The present disclosure discloses example communication methods and access network device. One example method includes sending, by an access network device, indication information to user equipment, where the indication information indicates a manner of receiving multicast service data, and the manner of receiving multicast service data includes a unicast manner. The multicast service data is sent by the access network device in the unicast manner.

A garage door status monitoring and control system for a jackshaft operator may include a control module comprising a programmable platform configured to: receive a change-door-status command to change a position of a door; in response to the change-door-status command, generate and communicate a light or sound command to a wireless controller; delay a period of time after communicating the light or sound command to the wireless controller; and only after the delay, generate a door command corresponding to said change-door-status command to change the position of the door.

Methods and systems are described for preparing a node-enabled shipment of an item to be shipped using a wireless node network having at least a node and a server. A user access device, such as a laptop computer, smartphone, or tablet, may capture an identification of the node to be related to the item. The user access device enters shipping information related to the item and linked with an identification of the node. The shipping information is stored on the node, and then the node is combined with the item to be shipped. A system may include a node and a server, where the node is specially-adapted via programming to emit the identification of the node to the user access device, receive shipping information from the device, store the shipping information on the node, and then upload the shipping information to the server.

Methods and systems are described for preparing a node-enabled shipment of an item to be shipped using a wireless node network having at least a node and a server. A user access device, such as a laptop computer, smartphone, or tablet, may capture an identification of the node to be related to the item. The user access device enters shipping information related to the item and linked with an identification of the node. The shipping information is stored on the node, and then the node is combined with the item to be shipped. A system may include a node and a server, where the node is specially-adapted via programming to emit the identification of the node to the user access device, receive shipping information from the device, store the shipping information on the node, and then upload the shipping information to the server.

Methods and systems are described for monitoring a piece of equipment using a node network having multiple nodes and a server. A second node is associated with the equipment, can monitor equipment operations, and communicate directly with a first node but is unable to directly communicate with the server. The first node can directly communicate with the server and separately communicate with the second node. The first node associates with the second node when the first node detects a signal broadcast from the second node. The second node detects an actionable event related to the operation of the equipment, and transmits a message reporting the actionable event to the first node. The first node notifies the server about the actionable event. Thereafter, the server initiates a responsive action based upon the notification.

Methods and systems are described for monitoring a piece of equipment using a node network having multiple nodes and a server. A second node is associated with the equipment, can monitor equipment operations, and communicate directly with a first node but is unable to directly communicate with the server. The first node can directly communicate with the server and separately communicate with the second node. The first node associates with the second node when the first node detects a signal broadcast from the second node. The second node detects an actionable event related to the operation of the equipment, and transmits a message reporting the actionable event to the first node. The first node notifies the server about the actionable event. Thereafter, the server initiates a responsive action based upon the notification.

A garage door status monitoring and control system includes a control module for receiving door position information and receiving change of door position commands from a remote Internet access device. The control module includes a programmable platform configured to: route door position information to a wireless interface for transmission to the Internet access device; and cause said change of door position commands to generate a light and sound command and a door position command. A Bluetooth microprocessor generates a wireless signal to actuate a light fixture in response to the light and sound command. The light fixture includes a microprocessor for wirelessly returning an acknowledge signal. The acknowledge signal is conductively transmitted to the programmable platform from the Bluetooth microprocessor. Receipt of the acknowledge signal allows the door position command to be generated only after a defined period of time following the generation of the light and sound command.

Methods, apparatus, and processor-readable storage media for generating transmission arrangements for device group communication sessions are provided herein. An example computer-implemented method includes determining a transmission ordering of at least a portion of multiple devices in a designated group with respect to transmitting data packets during at least a portion of a communication session, wherein the transmission ordering comprises device identifiers, attributed to at least a portion of the multiple devices, assigned to sequential transmission slots; determining a scheduled distribution of multiple data packet types transmitted by at least a portion of the multiple devices across the sequential transmission slots, wherein the scheduled distribution comprises an identification of a respective one of the multiple data packet types assigned to each of the sequential transmission slots; and participating in the communication session in accordance with (i) the transmission ordering and (ii) the scheduled distribution of the multiple data packet types.

Systems and methods for facilitating wireless intercom in a local communications network are disclosed. Exemplary implementations may: generate and transmit a first broadcast packet and a second broadcast packet to a set of end-user communication devices; receive a first device-specific packet, on a first channel by a first central antenna and during a first uplink time period; receive a second device-specific packet, on the first channel by the first central antenna and during a second uplink time period; receive the first device-specific packet, on a second channel by a second central antenna and during a third uplink time period; receive the second device-specific packet, on the second channel by the second central antenna and during a fourth uplink time period; generate a third broadcast packet that includes packetized downlink information; and transmit the third broadcast packet to the set of end-user communication devices.

Systems and apparatus are described for enhanced communication within a wireless node network. A system includes a server and multiple nodes, where each node can generate sensed data about or around the node and receive external data from another node according to a server tracked logical connection between those nodes. At least a subset of the nodes can connect to the server using a first connectivity mode or an intermediary connectivity mode. In the first connectivity mode, a first node of the subset can transmit a message directly to the server without using intermediary ones of the nodes (where the message includes sensed data about or around the first node). In the intermediary connectivity mode, the first node can receive the external data from the another node and transmit the external data to the server (where the external data is sensed data about or around the another node).