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 . A method comprising:
 transmitting a frame from a source node to an intermediate node;   at the source node and during a time interval, failing to detect transmission of the frame by the intermediate node; and   retransmitting the frame from the source node to the intermediate node after expiration of the time interval.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: at the source node and during the time interval, failing to receive a routed acknowledgement frame from the intermediate node to the source node. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the time interval includes a randomly generated time interval. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein transmitting includes unicast transmitting. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein retransmitting includes unicast retransmitting. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each of the source node and intermediate node includes a mesh network node in a wireless mesh network, and wherein the transmitting and retransmitting occur wirelessly within the wireless mesh network. 
     
     
         7 . A method comprising:
 receiving a frame at a destination node from an intermediate node;   transmitting a routed acknowledgement frame from the destination node to the intermediate node;   at the destination node and during a time interval, failing to detect transmission of the routed acknowledgement frame by the intermediate node; and   retransmitting the routed acknowledgement frame from the destination node to the intermediate node after expiration of the time interval.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the time interval includes a randomly generated time interval. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein transmitting includes unicast transmitting. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein retransmitting includes unicast retransmitting. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein each of the destination node and the intermediate node includes a mesh network node in a wireless mesh network, and wherein the transmitting, retransmitting, and receiving all occur wirelessly within the wireless mesh network. 
     
     
         12 . A method comprising:
 transmitting a frame from a node to an intermediate node;   at the node and during a first time interval, failing to detect transmission of the frame by the intermediate node;   at the node and during the first time interval, failing to detect transmission of a routed acknowledgement frame from the intermediate node to the node;   retransmitting the frame from the node to the intermediate node after expiration of the first time interval;   receiving a second frame at the node from the intermediate node;   transmitting a second routed acknowledgement frame from the node to the intermediate node;   at the node and during a second time interval, failing to detect transmission of the second routed acknowledgement frame by the intermediate node; and   retransmitting the second routed acknowledgement frame from the node to the intermediate node after expiration of the second time interval.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the first time interval includes a randomly generated time interval. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the second time interval includes a randomly generated time interval. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein transmitting includes unicast transmitting. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein retransmitting includes unicast retransmitting. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein each of the node and the intermediate node includes a mesh network node in a wireless mesh network, and wherein the transmitting, retransmitting, and receiving all occur wirelessly within the wireless mesh network. 
     
     
         18 . A system comprising:
 a mesh network node adapted to transmit a frame, to detect transmission of the frame, to retransmit the frame after failing to detect transmission of the frame during a first time interval, to receive a second frame, to transmit a routed acknowledgement frame in response to receiving the second frame, to detect transmission of the routed acknowledgement frame, and to retransmit the routed acknowledgement frame after failing to detect transmission of the routed acknowledgement frame during a second time interval,   wherein the mesh network node retransmits the frame to an intermediate node after both failing to detect transmission of the frame by the intermediate node during the first time interval and failing to receive a routed acknowledgement frame from the intermediate node during the first time interval.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the first time interval includes a randomly generated time interval. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the second time interval includes a randomly generated time interval. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the frame includes a unicast frame. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the routed acknowledgement frame includes a unicast routed acknowledgement frame.