Network devices in duty cycle limited networks

Abstract

Aspects of the disclosure provide for a computer program product comprising computer executable instructions. The instructions are executable by a controller of a network device to cause the controller to analyze data transmitted by the network device via a network for a programmed amount of time, determine a data transmission pattern based on the analysis, determine, based on the transmission pattern, a volume of expected data transmission during a period of time, and determine whether to transmit additional data based on a relationship between the volume of expected data transmission during the period of time and a bandwidth allocation of the network device during the period of time.

1 . A method comprising:
 transmitting, by a first device, data over a network during a first period of time;   determining a first transmission time that the first device spends transmitting data over the network during the first period of time;   in response to the first transmission time reaching a maximum transmission time, suspending all transmissions of data of the first device over the network until a start of a second period of time that occurs after the first period of time;   comparing the first transmission time to a predetermined threshold; and   in response to the first transmission time exceeding the predetermined threshold,
 avoiding, by the first device, transmitting a first type of data over the network during the first period of time, and 
 transmitting, by the first device, network maintenance data over the network during the first period of time. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein avoiding transmitting the first type of data comprises:
 receiving a request for transmitting data of the first type; and   declining to transmit the data of the first type.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein receiving the request for transmitting data of the first type comprises receiving the request for transmitting data of the first type from a second device, the method further comprising informing the second device that the first device declined to transmit the data of the first type. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first type of data comprises application-level data. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first type of data comprises data having a size greater than a threshold. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein transmitting network maintenance data comprises transmitting link state or link status messages over the network. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein transmitting network maintenance data comprises periodically transmitting link status messages. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising originating the network maintenance data by the first device. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein transmitting network maintenance data comprises transmitting network maintenance data received from a second device via the network. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising reserving a portion of time of the first period of time for transmission, by the first device, of network maintenance data. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein transmitting network maintenance data comprises informing a second device, via the network, that the first device is available in the network. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein transmitting network maintenance data comprises transmitting an indication of an amount of bandwidth consumed by the first device during the first period of time. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein transmitting network maintenance data comprises transmitting an indication of an amount of bandwidth remaining for the first device during the first period of time. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein transmitting network maintenance data comprises transmitting an indication of an amount of time remaining during the first period of time for the first device to reach a transmission time equal to the maximum transmission time. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein transmitting network maintenance data comprises transmitting an indication of an amount of time remaining until the start of the second period of time. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 during the first period of time, receiving a request to transmit time-sensitive data; and   transmitting, by the first device, at least a portion of the requested time-sensitive data during the first period of time after determining that the first transmission time exceeds the predetermined threshold.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising reserving a buffer of time of the first period of time in addition to a time associated with transmitting the requested time-sensitive data. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising reserving time for transmission of at least another portion of the requested time-sensitive data during the second period of time. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the time-sensitive data is flagged in a header or control portion of a data packet or frame. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a duration of the first period of time is equal to a duration of the second period of time. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first device is a wireless device that operates according to an IEEE 802.15.4 standard. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first period of time has a duration of 3600 seconds and the maximum transmission time is between 90 seconds and 100 seconds.