Benchmark Electronics, Inc.
Mesh ranging and network message and slot structure for ad-hoc networks and method therefor

Abstract:

A method for establishing timing and processing of network messages in a wireless ad-hoc network comprising: establishing a network identification (ID) when the wireless ad-hoc network is unestablished; and establishing a local timing in the wireless ad-hoc network, the local timing having a network data frame structure, each network data frame in the network data frame structure having a plurality of network slot times, wherein each network slot time is designated as one of an assigned network slot time or a shared network slot time, each wireless node in the wireless ad-hoc network designated as one of an assigned wireless node or an unassigned wireless node, each assigned wireless node initiating and transmitting network messages in a corresponding assigned network slot time or any available shared network slot time, and each unassigned wireless node initiating and transmitting network messages only in any available shared network slot time.