Patent ID: 7492726
Filing Date: 2009-02-17
Classification: H04L,H04W

Abstract:
1. A method for optimizing packet transmission during a convergecast operation in a convergecast network, the method comprising: receiving a request to perform the convergecast operation in the convergecast network, wherein the convergecast network comprises a base-station and a plurality of nodes, and wherein during the convergecast operation the plurality of nodes communicate packets to the base-station; constructing a convergecast-tree, which includes the base-station and the plurality of nodes, based on hop counts from the plurality of nodes to the base-station; linearizing the convergecast-tree so that the convergecast-tree contains a plurality of linear branches; scheduling packet transmissions for each of the plurality of linear branches and each node in each branch based on a set of predetermined criteria to obtain a scheduled order, wherein obtaining the convergecast schedule for each node involves performing a traversal of the convergecast-tree from each node in the plurality of the nodes to the base-station; and performing packet transmissions in the convergecast-tree using the scheduled order; wherein performing the convergecast operation using the scheduled order substantially optimizes the convergecast operation by reducing a total number of timeslots required to complete the convergecast operation.