Patent ID: 8005020

Claim:
A method of operating a wireless mesh network having a plurality of nodes capable of transmitting and receiving messages, the method comprising: determining a shortest timeslot length to be used by the wireless mesh network based upon minimum time requirements for communication by each node, wherein each timeslot comprises one or more time slot increments each having a time duration t i ; synchronizing the nodes to a communication cycle having a frame, wherein the frame has a time duration T f =Nt i based on a refresh rate of the wireless mesh network, where N is a total number of timeslot increments in the frame, N being a positive integer and each timeslot increment t i being of equal length, wherein the frame forms timeslots each having lengths Mt i ; and assigned to the nodes, wherein, for each timeslot individually, M is a positive integer less than N, and wherein a value of M is initially equal for all of the timeslots; registering a plurality of new nodes with a network manager when the new nodes join the wireless mesh network; determining a shortest timeslot length of which the new nodes are capable within the wireless mesh network based upon minimum time requirements for communication by each new node to turn on its radio, verify an associated channel is clear, send a message, and listen for an acknowledgement; and assigning timeslots within each frame for communication between pairs of nodes, wherein lengths of the assigned timeslots vary as a function of the shortest timeslot length for each pair of nodes, such that at least one pair of the new nodes both having lower minimum time requirements than other nodes is assigned a correspondingly shorter timeslot; wherein the network manager assigns the timeslots.