Silent acknowledgement of routing in a mesh network

Abstract

In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for sending a single cast frame from a first node to a second node in a mesh network; sending the single cast frame from the second node to a third node in a mesh network; using the first node to detect the single cast frame sent from the second node to the third node; and interpreting this detection within the first node as an acknowledgement of success in sending the single cast frame from the first node to the second node. An additional method described herein may send a second single cast from the second node to a third node in a mesh network, interpret detection of the second single class frame within the first node as an acknowledgement of success in sending the first single cast frame from the first node to the second node.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A method comprising:
 transmitting a frame to an intermediate node;   transmitting a message beam from the intermediate node to an intermittently powered mesh network node to remain powered in order to receive the frame from the intermediate node once the intermittently powered mesh network node powers up; and   retransmitting the frame to the intermediate node if transmission from the intermediate node to the intermittently powered mesh network node is not detected.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein a duration of the message beam length exceeds the time period that the intermittently powered mesh network node is powered down. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the message beam contains a preamble with data indicating that the intermittently powered mesh network node is to remain powered up in order to receive the frame. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein upon powering up the intermittently powered mesh network node requests configuration information relating to a network topology from the first network node. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the retransmitting of the frame is provided after a time interval. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the intermediate node is a constantly powered mesh network node. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the transmission of the message beam by the intermediate node is as a result of the intermediate node receiving the frame. 
     
     
         9 . A method comprising:
 transmitting a message beam from a source node to an intermediate intermittently powered mesh network node to instruct the intermediate intermittently powered mesh network node to remain powered to receive a frame from the source node;   transmitting the frame from the source node to the intermediate intermittently powered mesh network node with an instruction for the intermediate intermittently powered mesh network node to send the frame on to a destination node; and   retransmitting the frame from the source node to the intermediate intermittently powered mesh network node if the source node fails to detect the transmission of the frame to the destination node.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein a duration of the message beam length exceeds the time period that the intermediate intermittently powered mesh network node is powered down. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the message beam contains a preamble with data indicating that the intermediate intermittently powered mesh network node is to remain powered up in order to receive the frame. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein upon powering up the intermediate intermittently powered mesh network node requests configuration information relating to a network topology from the source network node. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the retransmitting of the frame is provided after a time interval. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein at least one of the source and destination nodes are a constantly powered mesh network node.