A Mesh Network System Upgrade and Network Detection Method

Abstract

This invention relates to Mesh network upgrade technology and discloses a method for detecting network topology during Mesh network system upgrades, addressing the problem in existing technologies where mesh system topology anomalies are not detected after upgrades. The method includes: entering a network topology detection state after the network system software upgrade is completed; in this state, each network device broadcasts a query for neighboring network device information and compares it with saved network topology information; if they are completely identical, or if the MAC address of a neighboring network device is in the saved network topology information, the detection passes and the network device operates normally; otherwise, it wirelessly scans the AP information of neighboring devices to verify if their BSSID exists in the saved network topology information, thereby determining the power-on status of the device. When the detection timer expires, the reason for the network topology detection failure is determined based on the power-on status of neighboring network devices in the saved network topology information, and an upgrade version rollback is performed.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to Mesh network upgrade technology, specifically to a method for detecting network upgrades in a Mesh network system. Background Technology

[0002] With the continuous development of wireless mesh networking, in order to provide users with a better user experience, networking devices will inevitably release new software versions from time to time. New software versions often include various changes such as bug fixes, new features, and improved UI interaction. Therefore, it is necessary to upgrade the networking system in a timely manner.

[0003] Currently, most network system upgrades involve uploading software upgrade packages via a web page or downloading them from a server to the network devices. This either involves upgrading each device individually or having sub-devices download the software from the main network device for simultaneous upgrades. Regardless of the method, upgrade failures are inevitable, currently limited to issues like incorrect upgrade files or software write failures. However, existing technologies lack post-upgrade detection for mesh system anomalies. This can lead to situations where, if the upgrade software itself is faulty, the network devices may be unable to re-network even after a successful upgrade. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The technical problem to be solved by this invention is to propose a mesh network system upgrade networking detection method to solve the problem caused by the failure to detect mesh system networking anomalies after the upgrade in the prior art.

[0005] The technical solution adopted by the present invention to solve the above-mentioned technical problems is as follows:

[0006] A method for upgrading and detecting mesh network systems, applied to network systems including a master device and sub-devices, includes the following steps:

[0007] S1. After receiving the upgrade command, the network master device saves the current network information and sends a message to each network sub-device to save the current network information.

[0008] S2. After receiving the message from the network master device to save the current network information, each network sub-device saves the current network information, sends a save network information response message back to the network master device, and then enters the upgrade waiting state.

[0009] S3. The network master device determines whether it has received the save network information response message from all network sub-devices. If yes, it starts the software upgrade process and proceeds to step S5 after the upgrade is completed; otherwise, it sends an upgrade cancellation broadcast message and proceeds to step S4.

[0010] S4. The network master device notifies the upgrade module that saving network information has failed. The upgrade module stops the current upgrade. The network sub-device that receives the upgrade cancellation broadcast message exits the upgrade waiting state and ends the process.

[0011] S5. Entering network detection mode, each network device in the system executes the following process:

[0012] S51. Set the detection timer;

[0013] S52. This network device broadcasts a query for information about neighboring network devices;

[0014] S53. The networking device compares the obtained neighbor networking device information with the stored networking information to determine whether they are consistent. If they are, the detection timer is canceled, the networking device enters normal operation, and the process ends; otherwise, proceed to step S54.

[0015] S54. Determine whether the obtained MAC address of the neighboring network device is in the saved network information. If yes, cancel the network detection timer, the network device enters normal operation, and the process ends; otherwise, proceed to step S55.

[0016] S55. Start wireless scanning, record the AP information of neighboring network devices, and check whether the BSSID in the AP information exists in the saved network information. If it does, mark the neighboring network device as powered on and proceed to step S56; otherwise, proceed directly to step S56.

[0017] S56. Determine if the detection timer has expired. If it has not expired, return to step S52. If it has expired, notify the upgrade module to revert the upgraded software to the version before the upgrade.

[0018] Furthermore, the current network information includes the MAC addresses of all other network devices in the current Mesh network, and the BSSIDs for 2.4G and 5G.

[0019] Furthermore, in step S56, when notifying the upgrade module to revert the upgraded software to the version before the upgrade, the reason for the software version reversion is also reported.

[0020] Furthermore, the analysis method for the reasons for the software version rollback is as follows:

[0021] When the detection timer expires, a determination is made based on the power-on status of neighboring network devices in the saved network information:

[0022] If all neighboring network devices are not powered on, the reason for the software version rollback is marked as a wireless module malfunction; if any neighboring network devices are powered on, the reason for the software version rollback is marked as a network malfunction.

[0023] The beneficial effects of this invention are:

[0024] This method detects the network status after a system upgrade. If normal network formation is not possible, the upgrade version is rolled back, thus solving the problem of Mesh network system paralysis caused by defects in the upgrade software itself and improving the reliability of Mesh networking. Attached Figure Description

[0025] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a Mesh network;

[0026] Figure 2 A diagram illustrating the upgrade process for a Mesh network system;

[0027] Figure 3 This is a flowchart of the Mesh networking upgrade and networking detection process in the embodiment. Detailed Implementation

[0028] This invention aims to propose a method for detecting network topology during mesh network system upgrades, addressing the problem in existing technologies that fail to detect mesh system topology anomalies after upgrades. This detection method is applicable to network systems including master networking devices and sub-devices, such as... Figure 1 As shown, multiple sub-devices and the main networking device automatically form a Mesh network, and its upgrade process is as follows: Figure 2 As shown, after receiving the upgrade command, the network master device saves the current network information and sends a message to each network sub-device to save the current network information. After receiving the message from the network master device to save the current network information, each network sub-device saves the current network information and sends a confirmation message to the network master device to save the network information, and then enters the upgrade waiting state. After receiving the confirmation messages from all network sub-devices to save the network information, the network master device enters the network upgrade process. After the upgrade is completed, it restarts and then enters the network detection process. If the network detection passes, the network devices operate normally; otherwise, if the network detection fails, the software version is rolled back.

[0029] Example:

[0030] The Mesh network system upgrade and networking detection method in this embodiment includes the following steps:

[0031] 1. When the network master device receives the user's upgrade command, it saves the current network information to non-volatile memory (such as flash). This network information includes the MAC addresses of all other network devices in the Mesh network, as well as the BSSIDs of 2.4G and 5G. At the same time, the network master device sends a message to each network sub-device to save the network information.

[0032] 2. After receiving the message to save network information, the network sub-device saves the current network information to non-volatile memory (such as flash) and replies with a response message to save network information. The network sub-device then enters the upgrade waiting state.

[0033] 3. If the network master device receives ACK messages for saving network information from all network sub-devices, it starts the software upgrade process. If the number of ACK messages for saving network information received by the network master device is less than the number of network sub-devices, the network master device sends three consecutive upgrade cancellation broadcast messages. The network sub-devices that receive the upgrade cancellation broadcast messages exit the upgrade waiting state. After sending the upgrade cancellation broadcast messages, the network master device notifies the upgrade module that saving network information failed. The upgrade module stops the current upgrade and waits for the user to trigger the upgrade again.

[0034] 4. After the Mesh network system devices complete the software upgrade process, they first enter the network detection state and set a 2-minute network detection timer. The network detection process is as follows: Figure 3 As shown:

[0035] a. The networking device broadcasts a query for information from other networking devices (neighboring networking devices). The networking device that receives the query information replies with its own information. The device compares the MAC addresses of other networking devices in the currently collected networking information with the MAC addresses in the saved networking information. If they match, the networking detection timer is stopped, the networking detection upgrade is completed, and the device enters normal operation.

[0036] b. If the obtained current network information is inconsistent with the MAC addresses of other network devices in the saved network information, then determine whether the obtained MAC addresses of other network devices are in the saved network information. If they are, then stop the network detection timer, the network detection upgrade is completed, and the network devices enter normal operation.

[0037] c. If the MAC addresses of other network devices are not found in the saved network information, the network device will start wireless scanning and record the AP information around the network device. This AP information includes the BSSID. The network device will check whether the BSSID exists in the saved network information. If it does, the network device will be marked as powered on.

[0038] Repeat step ac every 5 seconds until the network detection timer expires.

[0039] When the network detection timer expires, check whether other network devices in the saved network information are powered on. If all other network devices are not powered on, the reason may be a wireless module malfunction. Otherwise, if other network devices are powered on, it means that other devices are powered on but have not formed a network normally, and the reason may be a network malfunction. Whether it is a wireless module malfunction or a network malfunction, the network device notifies the upgrade module to revert to the previous software version and reports the reason for the revert.

[0040] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are merely preferred embodiments and are not intended to limit the present invention. It should be pointed out that those skilled in the art can make various modifications, equivalent substitutions, and improvements without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims, and all such modifications, substitutions, and improvements should be included within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method for upgrading and detecting mesh network systems, applied to a network system including a main networking device and sub-networking devices, characterized in that, The method includes the following steps: S1. After receiving the upgrade command, the network master device saves the current network information and sends a message to each network sub-device to save the current network information. S2. After receiving the message from the network master device to save the current network information, each network sub-device saves the current network information, sends a save network information response message back to the network master device, and then enters the upgrade waiting state. S3. The network master device determines whether it has received the save network information response message from all network sub-devices. If yes, it starts the software upgrade process and proceeds to step S5 after the upgrade is completed; otherwise, it sends an upgrade cancellation broadcast message and proceeds to step S4. S4. The network master device notifies the upgrade module that saving network information has failed. The upgrade module stops the current upgrade. The network sub-device that receives the upgrade cancellation broadcast message exits the upgrade waiting state and ends the process. S5. Entering network detection mode, each network device in the system executes the following process: S51. Set the detection timer; S52. This network device broadcasts a query for information about neighboring network devices; S53. The networking device compares the obtained neighbor networking device information with the stored networking information to determine whether they are consistent. If they are, the detection timer is canceled, the networking device enters normal operation, and the process ends; otherwise, proceed to step S54. S54. Determine whether the obtained MAC address of the neighboring network device is in the saved network information. If yes, cancel the network detection timer, the network device enters normal operation, and the process ends; otherwise, proceed to step S55. S55. Start wireless scanning, record the AP information of neighboring network devices, and check whether the BSSID in the AP information exists in the saved network information. If it does, mark the neighboring network device as powered on and proceed to step S56; otherwise, proceed directly to step S56. S56. Determine if the detection timer has expired. If it has not expired, return to step S52. If it has expired, notify the upgrade module to revert the upgraded software to the version before the upgrade.

2. The Mesh network system upgrade and networking detection method as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The current network information includes the MAC addresses of all other network devices in the current Mesh network, and the BSSIDs for 2.4G and 5G.

3. A method for detecting upgrades in a Mesh network system as described in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, In step S56, when notifying the upgrade module to revert the upgraded software to the version before the upgrade, the reason for the software version reversion is also reported.

4. The Mesh network system upgrade and networking detection method as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The analysis method for the reasons for the software version rollback is as follows: When the detection timer expires, a determination is made based on the power-on status of neighboring network devices in the saved network information: If all neighboring network devices are not powered on, the reason for the software version rollback is marked as a wireless module malfunction; if any neighboring network devices are powered on, the reason for the software version rollback is marked as a network malfunction.

Images