Abstract: A method for locating devices that transmit, backscatter or receive a wireless signal. The method comprising using each of one or more backscatter devices to modulate and backscatter a carrier signal transmitted by a transmitter. Modulating and backscattering the carrier signal generates a backscattered modulated signal comprising a sideband. The method further comprises receiving the one or more backscattered modulated signals with a receiver. At least one of the phase or amplitude of each sideband are used to determine at least one of: the distance between the transmitter and the backscatter device by which that sideband was generated, the distance between the receiver and the backscatter device by which that sideband was generated, and the sum thereof.

Abstract: Method for transmitting data from a plurality of child nodes to a parent node in a wireless network, wherein each child node is configured to send messages directed to a root node of the network via the parent node, the method comprising the parent node: dividing a first time period into a plurality of timeslots; assigning a MAC protocol to one or more child node for transmission of data to the parent node during the first time period; allocating one or more of said plurality of timeslots into which the first period is divided to said one or more child nodes for transmission to the parent node according to the MAC protocol assigned to them; transmitting details of the respective assigned MAC protocol and allocated timeslot to said one or more child nodes.

Abstract: A time synchronised network comprising a plurality of nodes, the plurality of nodes each comprising a receiver, a transmitter, a controller and memory storing program instructions. The plurality of nodes are suitable for participating in time synchronised data re-transmission within the network. The plurality of nodes comprise a plurality of source nodes, a plurality of destination nodes and at least one intermediate node. The plurality of source nodes transmitting data concurrently with the other source nodes via the respective transmitter in a first flooding round to a plurality of corresponding destination nodes. The plurality of destination nodes receiving data via the respective receiver from a plurality of corresponding source nodes. The intermediate node receiving, via the respective receiver, data from at least one of the plurality of source nodes, and re-transmitting the received data in the form it was received using the transmitter.

Abstract: A method for locating devices that transmit, backscatter or receive a wireless signal. The method comprising using each of one or more backscatter devices to modulate and backscatter a carrier signal transmitted by a transmitter. Modulating and backscattering the carrier signal generates a backscattered modulated signal comprising a sideband. The method further comprises receiving the one or more backscattered modulated signals with a receiver. At least one of the phase or amplitude of each sideband are used to determine at least one of: the distance between the transmitter and the backscatter device by which that sideband was generated, the distance between the receiver and the backscatter device by which that sideband was generated, and the sum thereof.

Abstract: A device for computing a routing path from a source node to a destination node across a 6TISCH mesh network comprising a plurality of nodes, the device comprising: an interface for communicating with one or more nodes in the network; a memory configured to store data regarding the stability and availability of individual nodes in said network to receive packet data; a controller configured to: employ said data regarding the stability and availability of individual nodes in said network to receive packet data to calculate a path stability metric for each of a plurality of potential routing paths between said source node and said destination node, employ said path stability metric to select one of said plurality of potential routing paths for data transmission between said source node and said destination node, and cause said interface to transmit a signal configured to cause said plurality of nodes to transmit data from said source node to said destination node via said selected route.

Abstract: Method for transmitting data from a plurality of child nodes to a parent node in a wireless network, wherein each child node is configured to send messages directed to a root node of the network via the parent node, the method comprising the parent node: dividing a first time period into a plurality of timeslots; assigning a MAC protocol to one or more child node for transmission of data to the parent node during the first time period; allocating one or more of said plurality of timeslots into which the first period is divided to said one or more child nodes for transmission to the parent node according to the MAC protocol assigned to them; transmitting details of the respective assigned MAC protocol and allocated timeslot to said one or more child nodes.

Abstract: A method of selecting a parent node for routing from among a plurality of nodes in a 6TiSCH network. The method comprises; each of a two or more nodes of the plurality of nodes transmitting a routing message at each power level of a plurality of power levels, wherein the routing message comprises an indication of the reliability for a transmission path to a root node. The method further comprises, at a deciding node, receiving said routing messages from said two or more nodes, determining respective likelihoods of reliability of transmission to a root node via each of said two or more nodes based on the received messages and the indications, and selecting, as the parent node from the two or more nodes the node which has the greatest likelihood of reliability of transmission.

Abstract: A device for computing a routing path from a source node to a destination node across a 6TISCH mesh network comprising a plurality of nodes, the device comprising: an interface for communicating with one or more nodes in the network; a memory configured to store data regarding the stability and availability of individual nodes in said network to receive packet data; a controller configured to: employ said data regarding the stability and availability of individual nodes in said network to receive packet data to calculate a path stability metric for each of a plurality of potential routing paths between said source node and said destination node, employ said path stability metric to select one of said plurality of potential routing paths for data transmission between said source node and said destination node, and cause said interface to transmit a signal configured to cause said plurality of nodes to transmit data from said source node to said destination node via said selected route.

Abstract: A method of selecting a parent node for routing from among a plurality of nodes in a 6TiSCH network. The method comprises; each of a two or more nodes of the plurality of nodes transmitting a routing message at each power level of a plurality of power levels, wherein the routing message comprises an indication of the reliability for a transmission path to a root node. The method further comprises, at a deciding node, receiving said routing messages from said two or more nodes, determining respective likelihoods of reliability of transmission to a root node via each of said two or more nodes based on the received messages and the indications, and selecting, as the parent node from the two or more nodes the node which has the greatest likelihood of reliability of transmission.

Abstract: A time synchronised network comprising a plurality of nodes, the plurality of nodes each comprising a receiver, a transmitter, a controller and memory storing program instructions. The plurality of nodes are suitable for participating in time synchronised data re-transmission within the network. The plurality of nodes comprise a plurality of source nodes, a plurality of destination nodes and at least one intermediate node. The plurality of source nodes transmitting data concurrently with the other source nodes via the respective transmitter in a first flooding round to a plurality of corresponding destination nodes. The plurality of destination nodes receiving data via the respective receiver from a plurality of corresponding source nodes. The intermediate node receiving, via the respective receiver, data from at least one of the plurality of source nodes, and re-transmitting the received data in the form it was received using the transmitter.

Abstract: A network device for a wireless local area network, wherein the network device is operable to wirelessly communicate with a neighbouring device according to a schedule which allocates timeslots to communication between neighbouring devices. The network device has: a wireless receiver operable to receive a request from a child neighbouring device for at least one timeslot for communicating a first amount of data to the network device; a processor configured to allocate timeslots in a schedule to communication between the network device and the child neighbouring device.

Abstract: A network device for a wireless local area network, specifically a TSCH MAC and IEEE 802.15.4e wireless network. The network device can wirelessly communicate with a plurality of wireless network nodes over at least one frequency channel according to a schedule which allocates cells to links. A cell is a timeslot on a frequency channel; and a link represents communication between two network nodes or a network node and the network device. The network device has a radio and a processor. The radio is operable to receive traffic information, comprising the number of packets each of the network nodes is planning to transmit during a scheduling period and the processor is configured to define a schedule. The schedule has at least one cell allocated to a link as a redundancy cell for communicating a packet when communication of a packet by the link during an earlier allocated cell fails.

Abstract: There is provided a wireless device and a method for managing a wireless device for wireless transmission over a multi-hop wireless network, the wireless device comprising a wireless interface and a controller. A schedule of timeslots for transmitting and timeslots for receiving messages is determined based on which layer of the network the wireless device occupies. A transmission from a first node is received during a scheduled timeslot for receiving messages, the transmission comprising a message. The message is added to a queue of messages. In response to a signal being received via the wireless interface indicating that another node in the network has received the message, the message is removed from the queue of messages. During a scheduled timeslot for transmitting messages, at least one message from the queue of messages is transmitted to nodes in a layer closer to the sink than the wireless device.

Abstract: A controller for allocating a radio resource block to a user device in a cell of a cellular network, includes a device for identifying a plurality of edge user devices within range of a first base station, a device for identifying, from the plurality of edge user devices, a first edge user device with which the first base station intends to communicate and a second edge user device presently communicating with a second base station in a neighboring cell, and a device for allocating a communication channel to the first edge user device by assigning a resource block for communications between the first edge user device and first base station. The resource block is one that will provide the highest transmission rate for the first edge user device, while differing from any resource blocks already allocated for communication between the second edge user device and the second base station.

Abstract: Arrangements described herein implement a CONtent CentrIc cross-layer SchEduling (CONCISE) approach in which content specific routes and schedules are created, resulting in an overlaid routing structure and multiple content based schedules. In CONCISE, not only is non-conflict multi-hop scheduling implemented but also data aggregation along the routing path is taken into account during the scheduling process. This therefore provides a new way to route and aggregate data in a deterministic and timely manner via scheduling.

Abstract: A network device for a wireless local area network, wherein the network device is operable to wirelessly communicate with a neighbouring device according to a schedule which allocates timeslots to communication between neighbouring devices. The network device has: a wireless receiver operable to receive a request from a child neighbouring device for at least one timeslot for communicating a first amount of data to the network device; a processor configured to allocate timeslots in a schedule to communication between the network device and the child neighbouring device.

Abstract: There is provided a wireless device and a method for managing a wireless device for wireless transmission over a multi-hop wireless network, the wireless device comprising a wireless interface and a controller. A schedule of timeslots for transmitting and timeslots for receiving messages is determined based on which layer of the network the wireless device occupies. A transmission from a first node is received during a scheduled timeslot for receiving messages, the transmission comprising a message. The message is added to a queue of messages. In response to a signal being received via the wireless interface indicating that another node in the network has received the message, the message is removed from the queue of messages. During a scheduled timeslot for transmitting messages, at least one message from the queue of messages is transmitted to nodes in a layer closer to the sink than the wireless device.

Abstract: A method for use within a WBAN, the method comprising creating a motion profile and a corresponding channel quality profile and using the motion profile to determining preferable conditions for MAC communication within the WBAN.

Abstract: Arrangements described herein implement a CONtent CentrIc cross-layer SchEduling (CONCISE) approach in which content specific routes and schedules are created, resulting in an overlaid routing structure and multiple content based schedules. In CONCISE, not only is non-conflict multi-hop scheduling implemented but also data aggregation along the routing path is taken into account during the scheduling process. This therefore provides a new way to route and aggregate data in a deterministic and timely manner via scheduling.

Abstract: A network device for a wireless local area network, specifically a TSCH MAC and IEEE 802.15.4e wireless network. The network device can wirelessly communicate with a plurality of wireless network nodes over at least one frequency channel according to a schedule which allocates cells to links. A cell is a timeslot on a frequency channel; and a link represents communication between two network nodes or a network node and the network device. The network device has a radio and a processor. The radio is operable to receive traffic information, comprising the number of packets each of the network nodes is planning to transmit during a scheduling period and the processor is configured to define a schedule. The schedule has at least one cell allocated to a link as a redundancy cell for communicating a packet when communication of a packet by the link during an earlier allocated cell fails.