US 11,902,923 B2
Node synchronization for networks
Ariton E. Xhafa, Plano, TX (US); Jianwei Zhou, Allen, TX (US); and Xiaolin Lu, Plano, TX (US)
Assigned to TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED, Dallas, TX (US)
Filed by TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED, Dallas, TX (US)
Filed on Jan. 23, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/157,921.
Application 18/157,921 is a continuation of application No. 17/353,872, filed on Jun. 22, 2021, granted, now 11,601,904.
Application 17/353,872 is a continuation of application No. 15/591,698, filed on May 10, 2017, granted, now 11,076,370, issued on Jul. 27, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/346,886, filed on Jun. 7, 2016.
Prior Publication US 2023/0156641 A1, May 18, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. H04W 56/00 (2009.01); H04W 76/25 (2018.01)
CPC H04W 56/001 (2013.01) [H04W 76/25 (2018.02)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
17. A network comprising:
a first network node;
a second network node comprising a first memory, a first controller coupled to the first memory, and a first power module; and
a third network node comprising a second memory, a second controller coupled to the second memory, a second power module, and a first sensor module, wherein:
the first network node is a parent node of the second network node,
the third network node is a child node of the second network node,
the second network node is configured to:
communicate with the third network node via a time division multiple access (TDMA) protocol, and
when the second network node has not synchronized to the first network node within a guard time period established for the third network node, exchange synchronization data with the third network node to enable the third network node to be time synchronized to the second network node before the second network node is synchronized to the first network node.