Patent ID: 7512676

Claim:
A method for reconfiguring a binary tree topology network upon the departure of a departing node, the network including a plurality of nodes, including a root node, operatively networked together to provide a downtree communication path for data, the network configured wherein a departing node is docked downtree of, and with a parent node, and uptree of, and with a first child node and a second child node, and wherein the first child node is docked uptree of, and with a first grandchild node and a second grandchild node, and wherein the departing node, the parent node, the first child node, the second child node, the first grandchild node and the second grandchild node, are each one of the plurality of nodes, the method of reconfiguring the network comprising the steps of: sending a register message from the first child node to the parent node, the register message requesting that the parent node dock uptree of, and with the first child node; responding to the register message by sending a register accept from the parent node to the first child node, thus docking the parent node uptree of, and with the first child node; sending a priority join message from the second child node to the first child node, the priority join message requesting that the first child node dock uptree of, and with the second child node; sending a disconnect propagate message from the first child node to the second grandchild node upon receiving a priority join message from the second child node; and responding to the priority join message by sending a join accept from the first child node to the second child node, thus docking the first child node uptree of, and with the second child node, whereby the network is reconfigured to no longer include the departing node, the method further comprising the steps of: rating the behavior of at least two sibling nodes docked downtree of the parent node, designating one of the at least two sibling nodes as the first child node based upon the rated behavior, and designating the other of the at least two sibling nodes as the second child node, wherein the rated behavior comprises at least one of: a bandwidth on a link between the parent and at least one of the two sibling nodes docked downtree of the parent node, throughput over a period of time on a link between the parent and at least one of the two sibling nodes docked downstream of the parent node, the elapsed time that each of the at least two sibling nodes have been docked with the distribution network, or the elapsed time that at least two sibling nodes have been docked with the parent.