages having a specified identifier.

Abstract: Broadly speaking, embodiments of the present techniques provide apparatus and methods to identify and correct communication errors in a network formed of a plurality of nodes. In particular, the apparatus and methods identify synchronisation errors in a network which result in delayed propagation of messages through the network.

Abstract: A technology is provided for operating a network-attachable electronic device, comprising attaching the electronic device to a frequency-hopping mesh network, the network having a synchronized broadcast channel schedule and an unsynchronized unicast channel schedule; deriving a common timing interval value of the network; establishing a subdivision of the derived common timing interval comprising alternating unicast transmit and receive slots based on a hierarchical position of the electronic device relative to a network root device; and at least one of transmitting and receiving at least one packet in a corresponding unicast transmit or receive slot with a one-hop network neighbour in a different hierarchical position relative to the network root device.

Abstract: Provided is a machine-implemented method for operating a device in a network, comprising entering the device into a non-router membership relation with a self-organizing subnet of the network; receiving at least one message making known parameters of the subnet, the at least one message comprising a centrally-generated and propagated sequence number; detecting, based on the received at least one message comprising a sequence number, a deterioration in propagation of said at least one message; and responsive to the detecting, entering the device into a router membership relation with the self-organizing subnet of the network.

Abstract: Provided is a machine-implemented method of operating a device, comprising entering the device into a membership relation with a first self-organizing subnet at a first rank in a hierarchy of subnets of the network; receiving at the device a message from a second device making known parameters of a second subnet at a second rank in the hierarchy of subnets of the network; and responsive to receipt of the message, sending a message from the first device making known parameters of the first subnet at the first rank to the second device to render the subnet at the second rank operable to merge with the subnet at the first rank.

Abstract: Provided is a machine-implemented method to send data from an electronic device, comprising positioning transmission of a packet in a channel slot preferred zone of a channel slot instance according to a statistical profile of at least one component of message flow in a network over which the packet is to be transmitted. The method may determine a statistical profile of components of the message flow and select at least one statistical profile as a basis for composing the channel slot preferred zone. The components of the message flow may comprise a sender electronic device, a network, a packet for transmission, a recurring channel slot and a receiver electronic device.

Abstract: A technology is provided for operating a network-attachable electronic device, comprising attaching the electronic device to a frequency-hopping mesh network, the network having a synchronized broadcast channel schedule and an unsynchronized unicast channel schedule; deriving a common timing interval value of the network; establishing a subdivision of the derived common timing interval comprising alternating unicast transmit and receive slots based on a hierarchical position of the electronic device relative to a network root device; and at least one of transmitting and receiving at least one packet in a corresponding unicast transmit or receive slot with a one-hop network neighbour in a different hierarchical position relative to the network root device.

Abstract: Broadly speaking, embodiments of the present techniques provide apparatus and methods to identify and correct communication errors in a network formed of a plurality of nodes. In particular, the apparatus and methods identify synchronisation errors in a network which result in delayed propagation of messages through the network.

Abstract: A manifestation of user frustration associated with an action currently being performed by an apparatus is detected. The action is modified so as to alleviate the user frustration. The apparatus determines whether the modification to the action results in alleviating the user frustration, and may store data that causes the modification to the action to be subsequently performed.

Abstract: A manifestation of user frustration associated with an action currently being performed by an apparatus is detected. The action is modified so as to alleviate the user frustration. The apparatus determines whether the modification to the action results in alleviating the user frustration, and may store data that causes the modification to the action to be subsequently performed.