Abstract: A method for managing a topology of a multi-ring Ethernet and a system thereof are disclosed, and the method includes: a node including a blocked port on the multi-ring Ethernet periodically sending a Topology Find Frame (TF) message along a transmission control channel through an own good port; a node receiving said TF message in the multi-ring Ethernet updating an own topology database according the NODE_LIST in said TF message, writing an own NODE_ID into the NODE_LIST of said TF message, and then forwarding said TF message along the transmission control channel.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reliable wireless voice, data and location communication for deployment in underground, industrial and other hazardous environments using a wireless mesh network. The network includes protocol for dispatch operation, emergency operation, remote supervision, remote status, asset control, machine state of health and operational management. The architecture is based on localized clusters of autonomous nodes capable of ad hoc interconnection with nearby nodes and connection to gateway nodes. The resulting network is an ad hoc mesh topology comprised of fixed mesh nodes with approximately 50% coverage overlap between nodes. This provides a reliable communication network for mobile nodes carried by personnel and sensor nodes that are fixed or mobile that supports voice, data and tracking/situation awareness. Each cluster of nodes transfers digital voice and data to gateway nodes either directly or through multi-hop transactions.

Abstract: A method includes reading content of network traffic that arrives at a network port of a network switch of a mesh of network switches. A hash algorithm is applied to the read content to indicate a path to a destination network switch of the mesh, the hash algorithm being common to all network switches of the mesh. The network traffic is forwarded via a network port that is associated with the indicated path.

Abstract: A field device for connection to a fieldbus, wherein the field device is designed to exchange via the fieldbus a data transmission object with a host computer or with an additional field device, wherein the data transmission object has a plurality of freely loadable, transmission berths, and wherein the field device includes a data mapping structure, which establishes an association between variables to be transmitted and transmission berths of the data transmission object.

Abstract: This invention discloses a heterogeneous mesh network comprised of multiple radio access technology nodes, wherein nodes can function dynamically, switching roles between client and server. Moreover, these nodes can operate in a heterogeneous fashion with respect to one another. In an alternate embodiment, the invention describes a mesh network comprised of nodes operating over TV white-space. This invention additionally discloses self-organizing network embodiments and embodiments that include novel methods of monitoring operational parameters within a mesh network, adjusting those operational parameters, and creating and implementing routing tables.

Abstract: The present invention provides an Ethernet ring system, transit node of Ethernet ring system, and initialization method thereof, wherein the method includes the following steps: step 1, generating a transit node of Ethernet ring protection domain by means of ring nodes; step 2, detecting the link state of two ring ports by means of the transit node: if neither of the two ring ports is detected as in-fault, then recording ring the link state as initialization state, blocking at least one of the ring ports, setting the at least one blocked port in prerelease state, and sending a ring state query packet to a master node, by means of the transit node; step 3, when the ring state query packet is received, sending a ring state packet recorded by the master node to the ring port that receives the ring state query packet, by means of the master node; and step 4, checking whether the ring state packet sent by the master node have been received by the transit node of which the ring state is the initialization state; if

Abstract: An association update message for mesh networks according to the IEEE 802.11s standard provides the ability to include a plurality of associations in an association update message and thus ensure simultaneous updating of a plurality of associations of representative nodes with respect to the proxy nodes (proxy mesh stations) thereof. A threatened inconsistency in an association update in conventional systems, which provides for only one transmission of an association update message per association update, is thereby eliminated. The proxy information field has an identification field with a plurality of identification fields. The identification fields advantageously allow variable structuring of the proxy information fields, that is, dependent on the information transmitted, which also provides the ability to prevent redundant information in the proxy information fields.

Abstract: A system and method for low-cost, fault tolerant, EMI robust data communications, particularly for an EV environment.

Abstract: A soft state framework to support routing functionality in a mobile wireless sensor network is provided. This invention allows each node of the wireless sensor network to move in random directions in a three dimensional space. The invention seeks to minimize resource consumption while optimizing routing functionality in a mobile condition.

Abstract: A communication routing arrangement includes two or more wireless routers coupled to a communication network, and a user device adapted to couple with the communication network through a communication path including at least one of the two or more wireless routers. The communication path between the user device and the communication network is selected based on available resources of the two or more wireless routers.

Abstract: In an example embodiment, there is disclosed herein an apparatus comprising a wireless transceiver and packet processing logic coupled to the wireless transceiver. The packet processing logic is responsive to receiving a packet from a first node on a first path addressed to a node on a second path via the wireless transceiver to forward the packet on the second path towards the node on the second path via the wireless transceiver. The packet processing logic is further configured to send a reply to the packet to the first node on the first path via the wireless transceiver to a second node on the first path that is within range of the wireless receiver and on the second path to the first node on the first path responsive to determining the wireless transceiver cannot send a message directly the first upstream node.

Abstract: Implementations related to robust multipath routing are disclosed.

Abstract: A system and method for low-cost, fault tolerant, EMI robust data communications, particularly for an EV environment.

Abstract: Implementations relate to systems and methods for determining a location of a mobile device. The mobile device can query other mobile devices within service range for identification information, and send the identification information to a remote server for storage therein. The remote server can receive location information from other mobile devices corresponding to the identification information. The mobile device can send a location query to the remote server, which can determine or calculate a location of the mobile device based on the identification and/or location information of the other mobile devices. The remote server can provide the location of the mobile device to the mobile device for use in associated mobile applications.

Abstract: A mesh communication network for use in, for example, process control plants includes a plurality of network devices transmitting and receiving data according to a network schedule defined as a set of concurrent overlapping superframes, and along a set of graphs defining communication paths between pairs of network devices. A network manager residing in or outside the communication network develops a routing scheme for the network by analyzing the topology of the network and defining a set of graphs for use in routing or transmitting data between various nodes of the network, each graph including one or more communication paths between pairs of network devices. Concurrently or consequently, the network manager defines the network schedule in view of at least transmission requirements, power availability, and signal quality at each network device.

Abstract: A system and method for populating a mesh network model includes peer devices that are configured to transmit peer device signals by utilizing a wireless broadcasting procedure. Mobile devices wirelessly detect the peer device signals to produce wireless scan data corresponding to the peer devices. A location server may then receive the wireless scan data for performing a location estimation calculation procedure with the wireless scan data to thereby determine location coordinates for effectively populating the mesh network model.

Abstract: A system for controlling packet forwarding through a point-to-point (p2p) connection between first and second end nodes of a packet network domain having a mesh topology. The system comprises a sub-ring network instantiated in the network domain, the sub-ring network comprising a pair of topologically diverse ring spans extending between the first and second end nodes. Each of the end nodes is controlled to forward packets of the p2p connection through the sub-ring network in accordance with a ring network routing scheme, and an intermediate node traversed by one of the ring spans is controlled to forward packets of the p2p connection through the ring span in accordance with a linear path routing scheme.

Abstract: Multiple switch planes, each having meshed bufferless switch units, connect source nodes to sink nodes to form a communications network. Each directed pair of source and sink nodes has a first-order path traversing a single switch unit in a corresponding switch plane and multiple second-order paths each traversing two switch units in one of the remaining switch planes. To reduce processing effort and minimize requisite switching hardware, connectivity patterns of source nodes and sink nodes to the switch planes are selected so that each pair of source node and sink node connects only once to a common switch unit. Widely-varying flow rates may be allocated from each source node to the sink nodes. To handle frequent changes of flow-rate allocations, in order to follow variations of traffic distribution, a high-throughput scheduling system employing coordinated multiple scheduler units is provided in each switch plane.

Abstract: A switch, switched architecture and process for transferring data through an FCAL switch is disclosed. The switch uses multiple switch control circuits each coupled to one FCAL network and all connected to a crossbar switch. The switch control circuits are coupled together by a protocol bus for coordination purposes. Local conversations can occur on each FCAL loop and crossing conversations through the switch can occur concurrently. The OPN primitive is used to establish the connection before any data is transferred thereby eliminating the need for buffer memory in the switch control circuits. The destination address of each OPN is used to address a lookup table in each switch control circuit to determine if the destination node is local. If not, the destination is looked up and a connection request made on the protocol bus. If the remote port is not busy, it sends a reply which causes both ports to establish a data path through the backplane crossbar switch.

Abstract: This disclosure describes techniques and apparatuses for wakeup beacons for mesh networks, which often permits nodes of a mesh network to save power when operating in a power-save mode. These wakeup beacons can be sent at high transmission rates and/or be small in size, thereby reducing the time a node must be awake to transmit and receive communications.

Abstract: A connecting node in a first sub-network system reserves a transmission channel in a connecting network, reads waveform data having a designated signal name from a TL frame in the first sub-network system, and writes the read waveform data into the reserved transmission channel in a TL frame in the connecting network, and a connecting node in a second sub-network system reserves a transmission channel in the second sub-network system, reads the waveform data having the designated signal name from the TL frame in the connecting network, and writes the read waveform data into the reserved transmission channel in a TL frame in the second sub-network system.

Abstract: A trunk line topology network is configured with an electronic control units being communication apparatuses transmitting and receiving data, and gateway apparatuses and a distribution apparatus being a specific gateway apparatus that are connected to a communication line being a trunk line, for relaying, through the gateway apparatuses, data transmitted among the electronic control units. The distribution apparatus includes a storage region utilized for a database. The data transmitted from the electronic control units are relayed by the gateway apparatuses and then aggregated by the distribution apparatus. The relayed data are stored once on the database. When transmitting data to the electronic control units, the distribution apparatus reads out data from the database and transmits the data at the adjusted transmission timing. The gateway apparatuses relay the transmitted data.

Abstract: A method and system for conveying backhaul link information for intelligent selection of a mesh access point (MAP) in a mesh network are disclosed. The mesh network includes a plurality of MAPs. The MAPs send backhaul link information regarding backhaul connections between each MAP and any interconnections in the mesh network to a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU). The WTRU then determines a performance value with respect to the MAPs based on the backhaul link information and selects one of the MAPs to associate with based on the performance value. The WTRU may send information about interconnection needs of the WTRU to the MAPs, and the MAPs may generate the backhaul link information based on the interconnection needs of the WTRU.

Abstract: Solutions are provided that allow a network device to apply flow control on the MAC layer while taking into account the priority of the frame of traffic. This may be accomplished by generating a frame indicating that traffic flow should be paused, while utilizing a new opcode value, or alternatively by utilizing a new type/length value (possibly combined with a new opcode value). A receiving device may then examine the fields of the frame to determine whether it should use priority-based pausing, and then examine other fields to determine which priority-levels to pause and for how long. This allows for improved efficiency in flow control on the MAC layer.

Abstract: A wireless network device includes a forwarding table and a mesh routing module. The forwarding table is configured to store direct and reverse entries, each including a destination address, a next hop address, and a metric. The metric of the direct entries corresponds to a route from the wireless network device to the destination address. The metric of the reverse entries corresponds to a route from the destination address to the wireless network device. The mesh routing module is configured to (i) wirelessly receive route discovery packets, including a first route discovery packet, and (ii) create, based on the route discovery packets, corresponding direct entries and reverse entries in the forwarding table. The mesh routing module is configured to, in response to receiving the first route discovery packet, create a corresponding direct entry in the forwarding table and create a corresponding reverse entry in the forwarding table.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention disclose Wireless Mesh Network (WMN) for notifying proxy update. By constructing the proxy update add message, where the proxy update add message includes the address of terminal, the current proxy node address after terminal switching and the destination node address of the terminal, and taking the address of the original proxy node before terminal switching as the address of the destination node, and sending the proxy update add message constructed to the original proxy node, where the proxy update add message is used for updating proxy information of the terminal in the proxy information table of the original proxy node to be the current proxy node address. It makes sure that packets received by the original proxy node which should be sent to the terminal could be received by the terminal, and packet loss rate during terminal switching could be reduced.

Abstract: A distributed switchless system characterized by full mesh connectivity is disclosed. The full mesh distributed switchless system allows direct and indirect communication between a source node and a destination node. In direct communication, data propagates via links connecting the source and destination nodes. In indirect communication, data is first sent to an intermediate node via links connecting the source and intermediate nodes. The intermediate node sends the data to the destination node via links connecting the intermediate node and the destination node. The traffic can be divided into all available links across the nodes, rather than only the links connecting the source and destination nodes. Because indirect communication uses more links compared to direct communication, the traffic in each link is smaller. Consequently, the switchless distributed interconnect system can operate with fewer links between any two nodes and links with smaller bandwidth.

Abstract: In a ring network including an old master node 100, a new master node 110 is used as a replacement for the old master node 110. During replacement operation, when detecting that two ring ports of the new master node 110 are set in link-up state, the new master node 110 gives a transit node 200 an instruction to forward a health check frame H102 sent from a ring port 102 of the old master node 100 by a forwarding route going through the new master node 110. The new master node 110 can monitor the status of the ring network by receiving the health check frame H102. This configuration enables continuous monitoring for a failure occurring in the ring network during replacement of the master node.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, in a double-ring network, a master station includes a transmitting and receiving permission switch portion, a communication port A at an A-system side, a communication port B at a B-system side, a first receiving control circuit portion, a transmitting and receiving control circuit portion, a frame detection determining circuit portion, a frame data generating circuit portion, a logical address determining circuit portion, a live list setting circuit portion and an address list setting circuit portion. The master station determines a token order (a transmission priority, also called a logical address) using a shortest path function by the logical address determining circuit portion and the address list setting circuit portion such that the token order does not depend on physical addresses of transmission stations and is matched to a connection order of transmission stations to realize path optimization. This reduces a transmission time.

Abstract: In one embodiment, single-homing and active-active multi-homing is provided in a Virtual Private LAN Service (VPLS). A customer edge node actively communicates frames of a same Virtual Private Network (VPN) instance with two or more VPLS nodes of a VPLS network. The VPLS nodes are configured to appropriately forward frames throughout the VPLS network: without looping of a frame sent by the same external node back to the same external node, without flooding multiple copies of a frame to the same external node, and while performing learning of addresses in forwarding tables of said VPLS nodes such that said forwarding tables of said VPLS nodes converge despite frames of the same LAN service being received by said at least two of said VPLS nodes from the same external node.

Abstract: In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for configuring a constant powered mesh network node to control a configuration of an intermittently powered mesh network node, where the intermittently powered mesh network node may include a repeater node that periodically powers down for a time period to conserve energy. The embodiments include transmitting a message beam to the repeater node, where a duration of the message beam length may exceed the time period that the repeater node is powered down, and where the message beam may contain a preamble with data that may indicate that the repeater node is to remain powered up in order to receive a message, and may cause the intermittently powered mesh network node to request configuration information relating to a network topology from the constant powered mesh network node when the intermittently powered mesh network node powers up.

Abstract: An energy-efficient architecture for wide area network (WAN) Internet Protocol (IP) backbones in which a condensed core apparatus routes packets between access routers of different points of presence (PoPs), where the PoPs do not need to include core routers.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for communication in a wireless sensor network. In one embodiment, one or more routers in a network may be available for communication with one or more star nodes at a randomized time and/or frequency. A connectivity assessment, which may be performed at several different frequencies and/or times, may be performed to evaluate the quality of communications between devices in the network. Primary and secondary communication relationships may be formed between devices to provide for system redundancy. One or more proxies may be maintained where each proxy includes a status of one or more devices in the network, e.g., one or more star nodes or routers. Proxies may be used to handle information requests and/or status change requests, e.g., a proxy may be requested to change a communication relationship between devices in the network and may generate command signals to cause the corresponding devices to make the change.

Abstract: A mesh network (such as a mesh Ethernet network) is subdivided into rings. For each ring, a network utilization is assessed in both the clockwise and counter-clockwise directions around the ring. A user requests a particular network service. The network rings that would be utilized by the network service are determined. A maximum utilization of all the network rings utilized by the network service in both clockwise and counter-clockwise directions is determined. The determined maximum utilization is used to determine the feasibility of provisioning the requested network service.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for adaptive packet ciphering is disclosed. The apparatus can include a transceiver capable of communicating in a wireless network and specifying a packet number (PN) and an integrity check value (ICV) as separate packet data units (PDUs) in a stream of a PDUs. The data between a PN-PDU and an ICV-PDU can be enciphered as a single payload of concentrated PDUs.

Abstract: A method and system to avoid multi-ring deadlock. The method includes removing a message on a multi-ring interconnect either with a ring connector associated with the target of the message or by the message's source station such that the message travels no more than one time around the slotted ring interconnect before its removal. The method may also be applied to single ring networks for congestion control.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described that provide a distributed restoration signaling protocol for shared mesh restoration with standbys for transparent optical networks.

Abstract: A general wireless mesh network of communication devices with packet message transmission, especially for telemetry and automation, includes at least a single control communication device and a set of slave communication devices. The control communication device searches in the network and assigns a virtual routing number to each slave communication device. The virtual routing number reflects a distance of the slave communication device from the control communication device, expressed by the number of routings, and is stored in the slave communication device. The slave communication device, for further routing of packets in the mesh network, uses time slots assigned according to the difference between said virtual routing number and the virtual routing number of the sender of a received packet. Packet routing is based on successive flooding of the virtual routing structure and time division multiplexing.

Abstract: A system for providing situational awareness outside a temporary incident area network includes a prioritized connection module for connecting a mesh network at the incident area to one of a plurality of available communications channels, with the selection based not only on the availability of a communications channel but also on the associated expense, speed, reliability or bandwidth, so that high bandwidth traffic such as video and pictures can be reliably sent from the incident area to a location outside of the incident area. In one embodiment switching to a satellite phone network bypasses problems with terrestrial networks such as cell phone networks and landlines which may be down.

Abstract: A method of providing a wireless extension to a plant automation network connected to a plurality of wired devices, each wired device performing a process control function, includes connecting a plurality of wireless devices to the plant automation network, each of the plurality of wireless devices adapted to communicate with at least another one of the plurality of wireless devices via at least one respective wireless connection; and providing access to each of the plurality of wireless devices from a host disposed in the plant automation network, such that the host accesses the plurality of wired devices and the plurality of wireless devices using a common communication scheme.

Abstract: A method of enhancing security in a wireless mesh communication network operating in a process control environment and including a plurality of wireless network devices includes processing a join request from a wireless device wishing to join the wireless mesh communication network, providing a limited network functionality to the wireless device if the join request is granted, requesting a complete approval of the wireless device; and granting a full network functionality to the wireless device if the complete approval of the wireless device is received.

Abstract: A method of enhancing security in a wireless mesh communication network operating in a process control environment and including a plurality of wireless network devices includes processing a join request from a wireless device wishing to join the wireless mesh communication network, providing a limited network functionality to the wireless device if the join request is granted, requesting a complete approval of the wireless device; and granting a full network functionality to the wireless device if the complete approval of the wireless device is received.

Abstract: The present invention includes a system and method by which a network of directional, wireless nodes that are not fixed in space can be optimized by optimizing each node individually. The network does not have a central control node, so each node is responsible for optimizing its surrounding topology. This is accomplished by synthesizing incoming information from neighboring nodes and determining which nodes will provide the best connections based on specific utilities each node is attempting to optimize. Neighboring nodes then exchange messages to request, accept, or reject directional connections between them based on their preferred optimizations. The overall directional network topology is achieved by consensus driven by local preferences.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for refreshing a single ring address of an Ethernet ring, which method comprises: achieving address refresh on an on-ring port at one side of a same node by the control of a refresh timer. The present invention further discloses a system for refreshing a single ring address of an Ethernet ring, which system comprises: an address refresh achieving unit configured to achieve address refresh on an on-ring port at one side of a same node by the control of a refresh timer. The method and system of the present invention reduces the number of refreshes of the address forwarding table and improves the efficiency and stability of Ethernet ring protection, thus greatly promoting the performance of the Ethernet ring.

Abstract: A node device in a ring transmission system in which a plurality of node devices are connected as a ring via serial links has a PHY transitioning between a normal mode and a loopback mode with timing that maintains symbol lock between an idle frame transmitted to a later serial link in the normal mode according a transmission instruction, and an idle frame from an earlier node device looped back for output to a later serial link during the loopback mode, thus performing relay processing on non-locally addressed data packets during the loopback mode.

Abstract: Provided are a forced protection switching method and a forced protection switching clearing method in an Ethernet ring network. When an operator desires to block a port of a specific node for maintenance and repair, the operator gives a forced switching (FS) command to the specific node in order to block the port. When the operator desires to clear FS, the operator gives a clear command to the specific node in order to clear the blocked port. As a result, operation flexibility of the Ethernet ring network is provided.

Abstract: Techniques are described which provide mechanisms for dual-homing an access ring for virtual private wire service (VPWS) Ethernet line (E-Line) services. The mechanism may provide resiliency against access ring failures and offer a restoration time of 50 msec upon failure. A method to provide such resiliency may generally include determining, at a first ring port of an access node, a ring failure in an Ethernet ring. Upon determining the first ring port of the access node is not situated on a same side of the Ethernet ring as a node designated as a ring protection link (RPL) owner, a message is transmitted on a second ring port of the access node towards a provider edge (PE) node. The message is used to activate pseudowires (PWs) at the PE node for virtual local area networks (VLANs) of the access node.

Abstract: Techniques for ordered and duplicate-free delivery of wireless data frames are provided. A source address, a destination address, and a message sequence number are acquired from a wireless data frame. The message sequence number is compared against a last-received message sequence number, and a last-delivered message sequence number. The destination address is also compared to a current address. In response to the compares, a decision is made to forward the wireless data frame to the destination address, discard the wireless frame as a duplicate wireless data frame, queue the wireless data frame, or release the wireless data frame to a next protocol layer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for preventing loops in a network with network devices operating a spanning tree protocol and network devices operating a link state routing protocol to prevent loops are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving from one of the network devices operating a link state protocol, a link state routing synchronization packet at a first network device in communication with one of the network devices operating the spanning tree protocol, blocking at the first network device, boundary ports in communication with the network devices operating the spanning tree protocol, transmitting a link state routing synchronization acknowledgement packet at the first network device after the boundary ports are blocked, and performing a loop-free topology convergence process at the first network device.

Abstract: A method and system of communicating between a wireless network and a process control system communicatively coupled to a server, such as OPC. The server receives data from the wireless network, where the data is generated from an input/output data point within the wireless network. The server maps the data between the input/output data point and a data point placeholder within the process control system. The server writes the mapped data to the corresponding data point placeholder of the process control system via a process control interface, and the mapped data is provided to the process control system as process control data native to the process control system. Process control data may also be provided to the server, mapped between a data point placeholder of the process control system and an input/output data point of the wireless network, and written to the corresponding input/output data point.