Scheduling algorithm and method for time slotted channel hopping (TSCH) MAC

摘要

A network device for a wireless local area network, specifically a TSCH MAC and IEEE 802.15.4e wireless network. The network device can wirelessly communicate with a plurality of wireless network nodes over at least one frequency channel according to a schedule which allocates cells to links. A cell is a timeslot on a frequency channel; and a link represents communication between two network nodes or a network node and the network device. The network device has a radio and a processor. The radio is operable to receive traffic information, comprising the number of packets each of the network nodes is planning to transmit during a scheduling period and the processor is configured to define a schedule. The schedule has at least one cell allocated to a link as a redundancy cell for communicating a packet when communication of a packet by the link during an earlier allocated cell fails.