Patent ID: 8532002

Claim:
A method for self managing a mesh network including a manager node and a plurality of network nodes, the method comprising: receiving in the manager node a health report packet, sent from a node of the plurality of network nodes, wherein the health report packet is received and sent through the mesh network according to a superframe comprising one or more time slots and one or more channels, wherein the superframe designates links between two nodes of the mesh network for communication, wherein each link in the superframe is designated at a predetermined time slot and a predetermined channel, and wherein the superframe repeats in a continuous cycle, and wherein the health report packet comprises node information including battery information, path information, and neighbor information; determining in the manager node if a management action is required based at least in part on the battery information in the received health report packet, by: calculating an expected battery lifetime based on the received battery information; determining if the expected battery lifetime is below a prescribed period-of-time threshold; and in the event that the expected lifetime is below the prescribed period-of-time threshold, determining that management action is required; and upon determining that management action is required, performing the management action wherein the management action is determined based at least in part on information in the health report packet, wherein the management action includes changing a configuration of the superframe to reduce battery use by the node from which the health report packet is received.