Low-power wireless mesh network and method for transmitting and receiving signals in wireless mesh network

Abstract

A wireless mesh network and a method for transmitting and receiving signals in the wireless mesh network. The wireless mesh network includes a plurality of low-power nodes. Each low-power node receives signals intermittently when serving as a data receiving node or a data relay node, thereby reducing the power consumption of the wireless mesh network.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a wireless mesh network, and in particular to a low-power wireless mesh network. Background Art

[0002] With the advancement of network technology, various wireless networks are constantly evolving to provide users with better wireless communication quality. Wireless mesh networks (WMNs) are one of the booming technologies in next-generation wireless communications. For areas where wired networks are lacking or uneconomical to deploy, WMNs can provide the necessary wireless broadband network environment. Furthermore, thanks to the self-organized and self-configured nature of WMN architecture, WMNs are both easy to deploy and maintain.

[0003] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a mesh network 100 in the prior art. Mesh network 100 comprises multiple mesh nodes NM, each of which can function as a data sending node, a data receiving node, or a data relay node. When acting as a data receiving node or a data relay node, each mesh node NM continuously monitors mesh network 100 to ensure timely data reception and, upon receipt, timely transmission. Consequently, conventional mesh networks 100 consume high power. Applications in IoT products using disposable batteries require large-capacity batteries, significantly increasing costs.

[0004] In the mesh network 100 of the prior art, some mesh nodes NM can enter sleep mode to reduce power consumption, but other mesh nodes NM still need to continuously monitor to act as relay nodes or cache nodes, and then cache the data sent and received by the sleep mode mesh nodes NM, so a lot of energy is still consumed. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The present invention provides a wireless mesh network, which includes a plurality of low-power consumption nodes. Each low-power consumption node is intermittently connected when serving as a data receiving node or a data relay node.

[0006] The present invention also provides a method for sending and receiving signals in a wireless mesh network, which includes a first low-power node in the wireless mesh network sending a signal; and a second low-power node in the wireless mesh network receiving the signal transmitted by the first low-power node during a first receiving period within a first receiving cycle, and stopping receiving during a first idle period within the first receiving cycle, wherein the length of the first idle period is greater than 0. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a mesh network in the prior art.

[0008] Figure 2 FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a wireless mesh network according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0009] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of a low-power node in a wireless mesh network operating as a data receiving node or a data relay node in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0010] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of a low-power node in a wireless mesh network operating as a data sending node in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0011] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of a low-power node in a wireless mesh network operating as a data sending node in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0012] Explanation of symbols

[0013] 10 Mesh Entry Nodes

[0014] 20 Internet

[0015] 30 User Devices

[0016] 100 mesh network

[0017] 200 Wireless Mesh Network

[0018] NM Mesh Node

[0019] NL1~NL M Low-power nodes

[0020] TR receiving cycle

[0021] TT sending cycle

[0022] Tr Receiving period

[0023] Ts Idle time DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] Figure 2 FIG2 is a schematic diagram of a wireless mesh network 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The wireless mesh network 200 includes a mesh portal node 10 and a plurality of low-power nodes NL1 to NL2. M , where M is an integer greater than 1. Figure 2 An embodiment with M=10 is shown, however the number of low-power nodes does not limit the scope of the present invention.

[0025] The mesh ingress node 10 is a gateway between the Internet 20 and the low-power nodes NL1 to NL M and is responsible for routing data from within the wireless mesh network 200 to the Internet 20, or from the Internet 20 to within the wireless mesh network 200. The low-power nodes NL1 to NL M can directly provide wireless Internet access services to one or more user devices (mobile stations, MS) 30 through a wireless access link.

[0026] In the wireless mesh network 200 of the present invention, each of the low-power nodes NL1 to NL M can act as a data sending node, a data receiving node, or a data relay node. When the radio coverage ranges of a first low-power node NL1 acting as a data sending node and a second low-power node NL2 acting as a data receiving node overlap, a wireless mesh link exists between these two low-power nodes to transfer data. These low-power nodes NL1 to NL M and the mesh ingress node 10 form a mesh distribution system. That is, the first low-power node NL1 acting as a data sending node can transmit data to the second low-power node NL2 acting as a data relay node, and the second low-power node NL2 acting as a data relay node can forward the data to a third low-power node NL3 acting as a data receiving node, and so on until the data is transmitted to the final target low-power node.

[0027] Figure 3 are schematic diagrams of the low-power nodes NL1 to NL in the wireless mesh network 200 of an embodiment of the present invention M when operating as a data receiving node or a data relay node. Figure 4 and Figure 5 are schematic diagrams of the low-power nodes NL1 to NL in the wireless mesh network 200 of an embodiment of the present invention M when operating as a data sending node.

[0028] As Figure 3 shown, when acting as a data receiving node or a data relay node, the low-power nodes NL1 to NL M intermittently receive signals. Here, TR represents the length of a receiving cycle, Tr represents the receiving period within a receiving cycle TR (0 < Tr < TR), and Ts represents the idle period within a receiving cycle TR. Since the low-power nodes NL1 to NL MIt only needs to operate within the receiving period Tr within the receiving cycle TR, so the power consumption during listening can be reduced to Tr / TR times when listening continuously.

[0029] like Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown, when serving as a data sending node, in order to ensure that the data can be successfully received by other data receiving nodes or data relay nodes, the low-power nodes NL1 to NL M The data will be transmitted with a sending period TT that is greater than or equal to the receiving period TR (e.g. Figure 4 ), or continuously transmit data (as shown in Figure 5 shown).

[0030] Furthermore, in the wireless mesh network 200 of the present invention, data transmission can be terminated by any low-power node. In one embodiment, any low-power node can send a termination signal with a duration no less than the reception period TR. Upon receiving the termination signal, the other low-power nodes will cease transmitting signals.

[0031] In summary, the wireless mesh network of the present invention includes a plurality of low-power nodes. Each low-power node is intermittently connected when serving as a data receiving node or a data relay node, thereby reducing the power consumption of the wireless mesh network.

[0032] The above descriptions are merely preferred embodiments of the present invention. All equivalent changes and modifications made according to the claims of the present invention should fall within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A wireless mesh network comprising: Multiple low-power nodes, each low-power node receives signals during a receiving period within a receiving cycle when acting as a data receiving node or a data relay node, and stops receiving signals during an idle period within the receiving cycle, and the length of the idle period is greater than 0, wherein a first low-power node among the multiple low-power nodes also sends a termination signal with a length not less than the receiving cycle, wherein a second low-power node among the multiple low-power nodes terminates signal transmission after receiving the termination signal. 2 . The wireless mesh network of claim 1 , wherein when serving as a data sending node, each low power node transmits a signal within a sending cycle, and a length of the sending cycle is not less than a length of the receiving cycle.

3. A method for transmitting and receiving signals in a wireless mesh network, comprising: A first low-power node of the wireless mesh network sends a signal; and A second low-power node of the wireless mesh network receives the signal transmitted by the first low-power node during a first receiving period within a first receiving cycle, and stops answering during a first idle period within the first receiving cycle, wherein the length of the first idle period is greater than 0, wherein the first low-power node also sends a termination signal with a length not less than the receiving cycle, wherein the second low-power node terminates signal transmission after receiving the termination signal.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising: The first low-power node sends the signal in a first sending cycle, wherein the length of the first sending cycle is not less than the length of the first receiving cycle.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising: The second low-power consumption node sends the signal in a second sending cycle; and A third low-power node of the wireless mesh network receives the signal transmitted by the second low-power node during a second receiving period within a second receiving cycle, and stops answering during a second idle period within the second receiving cycle, wherein the length of the second idle period is greater than 0, and the length of the second sending cycle is not less than the length of the second receiving cycle.

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