In the context of a TI 15.4 network, node balancing refers to the network’s capability to distribute network traffic across different PAN coordinators. This is necessary because if there is only one PAN coordinator to control a high number of sensor devices, the network might become congested and the coordinator will not be able to add new devices to the network. By distributing the traffic load evenly, the overall responsiveness of the application improves.

Figure 2-1 shows how node balancing works. The bottom coordinator initially has four associated sensors while the top coordinator only has one. In order to balance the load, one of the sensors switches its coordinator.