Auto-Configuring Multi-Layer Network

Abstract

An auto-configuring multi-layer network including different communication protocols, namely both wired and wireless protocols, interchangeably and indifferently to interconnect various devices such as, for example, controllers, actuators, alarms, sensors, interfaces, etc. The auto-configuring multi-layer network uses a virtualization functionality that mirrors devices from one layer having a given communication protocol unto another layer having a different communication protocol.

1 . A method for auto-configuring a multi-layer network including at least two layers using different communication protocols to interchangeably interconnect at least two nodes, the method comprising:
 providing each node with an information packet including:
 a unique identifier; 
 a function identifier; 
 a link quality; and 
 a time to live counter; 
   for each node, broadcasting at defined intervals a heartbeat packet including:
 an indicator that the packet is a heartbeat packet; 
 a layer node identifier specific identifying the broadcasting node within a given layer; and 
 the information packet of the broadcasting node; 
   identifying nodes connected to at least a first layer and a second layer of the at least two layers as virtualizer nodes;   for each virtualizer node:
 a) mirroring nodes observed by the virtualizer node on the first layer onto the second layer, including assigning each first layer node a layer node identifier on the second layer; and 
 b) mirrors nodes observed by the virtualizer node on the second layer onto the first layer, including assigning each second layer node a layer node identifier on the first layer; 
   for each node, building a registry comprising an entry for each node from which a heartbeat is received, the registry entry including:
 the unique identifier of the node from which a heartbeat is received; and 
 the layer node identifiers of the node from which a heartbeat is received; 
   for each node, removing from the registry the entry for each node from which a heartbeat packet has not been received within a fixed period;   
       wherein a source node selects a layer to communicate with a destination node based on the source node registry. 
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one layer uses a wireless communication protocol and at least one layer uses a wired communication protocol. 
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 2 , wherein:
 i) the mirroring of nodes observed on the first layer onto the second layer further includes converting the heartbeat of the nodes observed on the first layer into a format of the second layer; and   ii) the mirroring of nodes observed on the second layer onto the first layer further includes converting the heartbeat of the nodes observed on the second layer into a format of the first layer.   
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 2 , wherein the mirroring of nodes observed on the first layer and second layer further includes decreasing the time to live counter of the mirrored nodes. 
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 4 , wherein the mirroring of nodes observed on the first layer and second layer is effectuated only for nodes whose time to live counter is great than 0. 
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 4 , wherein each registry entry further includes the time to live counter of the node from which a heartbeat is received. 
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 6 , further comprising deciding for the source node whether to collaborate with the destination node based on the time to live counter of the destination node. 
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 2 , wherein the functional identifier is composed of two fields:
 an application field that defines an application in which the node currently operates; and   a function field that defines a function that the node currently fulfills within the current application.   
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 8 , wherein each registry entry further includes the functional identifier of the node from which a heartbeat is received. 
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 9 , further comprising deciding for the source node whether to collaborate with the destination node based on the functional identifier of the destination node. 
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 2 , wherein each registry entry further includes the link quality of the node from which a heartbeat is received. 
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein the mirroring of nodes observed on the first layer and second layer further includes increasing the link quality of the mirrored nodes. 
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 12 , further comprising deciding for the source node whether to collaborate with the destination node based on the link quality of the destination node. 
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 2 , wherein the heartbeat broadcasting interval, the link quality and the time to live counter are all statically defined, resulting in the auto-configuring a multi-layer network operating in a deterministic manner. 
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 2 , further comprising:
 triggering the broadcasting of a locator packet of the source node to establish a collaboration with at least one desired collaboration node, the source node locator packet including:
 an indicator that the packet is a locator packet; and 
 the information packet of the source node; 
   triggering the broadcasting of a locator packet of the at least one desired collaboration node within a localization period associated with the source node, each desired collaboration node locator packet including:
 an indicator that the packet is a locator packet; and 
 the information packet of the desired collaboration node; 
   initiating the collaboration between the source node and the at least one desired collaboration node on the basis of their respective functional identifiers; and   broadcasting that the collaboration between the source node and the at least one desired collaboration node was successfully initiated until a collaboration broadcasting period expires.   
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 2 , wherein further comprising setting the time to live counter of each node so as to define virtual boundaries within the multi-layer network.