Abstract: A method for routing messages having a routing indicator across linked master/slave configured piconets. At each master node, a routing table is stored and at each hop a receiving master node performs a reception algorithm on the routing indicator, the result enabling the receiving node to identify a target node and whether that node is local to the receiving piconet or a node accessible through a piconet with which the receiving piconet is linked. In the latter instance, the receiving node performs a transmission rule on the result to generate a new routing indicator replacing the routing indicator, which is then transmitted with the message to the identified piconet.

Abstract: A method for configuring and operating a radio system employing the ZigBee radio standard is described. The method advantageously enables a group of radio devices which are logically linked to another radio device to respond with low latency to a message. The method comprises a group identifier being generated and issued to logically linked devices, details of which are provided in a pre-installed binding table. In operation, a radio message from a device which is logically linked to another is received by a device coordinator which then broadcasts (100) the message with the generated group identifier. Only those devices which have previously received a matching group identifier (140) respond (150) to the broadcast message. Since broadcasts are not acknowledged, a rapid system response is achieved. This is important in lighting applications where a user expects instantaneous operation of lamps at the flick of a logically linked radio light switch.

Abstract: A method of transferring data signals between a primary station (10) and secondary stations (SL1 to SL5) of a master/slave radio network, comprises the primary station assigning the secondary stations to a plurality of categories (Z1, Z2). The primary station transmits beacon signals containing indications of those categories of the plurality for which it has data to be transferred. A secondary station operating in accordance with a wakeup sequence receives the beacon signals and determines if there is an indication of its category in a received beacon signal. If so, it transmits a request including an indication of its identity. The primary station checks to see if it has a data packet for the identified secondary station and, if it has, it transmits the data packet and, if not, it transmits a negative acknowledgement. Those secondary stations not participating in the exchange of messages can revert to a sleep mode thereby saving power.

Abstract: A method for routing messages (80) having a short routing indicator across linked master/slave configured piconets (10,20,30). Each piconet stores a routing table (62) and at each hop a receiving master node (22) performs a reception algorithm (110) on the routing indicator, the result enabling the receiving node to identify a target node and whether that node is local to the receiving piconet or a node accessible through a piconet with which the receiving piconet is linked. In the latter instance, the receiving node performs a transmission rule (120) on the result to generate a new routing indicator which is then transmitted with the message to the identified piconet.

Abstract: A low power radio network comprises a master radio device (10) having a routing table (20), and a plurality of slave devices (SL1 to SL6), at least one of the slave devices has an inputting device (38, 40) and other of the slave devices (SL1 to SL4) being associated with end user devices (LUM1 to LUM4) compatible with the inputting device. In order to create a functional link between at least a predetermined end user device and the inputting device, the radio network is placed in a pairing mode in which the master device (10) activates the end user devices sequentially and at the activation of the predetermined end user device, the inputting device is activated which causes the routing table to create a pairing link.

Abstract: A method of transferring data signals between a primary station (10) and secondary stations (SL1 to SL5) of a master/slave radio network, comprises the primary station assigning the secondary stations to a plurality of categories (Z1, Z2). The primary station transmits beacon signals containing indications of those categories of the plurality for which it has data to be transferred. A secondary station operating in accordance with a wakeup sequence receives the beacon signals and determines if there is an indication of its category in a received beacon signal. If so, it transmits a request including an indication of its identity. The primary station checks to see if it has a data packet for the identified secondary station and, if it has, it transmits the data packet and, if not, it transmits a negative acknowledgement. Those secondary stations not participating in the exchange of messages can revert to a sleep mode thereby saving power.

Abstract: For battery economizing in a receiving station (CU) having a radio identity code (RIC) consisting of M bits, a base station (MIU) transmits a wake-up message consisting of at least two repetitions of a wake-up sequence having N concatenated parts. Each of the N parts includes a sync code word and a different fraction M/N of bits of a radio identity code (RIC). The receiving station is energized intermittently in order to detect carrier and at least one of the N parts. In response to detecting that one of the N parts is received, the receiving station remains energized and analyzes at least the detected one of the N parts. If the received bits of the transmitted radio identity code do not correspond to the corresponding bits of the receiving station's radio identity code, the receiving station reverts to intermittent energization, otherwise it remains energized to receive a message appended to the transmitted radio identity code.