A method for providing an update package to a node in a mesh network comprising a set of nodes and a gateway node arranged to provide access to an update server via a second network. The gateway node collects package information from each set node, including a first node. Each package identifies a respective node and its package version. The gateway node may query the update server based on the package information. The update server may respond to the gateway node with an updated package for the first node. The gateway node broadcasts the updated package into the mesh network as a sequence of mesh messages. Each of a first plurality of nodes of the set may forward the mesh messages to other nodes. The first node stores the mesh messages so as the sequence of mesh messages is received, assemble the updated package.

Systems and methods are disclosed for efficient signaling between devices. A leaf device initiates association with chirp signals to relay devices. Relay devices respond with keep alive signals. The leaf device selects a relay (from those that responded) and associates with it. Alternatively, selection of the relay may be offloaded to a base station. In another embodiment, an available relay device transmits a discovery broadcast to leaf devices. A leaf device responds with a chirp signal to the relay and association occurs. After association, the leaf device periodically sends a chirp signal and the relay responds with a keep alive signal. If either device fails to send its signal, link breakage is assumed. The leaf device reverts to uplink communication with a base station while searching for another relay. Downlink paging may be synchronized with the chirp/keep alive signaling. Other aspects, embodiments, and features are also claimed and described.

Systems and methods are disclosed for efficient signaling between devices. A relay device initiates association with discovery broadcast signals to leaf devices. Each leaf responds with association request signals. After association, the relay periodically sends stay alive signals to the leaf, and the leaf periodically sends link confirmation signals to the relay. If either device fails to send its signal, link breakage is assumed. The leaf device reverts to uplink communication with a base station while searching for another relay. In another embodiment, the leaf foregoes association with a relay, instead forming a device to device (D2D) connection with a relay. A D2D connection is used when the leaf does not expect a link to a relay to be stable enough to justify the association overhead, or when downlink traffic is arriving more frequently than an associated relay is awake. Other aspects, embodiments, and features are also claimed and described.

The present invention relates to a computing apparatus as an element of a network structure using a method for acquiring and maintaining cell locked data transfer amongst a number of computing apparatuses. A predefined number of symbols transmitted as a cell is followed by a variable number of idle symbols to ensure the nominally simultaneous start of the cell transfers throughout the network without a central control. At specific positions of the cells each computing apparatus broadcasts a list of its transmission requests and receiver capabilities to all other computing apparatuses. Each of the interconnected computing apparatuses executes the same arbitration procedure based on the identical data set of transmission requests and receiver capabilities. As a result transmission paths are assigned for direct transmission and for payload forwarding. The transmission paths can be assigned per cell period individually for both directions of each link.

A communication device configured to form a cluster with one or more other communication devices in its vicinity, monitor the presence, in the cluster, of those other communication devices and provide information about the presence, in the cluster, of the other communication devices to another device.

A satellite communications system can use a spread-spectrum waveform and format, a synchronization scheme, and/or a power management algorithm. This approach can provide benefits such as allowing every terminal to communicate with every other terminal, link margin permitting. This gives the network a mesh topology although it can be configured in a star topology for highly asymmetric applications. A further understanding of the nature and the advantages of particular embodiments disclosed herein may be realized by reference of the remaining portions of the specification and the attached drawings.

Systems and methods for communication between near field communication devices within a target communication region using near field magnetic induction is disclosed. One method comprises generating a near field detectable signal at an active node having a power level sufficient to enable communication with a plurality of near field communication nodes located within the target communication region. Information is modulated onto the near field detectable signal using at least one of the near field communication nodes. The modulated information is detected at the active node. The information is then relayed on the near field detectable signal from the active node to at least one of the plurality of near field communication nodes within the target communication region.

The present disclosure relates to a system, a method and an apparatus for data communication, which belongs to the field of smart home. The system includes: a server, a Zigbee gateway, and at least a Zigbee device, wherein the server is configured to receive a control instruction, wherein the control instruction carries identification of the Zigbee device; the server is configured to forward the control instruction to the Zigbee gateway; the Zigbee gateway is configured to receive the control instruction sent by the server via the target network chip, acquire the identification of the Zigbee device carried in the control instruction; and forward the control instruction to the corresponding Zigbee device via the Zigbee chip; and the Zigbee device is configured to receive the control instruction forwarded by the Zigbee gateway, wherein a network type corresponding to the target network chip is different from that of a Zigbee network.

A method for pseudo channel hopping in a node of a wireless mesh network is provided that includes scanning each channel of a plurality of channels used for packet transmission by the node, wherein each channel is scanned for a scan dwell time associated with the channel, updating statistics for each channel based on packets received by the node during the scanning of the channel, and changing scan dwell times of the plurality of channels periodically based on the statistics.