Patent ID: 7995467
Filing Date: 2011-08-09
Classification: H04B,H04J,H04L,H04W

Abstract:
1. A method comprising: providing a plurality of interconnected nodes in a mesh network, at least one node of the plurality of nodes being designated a primary node, the primary node providing timing synchronization for the plurality of nodes, the timing synchronization being a network synchronization timing signal with which each node of the plurality of nodes can synchronize communication with nodes of the mesh network; the primary node selecting another one of the plurality of nodes as a secondary node based on a selection model from a group including a proximity model, a connectedness model, and a node identifier model; and the primary node designating the selected secondary node in a network communication, the secondary node sending a periodic status message to the primary node to indicate the secondary node's availability to act as a secondary node, the secondary node only providing timing synchronization for the plurality of nodes when the primary node fails to provide the timing synchronization.