Patent ID: 8331282

Claim:
A method comprising: dividing a time period into a plurality of frames; subdividing each of the plurality of frames into a plurality of slots, each of the plurality of slots providing a time segment for local data communication between nodes in a mesh network; enabling each node in the mesh network to dynamically assign itself one or more slots of the plurality of slots for receiving network communications; enabling each node in the mesh network to dynamically assign itself one or more channels for network communications, the one or more channels corresponding to distinct radio frequency bands; and configuring each node in the mesh network for communicating to other nodes of the mesh network information indicative of each node's dynamic assignment of a combination of the one or more slots and the one or more channels, the combination being dynamically self-assigned for network communications, each node having a single radio receiver for receiving network communications via the dynamically self-assigned combination of the one or more slots and the one or more channels, the single radio receiver being deactivated when a particular node is not communicating with the other nodes of the mesh network.