Distributed data transmission in data networks

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9270529-B2
Application number	US-201314059846-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 22, 2013
Priority date	Oct 22, 2013
Publication date	Feb 23, 2016
Grant date	Feb 23, 2016

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for distributed data transmission in an RF mesh network or other data network. An exemplary system includes at least two distribution devices. A first distribution device can receive a first data message that includes a first header and payload data. The first distribution device can determine that the second distribution device is not identified in the first header as receiving the payload data. The first distribution device can generate a second data message based on determining that the second distribution device is not identified in the first header. The second data message includes the payload data and the second header. The second header identifies the second distribution device as being selected to receive the payload data. The first distribution device transmits the second data message to the second distribution device.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A distribution device configured for distributed data transmission in a mesh network, the distribution device comprising:
a network interface device configured for receiving a data message comprising a header and payload data; and
a processing device coupled to the network interface device, the processing device configured for:
determining that an additional distribution device is a neighboring device, wherein the determining that the additional distribution device is the neighboring device comprises at least one of:
determining that a received signal strength indicator of a signal received from the additional distribution device exceeds a threshold received signal strength indicator,
determining that a tickle percentage of a signal received from the additional distribution device exceeds a threshold tickle percentage, wherein the tickle percentage comprises data indicating a number of successful attempts by the distribution device to establish a communication link with the additional distribution device, and
determining that the distribution device and the additional distribution device have a common device type;

determining that the additional distribution device is not identified in the header as being selected to receive the payload data, and
generating an additional data message comprising the payload data and an additional header, wherein the additional header identifies the additional distribution device as being selected to receive the payload data;
wherein the network interface device is further configured for transmitting the additional data message to the additional distribution device.

2. The distribution device of claim 1 , wherein the processing device is further configured for determining that a session for transmitting the payload data is active, wherein the additional data message is generated based on the session being active.

3. A system for distributed data transmission in a mesh network, the system comprising:
a first distribution device comprising:
a first network interface device configured for receiving a first data message, the first data message comprising a first header and payload data, and
a first processing device configured for:
determining that a second distribution device is not identified in the first header as being selected to receive the payload data;
generating a second data message based on determining that the second distribution device is not identified in the first header as being selected to receive the payload data, wherein the second data message comprises the payload data and a second header, wherein the second header identifies the second distribution device as being selected to receive the payload data,

wherein the first network interface device is further configured for transmitting the second data message to the second distribution device; and

the second distribution device communicatively coupled to the first distribution device, the second distribution device comprising:
a second network interface device configured for receiving the second data message, and
a second processing device configured for:
determining whether a third distribution device is identified in the second header as being selected to receive the payload data; and
determining whether to retransmit the payload data based on whether the third distribution device is identified in the second header as being selected to receive the payload data, wherein determining whether to retransmit the payload data comprises:
determining that the third distribution device is identified in the second header as being selected to receive the payload data, and
based on the second header identifying the third distribution device as being selected to receive the payload data, excluding the third distribution device from a list of recipient distribution devices for the payload data.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the first processing device is further configured for determining that the second distribution device is a neighboring device of the first distribution device, wherein the second data message is generated based on the second distribution device being the neighboring device.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein determining that the second distribution device is the neighboring device comprises:
identifying a received signal strength indicator for a previous message received by the first network interface device from the second network interface device; and
determining that the received signal strength indicator exceeds a threshold received signal strength indicator.

6. The system of claim 4 , wherein determining that the second distribution device is the neighboring device comprises:
identifying a tickle percentage associated with the second distribution device, wherein the tickle percentage comprises data indicating a number of successful attempts by the first distribution device to establish a communication link with the second distribution device; and
determining that the tickle percentage exceeds a threshold tickle percentage.

7. The system of claim 4 , wherein determining that the second distribution device is the neighboring device comprises determining that the first distribution device and the second distribution device have a common device type.

8. The system of claim 3 , further comprising a control unit communicatively coupled to the first distribution device, the network management device configured for:
receiving data to be provided to a plurality of distribution devices including the first, second, and third distribution devices during a first session;
partitioning the data into the payload data and additional payload data;
transmitting the payload data for transmission via the plurality of distribution devices; and
transmitting the additional payload data for transmission via the plurality of distribution devices during a second session.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the control unit is further configured for:
determining that at least one of the payload data or the additional payload data was not received by at least one distribution device of the plurality of distribution devices during a respective one of the first session and the second session; and
retransmitting the at least one of the payload data or the payload data to the at least one distribution device.

10. A method for distributed data transmission in a mesh network, the method comprising:
receiving, by a first distribution device in the mesh network, a first data message comprising a first header and payload data;
determining, by the first distribution device, that a second distribution device is not identified in the first header as being selected to receive the payload data;
generating, by the first distribution device, a second data message comprising the payload data and a second header, wherein the second header identifies the second distribution device as being selected to receive the payload data;
transmitting, by the first distribution device, the second data message to the second distribution device via the mesh network;
determining, by the second distribution device, that a third distribution device is identified in the second header as being selected to receive the payload data; and
excluding, by the second distribution device, the third distribution device from a list of recipient distribution devices for the payload data based on the second header identifying the third distribution device as being selected to receive the payload data.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising determining, by the first distribution device, that the second distribution device is a neighboring device, wherein the second data mes

Assignees

• Landis & Gyr Innovations Inc

Inventors

• Jacob John
• Jefferson Darrell

Classifications

• H04W84/18 Primary

  Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks · CPC title

• H04L41/0866 Primary

  Checking the configuration · CPC title

• H04W8/005

  Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals · CPC title

• H04L69/22

  Parsing or analysis of headers · CPC title

• H04L47/829

  Topology based · CPC title