公开(公告)号：US08356431B2

公开(公告)日：2013-01-22

申请号：US12101074

申请日：2008-04-10

申请人： Wallace A. Pratt, Jr. ,  Mark J. Nixon ,  Eric D. Rotvold ,  Robin S. Pramanik ,  Tomas P. Lennvall ,  Yuri Zats ,  Terrence L. Blevins

发明人： Wallace A. Pratt, Jr. ,  Mark J. Nixon ,  Eric D. Rotvold ,  Robin S. Pramanik ,  Tomas P. Lennvall ,  Yuri Zats ,  Terrence L. Blevins

IPC分类号： H04J3/00

CPC分类号： H04W84/18 ,  H04J4/00 ,  H04W72/1205

摘要： A method of scheduling communications in a multi-node wireless mesh network which has a first network device and a second network device includes defining a communication timeslot of a predetermined duration, defining a first superframe having a repeating superframe cycle including a first number of the communication timeslots, defining a second superframe having a repeating superframe cycle including a second number of the communication timeslots, aligning the first superframe with the second superframe, so that one of the timeslots of the first superframe begins simultaneously with one of the timeslots of the second superframe, and associating the first and the second superframes with a network schedule, so that the first network device and the second network device transmit data according to the network schedule.

摘要翻译： 一种在具有第一网络设备和第二网络设备的多节点无线网状网络中调度通信的方法包括定义预定持续时间的通信时隙，定义具有重复超帧周期的第一超帧，所述重复超帧周期包括第一数量的通信 定义具有包括第二数量的通信时隙的重复超帧周期的第二超帧，使第一超帧与第二超帧对准，使得第一超帧的时隙之一与第二超帧的时隙之一同时开始 并且将第一和第二超帧与网络调度相关联，使得第一网络设备和第二网络设备根据网络调度来发送数据。

公开(公告)号：US08230108B2

公开(公告)日：2012-07-24

申请号：US12101071

申请日：2008-04-10

申请人： Wallace A. Pratt, Jr. ,  Mark J. Nixon ,  Eric D. Rotvold ,  Robin S. Pramanik ,  Tomas P. Lennvall ,  Yuri Zats ,  Terrence L. Blevins

发明人： Wallace A. Pratt, Jr. ,  Mark J. Nixon ,  Eric D. Rotvold ,  Robin S. Pramanik ,  Tomas P. Lennvall ,  Yuri Zats ,  Terrence L. Blevins

IPC分类号： G06F15/16 ,  G06F12/00

CPC分类号： H04L12/66 ,  H04L45/22 ,  H04L45/34 ,  H04L45/42 ,  H04L45/44 ,  H04W40/22 ,  Y02D70/1222 ,  Y02D70/142 ,  Y02D70/144 ,  Y02D70/22 ,  Y02D70/39

摘要： A method of routing a data packet between a first node and a second node on a communication network includes defining a first graph through the first node and the second node and zero or more intermediate nodes, associating several nodes which belong to the communication network with the first graph, associating a first unique graph identifier with the first graph and providing at least partial definitions of the first graph and the first unique identifier to at least some of the nodes associated with the first graph. The method then sends data packet with the graph identifier from the first node, and directs the data packet to the second node via the zero or more intermediate nodes using the graph identifier. This method may include forwarding the packet to a neighbor node of an intermediate node if the intermediate node and the neighbor node are nodes associated with the first graph and if the intermediate node and the neighbor node are connected by at least one direct communication connection.

摘要翻译： 在通信网络上的第一节点和第二节点之间路由数据分组的方法包括通过第一节点和第二节点以及零个或多个中间节点定义第一图，将属于通信网络的几个节点与 第一图，将第一唯一图标识符与第一图相关联，并且将第一图和第一唯一标识符的至少部分定义提供给与第一图相关联的至少一些节点。 然后，该方法从第一节点发送具有图形标识符的数据分组，并且使用图形标识符经由零个或多个中间节点将数据分组引导到第二节点。 如果中间节点和相邻节点是与第一图相关联的节点，以及中间节点和邻居节点是否通过至少一个直接通信连接连接，则该方法可以包括将分组转发到中间节点的邻居节点。

公开(公告)号：US20090046675A1

公开(公告)日：2009-02-19

申请号：US12101074

申请日：2008-04-10

申请人： Wallace A. Pratt, JR. ,  Mark J. Nixon ,  Eric D. Rotvold ,  Robin S. Pramanik ,  Tomas P. Lennvall ,  Yuri Zats ,  Terrence L. Blevins

发明人： Wallace A. Pratt, JR. ,  Mark J. Nixon ,  Eric D. Rotvold ,  Robin S. Pramanik ,  Tomas P. Lennvall ,  Yuri Zats ,  Terrence L. Blevins

IPC分类号： H04J3/00

CPC分类号： H04W84/18 ,  H04J4/00 ,  H04W72/1205

摘要： A method of scheduling communications in a multi-node wireless mesh network which has a first network device and a second network device includes defining a communication timeslot of a predetermined duration, defining a first superframe having a repeating superframe cycle including a first number of the communication timeslots, defining a second superframe having a repeating superframe cycle including a second number of the communication timeslots, aligning the first superframe with the second superframe, so that one of the timeslots of the first superframe begins simultaneously with one of the timeslots of the second superframe, and associating the first and the second superframes with a network schedule, so that the first network device and the second network device transmit data according to the network schedule.

摘要翻译： 一种在具有第一网络设备和第二网络设备的多节点无线网状网络中调度通信的方法包括定义预定持续时间的通信时隙，定义具有重复超帧周期的第一超帧，所述重复超帧周期包括第一数量的通信 定义具有包括第二数量的通信时隙的重复超帧周期的第二超帧，使第一超帧与第二超帧对准，使得第一超帧的时隙之一与第二超帧的时隙之一同时开始 并且将第一和第二超帧与网络调度相关联，使得第一网络设备和第二网络设备根据网络调度来发送数据。

公开(公告)号：US20090046732A1

公开(公告)日：2009-02-19

申请号：US12101071

申请日：2008-04-10

申请人： Wallace A. Pratt, JR. ,  Mark J. Nixon ,  Eric D. Rotvold ,  Robin S. Pramanik ,  Tomas P. Lennvall ,  Yuri Zats ,  Terrence L. Blevins

发明人： Wallace A. Pratt, JR. ,  Mark J. Nixon ,  Eric D. Rotvold ,  Robin S. Pramanik ,  Tomas P. Lennvall ,  Yuri Zats ,  Terrence L. Blevins

IPC分类号： H04L12/56

CPC分类号： H04L12/66 ,  H04L45/22 ,  H04L45/34 ,  H04L45/42 ,  H04L45/44 ,  H04W40/22 ,  Y02D70/1222 ,  Y02D70/142 ,  Y02D70/144 ,  Y02D70/22 ,  Y02D70/39

摘要： A method of routing a data packet between a first node and a second node on a communication network includes defining a first graph through the first node and the second node and zero or more intermediate nodes, associating several nodes which belong to the communication network with the first graph, associating a first unique graph identifier with the first graph and providing at least partial definitions of the first graph and the first unique identifier to at least some of the nodes associated with the first graph. The method then sends data packet with the graph identifier from the first node, and directs the data packet to the second node via the zero or more intermediate nodes using the graph identifier. This method may include forwarding the packet to a neighbor node of an intermediate node if the intermediate node and the neighbor node are nodes associated with the first graph and if the intermediate node and the neighbor node are connected by at least one direct communication connection.

摘要翻译： 在通信网络上的第一节点和第二节点之间路由数据分组的方法包括通过第一节点和第二节点以及零个或多个中间节点定义第一图，将属于通信网络的几个节点与 第一图，将第一唯一图标识符与第一图相关联，并且将第一图和第一唯一标识符的至少部分定义提供给与第一图相关联的至少一些节点。 然后，该方法从第一节点发送具有图形标识符的数据分组，并且使用图形标识符经由零个或多个中间节点将数据分组引导到第二节点。 如果中间节点和相邻节点是与第一图相关联的节点，以及中间节点和邻居节点是否通过至少一个直接通信连接连接，则该方法可以包括将分组转发到中间节点的邻居节点。

公开(公告)号：US20080279204A1

公开(公告)日：2008-11-13

申请号：US12100927

申请日：2008-04-10

申请人： Wallace A. Pratt, JR. ,  Mark J. Nixon ,  Eric D. Rotvold ,  Robin S. Pramanik ,  Tomas P. Lennvall ,  Terrence L. Blevins

发明人： Wallace A. Pratt, JR. ,  Mark J. Nixon ,  Eric D. Rotvold ,  Robin S. Pramanik ,  Tomas P. Lennvall ,  Terrence L. Blevins

IPC分类号： H04L12/56

CPC分类号： G01D21/00 ,  H04W24/00 ,  H04W56/0015 ,  H04W56/002 ,  H04W80/00

摘要： 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. If desired, the network manager may begin to define the network schedule upon completing the definition of the graphs of the communication network, so that the network manager may define the network schedule in view both the defined graphs and the transmission, power, etc. parameters associated with each network device.

摘要翻译： 用于例如过程控制设备的网状通信网络包括多个网络设备，其根据定义为一组并发重叠超帧的网络调度，以及沿着一组图形定义通信路径 网络设备。 驻留在通信网络中或外部的网络管理器通过分析网络的拓扑并定义用于在网络的各个节点之间路由或传输数据的图形集合来开发网络的路由方案，每个图包括一个或多个 网络设备对之间的通信路径。 鉴于至少传输要求，功率可用性和每个网络设备的信号质量，网络管理器同时或因此定义网络调度。 如果需要，网络管理器可以在完成通信网络的图形的定义时开始定义网络调度，使得网络管理员可以在定义的图形和传输，功率等参数中定义网络调度 与每个网络设备相关联。

公开(公告)号：US08892769B2

公开(公告)日：2014-11-18

申请号：US13106464

申请日：2011-05-12

申请人： Wallace A. Pratt, Jr. ,  Mark J. Nixon ,  Eric D. Rotvold ,  Robin S. Pramanik ,  Tomas P. Lennvall ,  Yuri Zats ,  Terrence Lynn Blevins

发明人： Wallace A. Pratt, Jr. ,  Mark J. Nixon ,  Eric D. Rotvold ,  Robin S. Pramanik ,  Tomas P. Lennvall ,  Yuri Zats ,  Terrence Lynn Blevins

IPC分类号： G06F15/173 ,  H04L12/721 ,  H04L12/707 ,  H04L12/66 ,  H04L12/717 ,  H04W40/22 ,  G06F15/16

CPC分类号： H04L12/66 ,  H04L45/22 ,  H04L45/34 ,  H04L45/42 ,  H04L45/44 ,  H04W40/22 ,  Y02D70/1222 ,  Y02D70/142 ,  Y02D70/144 ,  Y02D70/22 ,  Y02D70/39

摘要： A method of routing a data packet between a first node and a second node on a communication network includes defining a first graph through the first node and the second node and zero or more intermediate nodes, associating several nodes which belong to the communication network with the first graph, associating a first unique graph identifier with the first graph and providing at least partial definitions of the first graph and the first unique identifier to at least some of the nodes associated with the first graph. The method then sends data packet with the graph identifier from the first node, and directs the data packet to the second node via the zero or more intermediate nodes using the graph identifier. This method may include forwarding the packet to a neighbor node of an intermediate node if the intermediate node and the neighbor node are nodes associated with the first graph and if the intermediate node and the neighbor node are connected by at least one direct communication connection.

摘要翻译： 在通信网络上的第一节点和第二节点之间路由数据分组的方法包括通过第一节点和第二节点以及零个或多个中间节点定义第一图，将属于通信网络的几个节点与 第一图，将第一唯一图标识符与第一图相关联，并且将第一图和第一唯一标识符的至少部分定义提供给与第一图相关联的至少一些节点。 然后，该方法从第一节点发送具有图形标识符的数据分组，并且使用图形标识符经由零个或多个中间节点将数据分组引导到第二节点。 如果中间节点和相邻节点是与第一图相关联的节点，以及中间节点和邻居节点是否通过至少一个直接通信连接连接，则该方法可以包括将分组转发到中间节点的邻居节点。

公开(公告)号：US08660108B2

公开(公告)日：2014-02-25

申请号：US12101005

申请日：2008-04-10

申请人： Wallace A. Pratt, Jr. ,  Mark J. Nixon ,  Eric D. Rotvold ,  Robin S. Pramanik ,  Tomas P. Lennvall ,  Yuri Zats

发明人： Wallace A. Pratt, Jr. ,  Mark J. Nixon ,  Eric D. Rotvold ,  Robin S. Pramanik ,  Tomas P. Lennvall ,  Yuri Zats

IPC分类号： H04J3/06

CPC分类号： G01D21/00 ,  H04W24/00 ,  H04W56/0015 ,  H04W56/002 ,  H04W80/00

摘要： A method for synchronizing communications in wireless mesh network operating in a process control environment and including a plurality of network devices includes defining a communication timeslot of a predetermined duration, wherein each of the plurality of network devices transmits or receives data only within the communication timeslot generating a network schedule including at least one superframe having repeating superframe cycles each having a number of communication timeslots sequentially numbered relative to a beginning of each cycle, the number of communication timeslots defining a length of the at least one superframe, maintaining an absolute slot number indicative of a number of communication timeslots scheduled since a start time of the wireless network, synchronizing each of the plurality of network devices with respect to a timing of an individual communication timeslot, and synchronizing each of the plurality of network devices with the network schedule based on the absolute slot number.

摘要翻译： 一种在过程控制环境中操作并包括多个网络设备的无线网状网络中的通信同步的方法包括：定义预定持续时间的通信时隙，其中，所述多个网络设备中的每一个仅在所述通信时隙内产生或接收数据 网络调度包括至少一个具有重复超帧周期的超帧，每个超帧具有相对于每个周期的开始顺序编号的多个通信时隙，定义所述至少一个超帧的长度的通信时隙的数量，维持绝对时隙号指示 从无线网络的开始时间安排的多个通信时隙中的多个网络设备中的每一个相对于各个通信时隙的定时同步，并且基于多个网络设备中的每一个基于 绝对 ollot槽号。

公开(公告)号：US08798084B2

公开(公告)日：2014-08-05

申请号：US12100927

申请日：2008-04-10

申请人： Wallace A. Pratt, Jr. ,  Mark J. Nixon ,  Eric D. Rotvold ,  Robin S. Pramanik ,  Tomas P. Lennvall ,  Terrence L. Blevins

发明人： Wallace A. Pratt, Jr. ,  Mark J. Nixon ,  Eric D. Rotvold ,  Robin S. Pramanik ,  Tomas P. Lennvall ,  Terrence L. Blevins

IPC分类号： H04L12/56

CPC分类号： G01D21/00 ,  H04W24/00 ,  H04W56/0015 ,  H04W56/002 ,  H04W80/00

摘要： 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. If desired, the network manager may begin to define the network schedule upon completing the definition of the graphs of the communication network, so that the network manager may define the network schedule in view both the defined graphs and the transmission, power, etc. parameters associated with each network device.

摘要翻译： 用于例如过程控制设备的网状通信网络包括多个网络设备，其根据定义为一组并发重叠超帧的网络调度，以及沿着一组图形定义通信路径 网络设备。 驻留在通信网络中或外部的网络管理器通过分析网络的拓扑并定义用于在网络的各个节点之间路由或传输数据的图形集合来开发网络的路由方案，每个图包括一个或多个 网络设备对之间的通信路径。 鉴于至少传输要求，功率可用性和每个网络设备的信号质量，网络管理器同时或因此定义网络调度。 如果需要，网络管理器可以在完成通信网络的图形的定义时开始定义网络调度，使得网络管理员可以在定义的图形和传输，功率等参数中定义网络调度 与每个网络设备相关联。

公开(公告)号：US08406248B2

公开(公告)日：2013-03-26

申请号：US12101054

申请日：2008-04-10

申请人： Wallace A. Pratt, Jr. ,  Mark J. Nixon ,  Eric D. Rotvold ,  Robin S. Pramanik ,  Tomas P. Lennvall ,  Terrence L. Blevins

发明人： Wallace A. Pratt, Jr. ,  Mark J. Nixon ,  Eric D. Rotvold ,  Robin S. Pramanik ,  Tomas P. Lennvall ,  Terrence L. Blevins

IPC分类号： H04B7/212

CPC分类号： G01D21/00 ,  H04W24/00 ,  H04W56/0015 ,  H04W56/002 ,  H04W80/00

摘要： A method of routing data in a mesh communication network including a plurality of network devices and operating in a process control environment, including assigning one of a plurality of priority levels associated with the communication network to a data packet, sending the data packet from a source network device included in the plurality of network devices to a destination network device included in the plurality of network devices, and routing the data packet to a destination network device via at least one intermediate network device included in the plurality of network devices. The act of routing includes comparing, at each intermediate network device, the priority level of the data packet to a priority mask of the intermediate network device, and modifying at least one of scheduling or routing of the data packet if the priority level of the data packet is not associated with the priority mask of the intermediate network device.

摘要翻译： 一种在包括多个网络设备并在过程控制环境中操作的网状通信网络中路由数据的方法，包括将与通信网络相关联的多个优先级中的一个分配给数据分组，从源发送数据分组 包括在多个网络设备中的网络设备到包括在多个网络设备中的目的地网络设备，并且经由包括在多个网络设备中的至少一个中间网络设备将数据分组路由到目的地网络设备。 路由动作包括在每个中间网络设备处将数据分组的优先级别与中间网络设备的优先级掩码进行比较，并且如果数据的优先级别修改数据分组的调度或路由中的至少一个 分组不与中间网络设备的优先级掩码相关联。

公开(公告)号：US08325627B2

公开(公告)日：2012-12-04

申请号：US12100995

申请日：2008-04-10

申请人： Wallace A. Pratt, Jr. ,  Mark J. Nixon ,  Eric D. Rotvold ,  Robin S. Pramanik ,  Tomas P. Lennvall ,  Terrence L. Blevins

发明人： Wallace A. Pratt, Jr. ,  Mark J. Nixon ,  Eric D. Rotvold ,  Robin S. Pramanik ,  Tomas P. Lennvall ,  Terrence L. Blevins

IPC分类号： H04L12/28

CPC分类号： H04L12/66 ,  H04W40/20 ,  H04W72/0446 ,  H04W84/18 ,  Y02D70/142 ,  Y02D70/144 ,  Y02D70/22 ,  Y02D70/38

摘要： A method of adaptively scheduling communications in a wireless mesh network including a plurality of network nodes includes generating a network routing scheme based on a topology of the wireless mesh network, generating a communication schedule for the wireless mesh network, and automatically updating the communication schedule in response to detecting a change in a transmission requirement of at least one of the plurality of network nodes. The act of generating a communication schedule includes defining a communication timeslot of a predefined duration and defining a plurality of superframes as repeating cycles of a certain number of consecutively scheduled communication timeslots.

摘要翻译： 一种在包括多个网络节点的无线网状网络中自适应调度通信的方法包括基于无线网状网络的拓扑生成网络路由方案，生成无线网状网络的通信调度，并自动更新通信调度表 响应于检测多个网络节点中的至少一个的传输需求的变化。 生成通信调度的动作包括定义预定持续时间的通信时隙并将多个超帧定义为一定数量的连续调度的通信时隙的重复周期。