US 12,476,864 B2
Handling loss or removal of devices in a mesh network
Jordan H. Crafts, Bethlehem, PA (US); Jason A. King, Bethlehem, PA (US); and Galen Edgar Knode, Macungie, PA (US)
Assigned to Lutron Technology Company LLC, Coopersburg, PA (US)
Filed by Lutron Technology Company LLC, Coopersburg, PA (US)
Filed on Dec. 18, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/127,085.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/002,925, filed on Mar. 31, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/951,433, filed on Dec. 20, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2021/0194766 A1, Jun. 24, 2021
Int. Cl. H04L 41/0816 (2022.01); H04L 12/28 (2006.01); H04W 84/20 (2009.01); H04L 41/0668 (2022.01); H05B 47/19 (2020.01)
CPC H04L 41/0816 (2013.01) [H04L 12/2803 (2013.01); H04W 84/20 (2013.01); H04L 41/0668 (2013.01); H05B 47/19 (2020.01)] 34 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for identifying a router device in a network as a backup-leader device, the method comprising:
receiving, at the router device, a leader advertisement message from a leader device in the network;
determining, at the router device based on information in the leader advertisement message, that a communication quality metric associated with the router device meets at least one backup-leader criteria indicating that the router device has a highest link quality for communications transmitted to or from the leader device of a plurality of router devices in the network;
setting, at the router device based on the determination, a backup-leader flag indicating that the router device is the backup-leader device;
failing to receive a second leader advertisement message at the router device from the leader device within a first timer threshold;
based on the backup-leader flag being set at the router device when the router device fails to receive the second leader advertisement message from the leader device, upgrading a role of the router device to operate as a second leader device on the network; and
transmitting leader advertisement messages from the second leader device.