Patent ID: 7663481

Claim:
A method for mobile sensor node roaming in an environment of first and second adjacent wireless sensor networks having a plurality of sensor nodes, the method comprising the steps of: (a) periodically performing energy detection scan and active scan operations, at the mobile sensor node forming an association with a parent node of the first wireless network, and obtaining energy values of selected channels and link quality indications (LQIs) for the channels; (b) when the sensor node moves to the second wireless sensor network, periodically performing energy detection scan and active scan operations, at the sensor node, and obtaining energy values of selected channels and link quality indications (LQIs) for the channels after movement; (c) comparing, at the sensor node, the energy values and link quality indications (LQIs) of the selected channels before and after movement; (d) when the selected channel energy values and link quality indications (LQIs) are larger after movement than before movement, forming, at the sensor node, an association with a parent node of the second wireless sensor network; and (e) breaking off, at the sensor node, the association with the parent node of the first wireless sensor network.