Patent ID: 9288112
Filing Date: 2016-03-15
CPC Classification: H04L,Y04S

Claim Text:
1. A method for determining an arrangement of nodes configured in a computer network, the method comprising: (a) from at least two nodes, sending a broadcast packet to be received by other nodes configured in the computer network, wherein the broadcast packet includes a time correction field reflecting a time of departure of the broadcast packet from the sending node; (b) at each node receiving a broadcast packet, evaluating the time correction field of the broadcast packet for subsequently determining a relative transit time of the broadcast packet from a sending node to the receiving node, then updating the time correction field reflecting an updated time of departure of the broadcast packet before forwarding the broadcast packet to a next receiving node; (c) determining an ordering arrangement of the nodes configured in the computer network based on the number of nodes and the relative transit times of the broadcast packets; and (d) placing a greater power consuming node closer to a power delivery node and a lesser power consuming node further from the power delivery node in accordance with the ordering arrangement.