Processing advertisement messages in a mesh network

    公开(公告)号:US12132638B2

    公开(公告)日:2024-10-29

    申请号:US18233109

    申请日:2023-08-11

    发明人: Jeffrey S. Hayes

    摘要: A load control system may include a network of devices configured to communicate with one another. The load control system may include control devices configured to operate as a leader device or another router device on the network. The control device may process advertisement messages from other router devices in the network. The control device may receive advertisement messages from non-leader router devices and compare the device identifier and the sequence number in the advertisement messages with the device identifier and the sequence number in previously-received advertisement messages from the non-leader router devices. The control device may process each advertisement message received with a different sequence identifier or a different device identifier than previously received advertisement messages from the non-leader router devices. The control device may ignore each advertisement message received with the same sequence identifier from the same non-leader router device as a previously received advertisement message.

    Network-topology discovery using packet headers

    公开(公告)号:US12021734B2

    公开(公告)日:2024-06-25

    申请号:US17331827

    申请日:2021-05-27

    摘要: Automated topology-discovery processes, wherein topology-related information is exchanged among the nodes of a network using data-plane headers of transmitted packets, and without relying on conventional control-plane topology-discovery protocols. For such “control-plane-less” topology discovery, a discovery-enabling Topology Discovery Header (TDH) may be encoded as an extension of the data-plane header. Such TDH can be used, e.g., to carry various types of pertinent information typically relied-upon by the relevant network entities for topology-discovery purposes. In some embodiments, topology discovery is fully migrated from the control plane to the data plane and is substantially integrated into the corresponding Packet Switching Technology. Due to this migration, some features of some conventional control protocols may not be critically needed in the corresponding communication networks. As a result, adaptation, streamlining, replacement, and/or elimination of some of such control protocols may beneficially be implemented, e.g., to meet the needs of the network operator in a cost-effective manner.