Network link switching method and apparatus, wireless network system, and dual-frequency relay device

Abstract

The embodiment of the present application provides a network link switching method and device, a wireless network system and a dual-frequency relay device. The embodiment of the present application pre-configures a main link and a backup link for the dual-frequency relay device. When detecting that the main link fails, the data transmission link can be automatically switched from the main link to the backup link. The network recovery process is accelerated through the backup link established in advance, so as to ensure the continuity of data transmission. Compared with the related art, the embodiment of the present application does not need to perform the scanning of the network environment and the establishment of the network link when switching the network link, reduces the switching time of the network link, solves the technical problem that the switching time of the main link and the backup link is long in the related art, and does not need manual operation in the process, thereby improving the efficiency of the network link switching. In addition, the topology structures of the main link and the backup link of the dual-frequency relay device in the embodiment of the present application are independent of each other, thereby ensuring the stability and reliability of the wireless network.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of communications, and more particularly to a network link switching method, apparatus, wireless network system, and dual-band relay device. Background Technology

[0002] Currently, to improve the anti-interference capability and stability of wireless networks, wireless networks typically interconnect multiple access points (APs) to form a tree or chain-like network topology. However, in actual use, network access points and links are susceptible to wireless signal interference, equipment failure, or environmental changes, leading to network outages. Traditional network recovery methods require access points to rescan the network environment and re-associate devices, which is time-consuming and affects network continuity and user experience. Therefore, related technologies have begun to introduce backup links to reduce the time required for network recovery.

[0003] However, the activation of backup links in related technologies relies on passive triggering due to child node disconnection. This means the backup link only becomes active after a network link fails, leading to brief network interruptions and impacting service continuity. Furthermore, network access nodes need to re-complete link association, authentication, and negotiation processes during link switching, increasing switching time. Moreover, these technologies only focus on the link status of a single network access point during backup link switching, ignoring the overall network topology. This can result in two or more devices acting as backup links for each other during network recovery, potentially causing broadcast storms during failures. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This application provides a network link switching method and apparatus, a wireless network system, and a dual-band relay device. By pre-configuring a primary link and a backup link for the dual-band relay device, when a failure of the primary link is detected, the data transmission link can be automatically switched from the primary link to the backup link. The pre-established backup link accelerates the network recovery process and ensures the continuity of data transmission. This solves the technical problem of long switching time between the primary link and the backup link in related technologies. Moreover, no manual operation is required during this process, reducing human intervention and improving the efficiency of network link switching.

[0005] In a first aspect, embodiments of this application provide a network link switching method, applicable to a dual-band relay device. The dual-band relay device includes a first radio frequency (RF) chip and a second RF chip, wherein the first RF chip and the second RF chip operate at different frequency bands. The first RF chip includes a first site interface and a first wireless access interface, and the second RF chip includes a second site interface and a second wireless access interface. The first site interface and the second wireless access interface are bridged via a first bridge, and the second site interface and the first wireless access interface are bridged via a second bridge. The dual-band relay device is pre-configured with a primary link and a backup link. The primary link is implemented based on either the first bridge or the second bridge, and the backup link is implemented based on a bridge different from the primary link between the first bridge and the second bridge. The method includes:

[0006] Periodically check the link status of the main link;

[0007] If the primary link fails and data transmission is in progress based on the link status, the current data transmission link is switched from the primary link to the backup link so that data transmission can be performed through the backup link.

[0008] Secondly, embodiments of this application provide a wireless network system, including at least one network control device and multiple dual-band relay devices executing the network link switching method described in the first aspect. The network control device includes a third radio frequency chip and a fourth radio frequency chip, wherein the third radio frequency chip and the fourth radio frequency chip operate at different frequency bands. The third radio frequency chip of the network control device includes a third wireless access interface, which is configured to be connected to a first site interface of at least one of the dual-band relay devices. The fourth radio frequency chip of the network control device includes a fourth wireless access interface, which is configured to be connected to a second site interface of at least one of the dual-band relay devices. Furthermore, the backup links of any two or more dual-band relay devices in the wireless network system do not form a loop. The network control device is configured to send communication data uploaded by the connected dual-band relay devices to a gateway, and to send communication data sent by the gateway to the connected dual-band relay devices.

[0009] Thirdly, embodiments of this application provide a network link switching device, applicable to a dual-band relay device. The dual-band relay device includes a first radio frequency (RF) chip and a second RF chip. The first RF chip and the second RF chip operate at different frequency bands. The first RF chip includes a first site interface and a first wireless access interface. The second RF chip includes a second site interface and a second wireless access interface. The first site interface and the second wireless access interface are bridged via a first bridge, and the second site interface and the first wireless access interface are bridged via a second bridge. The dual-band relay device is pre-configured with a primary link and a backup link. The primary link is implemented based on either the first bridge or the second bridge, and the backup link is implemented based on a bridge different from the primary link among the first bridge and the second bridge. The device includes:

[0010] The fault detection module is configured to periodically detect the link status of the main link;

[0011] The link switching module is configured to switch the current data transmission link from the primary link to the backup link when the primary link fails and data transmission is in progress, based on the link status.

[0012] Fourthly, this application provides a dual-band repeater device, which includes a first radio frequency chip and a second radio frequency chip. The first radio frequency chip and the second radio frequency chip operate in different frequency bands. The first radio frequency chip includes a first site interface and a first wireless access interface. The second radio frequency chip includes a second site interface and a second wireless access interface. The first site interface and the second wireless access interface are bridged through a first bridge, and the second site interface and the first wireless access interface are bridged through a second bridge. The dual-band repeater device is pre-configured with a main link and a backup link. The main link is implemented based on the first bridge or the second bridge, and the backup link is implemented based on a bridge that is different from the main link among the first bridge and the second bridge. The dual-band repeater device also includes a processor and a memory.

[0013] The memory is configured to store computer programs and transfer the computer programs to the processor;

[0014] The processor is configured to execute the network link switching method as described in the first aspect according to instructions in the computer program.

[0015] Fifthly, embodiments of this application provide a storage medium for storing computer-executable instructions, which, when executed by a computer processor, are configured to perform the network link switching method as described in the first aspect.

[0016] Sixthly, embodiments of this application also provide a computer program product, which includes a computer program stored in a computer-readable storage medium. At least one processor of the device reads from the computer-readable storage medium and executes the computer program, causing the device to perform the network link switching method described in embodiments of this application.

[0017] The above-described embodiments of this application provide a network link switching method, apparatus, wireless network system, and dual-band repeater device. By pre-configuring a primary link and a backup link for the dual-band repeater device, when a primary link failure is detected, the data transmission link can be automatically switched from the primary link to the backup link. The pre-established backup link accelerates the network recovery process, ensuring data transmission continuity. Compared with related technologies, this application does not require network environment scanning and network link establishment during network link switching, reducing switching time and solving the technical problem of long switching times for primary and backup links in related technologies. Furthermore, no manual operation is required during this process, reducing human intervention and improving network link switching efficiency. In addition, the primary and backup links of the dual-band repeater device in this application use different RF chips and bridges, making their topologies independent. Even if the primary link fails, it will not affect the backup link, ensuring the stability and reliability of the wireless network. Attached Figure Description

[0018] Figure 1 This is a flowchart of a network link switching method provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0019] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a dual-frequency relay device provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0020] Figure 3 This is a flowchart illustrating another network link switching method provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0021] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of a network control device provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0022] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of a wireless network system provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0023] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of a network link switching device provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0024] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a dual-frequency relay device provided in an embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0025] The following description and accompanying drawings fully illustrate specific embodiments of this application to enable those skilled in the art to practice them. The embodiments represent only possible variations. Individual components and functions are optional unless explicitly required, and the order of operation may vary. Parts and features of some embodiments may be included in or replace parts and features of other embodiments. The scope of embodiments of this application includes the entire scope of the claims and all available equivalents of the claims. In this document, each embodiment may be referred to individually or collectively by the term "invention," which is merely for convenience and is not intended to automatically limit the scope of the application to any single invention or inventive concept if more than one invention is disclosed. Relational terms such as "first" and "second" are used herein only to distinguish one entity or operation from another, without requiring or implying any actual relationship or order between these entities or operations. Furthermore, the terms "comprising," "including," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed. The various embodiments in this document are described in a progressive manner, with each embodiment focusing on its differences from other embodiments. Similar or identical parts between embodiments can be referred to interchangeably. For the structures, products, etc., disclosed in the embodiments, since they correspond to the disclosed parts, the descriptions are relatively simple; relevant details can be found in the method section.

[0026] Currently, to improve the anti-interference capability and stability of wireless networks, wireless networks typically form a tree or chain-like network topology by interconnecting multiple access points (APs). This topology consists of a central control device (usually the gateway device of a home network) and multiple APs, aiming to ensure wider coverage and more intelligent network management. However, in actual use, wireless network access points and links are susceptible to wireless signal interference, equipment failure, or environmental changes, leading to network interruptions. Traditional network recovery methods require access points to rescan the network environment and re-associate devices, which is time-consuming and affects network continuity and user experience. Therefore, related technologies have begun to introduce backup links to reduce the time required for network recovery.

[0027] However, the activation of backup links in related technologies relies on passive triggering due to child node disconnection. This means the backup link only activates after a network link disconnects, leading to brief network interruptions and impacting service continuity. This is particularly problematic in scenarios with high network stability requirements, such as video conferencing, online gaming, or remote control of IoT devices. Such latency can affect user experience and even disrupt critical services. Furthermore, when switching network links, network access nodes need to re-complete link association, authentication, and negotiation processes, increasing the switching time. Moreover, these technologies only focus on the link status of a single network access point during backup link switching, ignoring the overall network topology. This can result in two or more devices acting as backup links for each other during network recovery, potentially leading to broadcast storms during failures.

[0028] To address the aforementioned technical problems, embodiments of this application provide a network link switching method, such as... Figure 1 As shown, Figure 1 This is a flowchart illustrating a network link switching method provided in an embodiment of this application. The network link switching method provided in this embodiment is applicable to dual-band repeater devices. The dual-band repeater device includes a first radio frequency (RF) chip and a second RF chip. The first RF chip and the second RF chip operate on different frequency bands. The first RF chip includes a first site interface and a first wireless access interface. The second RF chip includes a second site interface and a second wireless access interface. The first site interface and the second wireless access interface are bridged via a first bridge, and the second site interface and the first wireless access interface are bridged via a second bridge. The dual-band repeater device is pre-configured with a primary link and a backup link. The primary link is implemented based on either the first bridge or the second bridge, and the backup link is implemented based on a bridge different from the primary link in the first bridge and the second bridge.

[0029] For example, such as Figure 2 As shown, Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of a dual-band repeater device provided in an embodiment of this application. The dual-band repeater device includes a first radio frequency chip radio1 and a second radio frequency chip radio2. The first radio frequency chip and the second radio frequency chip operate at different frequency bands. For example, the first radio frequency chip operates at 2.4 GHz, while the second radio frequency chip operates at 5 GHz. The operating frequency bands of the first radio frequency chip and the second radio frequency chip can be set according to actual needs, and no specific limitation is made in this embodiment.

[0030] Figure 2In this embodiment, a first station interface STA1 and a first wireless access interface AP1 are created on the first radio frequency chip radio1. The first station interface STA1 connects to the client device of the wireless network, and the first wireless access interface AP1 allows the station interface to connect to and access network resources. The first station interface STA1 and the first wireless access interface AP1 are used to realize communication with the upper-level network device and to provide connection services for the lower-level network device, respectively. Similarly, a second station interface STA2 and a second wireless access interface AP2 are created on the second radio frequency chip radio2. The working principles of the second station interface STA2 and the second wireless access interface AP2 are the same as those of the first station interface STA1 and the first wireless access interface AP1, respectively, and will not be described again in this embodiment. In addition, the first station interface STA1 and the second wireless access interface AP2 are bridged through the first bridge br-lan1, and the second station interface STA2 and the first wireless access interface AP1 are bridged through the second bridge br-lan2. The first bridge br-lan1 integrates STA1 (uplink) and AP2 (downlink), and the second bridge br-lan2 integrates STA2 (uplink) and AP1 (downlink). In this embodiment, the station interfaces and wireless access interfaces of different radio frequency chips are integrated by the bridge, so that the network links corresponding to each bridge have uplink and downlink with different operating frequency bands. In this way, co-channel interference during communication can be reduced and the overall network performance can be improved.

[0031] In this embodiment, the user needs to pre-configure a primary link and a backup link for the dual-band repeater device. The primary link is implemented based on either a first bridge or a second bridge, while the backup link is implemented based on a bridge different from the primary link. The specific bridge selection can be set according to actual needs. For example, among the network links corresponding to the first bridge and the network links corresponding to the second bridge, the network link with better communication quality can be used as the primary link, while the network link with poorer communication quality can be used as the backup link. Under normal circumstances, the dual-band repeater device communicates through the primary link, which is responsible for most of the data transmission, while the backup link does not carry traffic or carries very little traffic. In this embodiment, because the primary link and backup link of the dual-band repeater device use different RF chips and bridges, and the primary link and backup link use different operating frequency bands for communication, the topologies of the primary link and backup link are independent of each other. Therefore, the backup link and the primary link will not affect each other, improving the reliability of data transmission.

[0032] In one embodiment, the primary link channel and the backup link channel are different.

[0033] When pre-configuring the primary and backup links of a dual-band repeater device, users also need to configure the channels used by the primary link and the backup link. Specifically, the channels of the primary and backup links can be determined through static or dynamic channel allocation. For static channel allocation, the available channels in different frequency bands need to be determined in advance when configuring the primary and backup links, and these available channels are fixedly allocated to the uplink and downlink of the primary link, and to the uplink and downlink of the backup link, ensuring that the channels used by the primary and backup links do not conflict in frequency bands. For dynamic channel allocation, a channel allocation strategy can be comprehensively determined based on factors such as real-time network load and interference conditions, and channels are allocated according to the strategy. When the primary link uses a certain channel, the backup link is allocated to a different channel to ensure that the channels of the primary and backup links do not conflict. The specific process of dynamic channel allocation can be found in relevant technologies and will not be elaborated upon in this embodiment. This embodiment of the application, by allocating different channels to the primary and backup links to ensure that the channels of the primary and backup links do not conflict, further reduces wireless interference during data transmission and improves the stability of data transmission.

[0034] The network link switching method provided in this application includes:

[0035] Step 101: Periodically check the link status of the main link.

[0036] In this embodiment, after the dual-band repeater device starts up and forms a network based on the pre-configured primary and backup links, it periodically checks the link status of the primary link. The duration of each period can be set according to actual needs, such as 5 minutes or 10 minutes, etc., and is not specifically limited in this embodiment. After detecting the link status of the primary link, the dual-band repeater device needs to determine whether the primary link has failed based on the link status. For example, the dual-band repeater device can determine the link status of the primary link by detecting the communication quality, connectivity, or traffic of the primary link, and determine whether the primary link has failed based on the link status. For example, if the communication quality is low, the primary link is unreachable, or there is abnormal traffic, it is determined that the primary link has failed.

[0037] Step 102: If the main link fails and data transmission is in progress based on the link status, switch the current data transmission link from the main link to the backup link so that data transmission can be carried out through the backup link.

[0038] If the link status indicates a primary link failure, and the dual-band repeater is currently transmitting data via the primary link, the dual-band repeater will quickly switch the data transmission link from the primary link to the backup link, thus continuing data transmission through the backup link. By pre-configuring the primary and backup links, the entire data transmission link switching process can be completed rapidly, effectively ensuring the continuity and stability of data transmission.

[0039] The above-described embodiments of this application provide a network link switching method. By pre-configuring a primary link and a backup link for the dual-band repeater device, this method automatically switches the data transmission link from the primary link to the backup link when a primary link failure is detected. The pre-established backup link accelerates the network recovery process, ensuring data transmission continuity. Compared to related technologies, this application eliminates the need for network environment scanning and link establishment during network link switching, reducing switching time and solving the technical problem of long switching times for primary and backup links in related technologies. Furthermore, no manual operation is required during this process, reducing human intervention and improving network link switching efficiency. In addition, the primary and backup links of the dual-band repeater device in this application use different RF chips and bridges, making their topologies independent. Even if the primary link fails, it will not affect the backup link, ensuring the stability and reliability of the wireless network.

[0040] Based on the above embodiments, after switching the current data transmission link from the primary link to the backup link, the method further includes:

[0041] Step 103: When it is determined that the main link has been cleared of the fault based on the link status, the current data transmission link is switched from the backup link to the main link so that data can be transmitted again through the main link.

[0042] Understandably, in this embodiment, after switching the data transmission link from the primary link to the backup link, the dual-band repeater still needs to periodically check the link status of the primary link. When it is determined from the link status of the primary link that the fault of the primary link has been eliminated, the dual-band repeater needs to switch the current data transmission link back from the backup link to the primary link in order to resume data transmission through the primary link.

[0043] As described above, in this embodiment of the application, after switching the data transmission link from the primary link to the backup link, if the primary link is detected to have eliminated the fault, the data transmission link will be switched back from the backup link to the primary link, thereby restoring the optimal performance of the wireless network and ensuring the high efficiency of data transmission.

[0044] Based on the above embodiments, it also includes:

[0045] Step 104: When data transmission is performed through the main link, when the backup link receives communication data transmitted by the lower-level network device, it uploads the communication data transmitted by the lower-level network device to the corresponding upper-level network device through the backup link.

[0046] In one embodiment, when a dual-band repeater is transmitting data via its main link, if the wireless access interface corresponding to the backup link of the dual-band repeater receives communication data transmitted by a lower-level network device, the dual-band repeater needs to upload the communication data transmitted by the lower-level network device to the corresponding upper-level network device through the site interface corresponding to the backup link. That is, at this time, both the main link and the backup link of the dual-band repeater need to transmit data. However, since the topologies of the main link and the backup link are independent in this embodiment, they do not interfere with each other during data transmission.

[0047] As described above, in this embodiment, when the dual-band repeater device detects that a backup link has received communication data transmitted by a lower-level network device during data transmission via the main link, it uploads the communication data to the upper-level network device connected to the backup link via the backup link. This allows the lower-level network device to continue communication via the backup link, ensuring the reliability of the wireless network. Furthermore, since the topologies of the main link and the backup link are independent in this embodiment, they do not interfere with each other during data transmission, ensuring stability during data transmission.

[0048] This application also provides another network link switching method, such as... Figure 3 As shown, Figure 3 This is a flowchart illustrating another network link switching method provided in an embodiment of this application. Figure 3 The network link switching method shown is a specific embodiment of the above-described network link switching method. The network link switching method in this application includes the following steps:

[0049] Step 201: Periodically check the communication quality of the main link.

[0050] In this embodiment, the dual-band repeater device needs to periodically detect the communication quality of the main link. The communication quality of the main link can be determined by detecting the RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indicator) value or the PING value. The RSSI value is typically used for wireless network diagnostics to measure the quality of the wireless signal, while the PING value is used to measure the network latency from the dual-band repeater device to the gateway. To determine whether the communication quality is below a preset quality threshold, the RSSI value or the PING value can be compared with a preset RSSI threshold. Based on the comparison result, it is determined whether the communication quality is below the preset quality threshold, thus indicating whether the main link has failed.

[0051] Step 202: If it is determined that the communication quality of the main link is lower than the preset quality threshold and data transmission is in progress, reconfigure the firewall rules and restart the firewall. Update the default route according to the route of the gateway pointed to by the backup link to transfer the traffic of the main link to the backup link.

[0052] If the RSSI value is lower than the preset RSSI threshold or the PING value is higher than the preset PING threshold, the communication quality is determined to be lower than the preset quality threshold, indicating a primary link failure. If the primary link fails while data transmission is in progress, the data transmission link needs to be switched from the primary link to the backup link. Specifically, when switching the data transmission link, firewall rules need to be reconfigured. This involves changing the interface through which traffic passes from the primary link's interface to the backup link's interface. After configuring the firewall rules, the firewall needs to be restarted for the reconfigured rules to take effect. Simultaneously, the default route needs to be updated based on the route to the gateway pointed to by the backup link. Specifically, the dual-band repeater needs to determine the gateway pointed to by the backup link, which can be obtained by querying the routing table. Then, the default route needs to be modified and saved based on the route to the gateway pointed to by the backup link. After the firewall and default route are configured, traffic from the primary link can be transferred to the backup link for data transmission. Additionally, it is understood that when switching the data transmission link from the backup link to the primary link, it is also necessary to reconfigure the firewall rules and default routes. The specific configuration process is similar to the above-mentioned process of configuring firewall rules and default routes, and will not be described again in this embodiment.

[0053] The above-described embodiments of this application provide a network link switching method. This embodiment pre-configures a primary link and a backup link for a dual-band relay device. When the communication quality of the primary link is detected to be lower than a preset quality threshold, a primary link failure is determined. The data transmission link is automatically switched from the primary link to the backup link by reconfiguring firewall rules and updating the default route. The pre-established backup link accelerates the network recovery process, ensuring the continuity of data transmission. Compared with related technologies, this embodiment does not require network environment scanning or network link establishment during network link switching, reducing the switching time and solving the technical problem of long switching times between primary and backup links in related technologies.

[0054] This application embodiment also provides a wireless network system, which includes at least one network control device and multiple dual-band relay devices that perform the above-described network link switching method. The network control device includes a third radio frequency chip and a fourth radio frequency chip. The third radio frequency chip and the fourth radio frequency chip operate in different frequency bands. The third radio frequency chip of the network control device includes a third wireless access interface, which is configured to be connected to the first site interface of at least one dual-band relay device. The fourth radio frequency chip of the network control device includes a fourth wireless access interface, which is configured to be connected to the second site interface of at least one dual-band relay device. In the wireless network system, the backup links of any two or more dual-band relay devices do not form a loop. The network control device is configured to send communication data uploaded by the connected dual-band relay devices to the gateway, and to send communication data sent by the gateway to the connected dual-band relay devices.

[0055] In this embodiment, the wireless network system can be an EasyMesh network system. EasyMesh is a basic standard developed by the Wi-Fi Alliance for interconnecting different access points (APs). It aims to solve the problem of incompatibility between proprietary Mesh protocols from different manufacturers, achieving compatibility and interoperability of Mesh hardware from different manufacturers and establishing a unified network. The network control device is the root node device in the wireless network system, responsible for collecting data from the dual-band repeater and controlling it. Specifically, the network control device includes a third RF chip and a fourth RF chip. The operating frequency band of the third RF chip is the same as that of the first RF chip in the dual-band repeater, and the operating frequency band of the fourth RF chip is the same as that of the second RF chip in the dual-band repeater. Furthermore, the third RF chip of the network control device includes a third wireless access interface, and the fourth RF chip includes a fourth wireless access interface. For example, as shown... Figure 4 As shown, Figure 4This is a schematic diagram of a network control device provided in an embodiment of this application. The network control device (Controller) includes a third radio frequency chip (radio3) and a fourth radio frequency chip (radio4). The third radio frequency chip (radio3) includes a third wireless access interface (AP3), and the fourth radio frequency chip (radio4) includes a fourth wireless access interface (AP4). The third wireless access interface (AP3) is configured to be connected to a first site interface (STA1) of at least one dual-band repeater device, and the fourth wireless access interface (AP4) is configured to be connected to a second site interface (STA2) of at least one dual-band repeater device. Figure 5 As shown, Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of a wireless network system provided in an embodiment of this application. Figure 5 In this system, two network control devices, Controller1 and Controller2, and multiple dual-band relay devices (Agents) constitute a wireless network system. Controller1 and Controller2 are connected to a first gateway (Gateway1) and a second gateway (Gateway2), respectively. Controller1 and Controller2 are configured to send communication data uploaded by the connected dual-band relay devices (Agents) to the corresponding gateway, so that the gateway can then send the communication data to the server; and are also configured to, after the server sends communication data to the gateway, send the communication data sent by the gateway to the connected dual-band relay devices (Agents). Additionally... Figure 5 In the diagram, the solid lines under Controller1 and Controller2 represent the primary link in the wireless network system, while the dashed lines represent backup links. When any dual-band repeater agent detects a failure in the primary link, it can switch the data transmission link from the primary link to the backup link. Furthermore, it can be understood that when other dual-band repeaters are connected to a dual-band repeater, when that dual-band repeater switches its network link, the other connected dual-band repeaters also need to switch their network links synchronously. For example, when... Figure 5 When the data transmission link of dual-band repeater Agent2 switches from the primary link to the backup link, the dual-band repeaters Agent4 and Agent5 connected to Agent2 will detect the primary link failure and will also need to switch their data transmission links from the primary link to the backup link. In a wireless network system, maintenance personnel can flexibly restart a single dual-band repeater without affecting the communication of downstream dual-band repeaters, greatly facilitating network maintenance and expansion.

[0056] It should also be noted that when pre-configuring the primary link and backup link, the backup links of any two or more dual-band repeaters in the wireless network system do not form a loop. This ensures that two or more dual-band repeaters in the wireless network system will not be backup links for each other, thereby avoiding the formation of network loops and broadcast storms in the event of a failure.

[0057] Based on the above embodiments, the network control device is configured to send a link switching command to each dual-frequency relay device connected to the lower level through the main link in response to the central control command;

[0058] Dual-band repeater devices are configured to switch the current data transmission link from the primary link to the backup link in response to a link switching command, so as to transmit data through the backup link.

[0059] In one embodiment, multiple dual-band repeater devices can be controlled to switch data transmission links through centralized management. Specifically, the user can directly send centralized control commands to the network control device or send centralized control commands to the network control device through a server. The centralized control commands instruct the network control device to control the lower-level dual-band repeater devices to switch links. After receiving the centralized control command, the network control device responds by generating a link switching command and sends the link switching command to each lower-level dual-band repeater device connected through the main link. After receiving the link switching command through the main link, the dual-band repeater device switches its current data transmission link from the main link to the backup link. In this embodiment, by centrally controlling multiple dual-band repeater devices to switch links, centralized control of multiple dual-band repeater devices can be achieved, while reducing the need for each dual-band repeater device to independently perform fault detection and link switching.

[0060] This application also provides a network link switching device, such as... Figure 6 As shown, Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of a network link switching device provided in an embodiment of this application. The network link switching device provided in this embodiment is applicable to dual-band relay equipment. The dual-band relay equipment includes a first radio frequency chip and a second radio frequency chip. The first radio frequency chip and the second radio frequency chip operate in different frequency bands. The first radio frequency chip includes a first site interface and a first wireless access interface. The second radio frequency chip includes a second site interface and a second wireless access interface. The first site interface and the second wireless access interface are bridged through a first bridge. The second site interface and the first wireless access interface are bridged through a second bridge. The dual-band relay equipment is pre-configured with a primary link and a backup link. The primary link is implemented based on either the first bridge or the second bridge. The backup link is implemented based on a bridge different from the primary link in the first bridge and the second bridge. The network link switching device includes:

[0061] The fault detection module 301 is configured to periodically detect the link status of the main link.

[0062] The link switching module 302 is configured to switch the current data transmission link from the primary link to the backup link when the primary link fails and data transmission is in progress, based on the link status.

[0063] The link switching module 302 is further configured to switch the current data transmission link from the primary link to the backup link after switching the current data transmission link from the primary link to the backup link, and when it is determined from the link status that the primary link has eliminated the fault, switch the current data transmission link from the backup link back to the primary link so that data can be transmitted again through the primary link.

[0064] It also includes a backup link transmission module, configured to, when data transmission is performed through the main link, upload the communication data transmitted by the lower-level network device to the corresponding upper-level network device through the backup link when the backup link receives the communication data transmitted by the lower-level network device.

[0065] The fault detection module 301 is configured to periodically detect the communication quality of the main link.

[0066] The link switching module 302 is configured to switch the current data transmission link from the main link to the backup link when it is determined that the communication quality of the main link is lower than a preset quality threshold and data transmission is in progress, so as to transmit data through the backup link.

[0067] The link switching module 302 is also configured to reconfigure firewall rules and restart the firewall, and update the default route according to the route of the gateway pointed to by the backup link, so as to transfer the traffic of the main link to the backup link.

[0068] The primary link uses a different channel than the backup link.

[0069] The network link switching device provided in this application embodiment is included in a dual-frequency relay device and can be used to execute the network link switching method provided in the above embodiment, and has corresponding functions and beneficial effects.

[0070] It is worth noting that in the embodiments of the network link switching device described above, the various units and modules included are only divided according to functional logic, but are not limited to the above division, as long as the corresponding functions can be achieved; in addition, the specific names of each functional unit are only for easy differentiation and are not used to limit the scope of protection of this application.

[0071] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a dual-frequency repeater device provided in an embodiment of this application, as shown below. Figure 7As shown, the dual-band repeater includes a first RF chip 405 and a second RF chip 406. The first RF chip 405 and the second RF chip 406 operate in different frequency bands. The first RF chip 405 includes a first site interface and a first wireless access interface, while the second RF chip 406 includes a second site interface and a second wireless access interface. The first site interface and the second wireless access interface are bridged through a first bridge, and the second site interface and the first wireless access interface are bridged through a second bridge. The dual-band repeater is pre-configured with a primary link and a backup link. The primary link is implemented based on either the first bridge or the second bridge, while the backup link is implemented based on a bridge different from the primary link in the first bridge and the second bridge. The dual-band repeater also includes a processor 401, a memory 402, an input device 403, and an output device 404. The number of processors 401 in the device can be one or more. Figure 7 Taking a processor 401 as an example; the processor 401, memory 402, input device 403, and output device 404 in the device can be connected via a bus or other means. Figure 7 Taking a bus connection as an example, memory 402, as a computer-readable storage medium, can be used to store software programs, computer-executable programs, and modules, such as the program instructions / modules corresponding to the network link switching method in this embodiment. Processor 401 executes various functional applications and data processing of the device by running the software programs, instructions, and modules stored in memory 402, thereby implementing the aforementioned network link switching method. Input device 403 can be used to receive input digital or character information and generate signal inputs related to user settings and function control of the device. Output device 404 may include display devices such as a display screen.

[0072] This application embodiment also provides a storage medium containing computer-executable instructions, which, when executed by a computer processor, are used to perform the above-described network link switching method, the method comprising:

[0073] Periodically check the link status of the main link;

[0074] If the link status indicates that the primary link has failed and data transmission is in progress, the current data transmission link will be switched from the primary link to the backup link so that data transmission can be carried out through the backup link.

[0075] In some possible implementations, various aspects of the methods provided in this application can also be implemented as a program product comprising program code that, when run on a computer device, is configured to cause the computer device to perform the steps of the methods according to the various exemplary embodiments of this application described above. For example, the computer device can execute the network link switching method described in the embodiments of this application. The program product can be implemented using any combination of one or more readable media.

Claims

1. A network link switching method, wherein, The method is applicable to dual-band repeater devices, which include a first radio frequency (RF) chip and a second RF chip. The first RF chip and the second RF chip operate in different frequency bands. The first RF chip includes a first site interface and a first wireless access interface, and the second RF chip includes a second site interface and a second wireless access interface. The first site interface and the second wireless access interface are bridged through a first bridge, and the second site interface and the first wireless access interface are bridged through a second bridge. The dual-band repeater device is pre-configured with a primary link and a backup link. The primary link is implemented based on either the first bridge or the second bridge, and the backup link is implemented based on a bridge that is different from the primary link among the first bridge and the second bridge. The method includes: Periodically check the link status of the main link; If the primary link fails and data transmission is in progress based on the link status, the current data transmission link is switched from the primary link to the backup link so that data transmission can be performed through the backup link.

2. The network link switching method according to claim 1, wherein, After switching the current data transmission link from the primary link to the backup link, the method further includes: When the fault is eliminated by the main link based on the link status, the current data transmission link is switched from the backup link to the main link so that data transmission can be performed again through the main link.

3. The network link switching method according to claim 1, wherein, Also includes: When data transmission is performed through the main link, when the backup link receives communication data transmitted by the lower-level network device, it uploads the communication data transmitted by the lower-level network device to the corresponding upper-level network device through the backup link.

4. The network link switching method according to claim 1, wherein, The periodic detection of the link status of the main link includes: Periodically check the communication quality of the main link; Accordingly, determining that the main link has failed based on the link status includes: It is determined that the communication quality of the main link is lower than a preset quality threshold.

5. The network link switching method according to claim 1, wherein, The step of switching the current data transmission link from the primary link to the backup link includes: Reconfigure the firewall rules and restart the firewall. Update the default route based on the route of the gateway pointed to by the backup link, so as to transfer the traffic of the main link to the backup link.

6. The network link switching method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein, The primary link uses a different channel than the backup link.

7. A wireless network system, wherein, The system includes at least one network control device and multiple dual-band relay devices executing the network link switching method according to any one of claims 1 to 6. The network control device includes a third radio frequency chip and a fourth radio frequency chip, wherein the third radio frequency chip and the fourth radio frequency chip operate in different frequency bands. The third radio frequency chip of the network control device includes a third wireless access interface configured to be connected to a first site interface of at least one of the dual-band relay devices. The fourth radio frequency chip of the network control device includes a fourth wireless access interface configured to be connected to a second site interface of at least one of the dual-band relay devices. Furthermore, the backup links of any two or more of the dual-band relay devices in the wireless network system do not form a loop. The network control device is configured to send communication data uploaded by the connected dual-band relay devices to a gateway, and to send communication data sent by the gateway to the connected dual-band relay devices.

8. The wireless network system according to claim 7, wherein, The network control device is configured to send a link switching command to each of the dual-frequency relay devices connected to the lower level via the main link in response to the centralized control command; The dual-frequency relay device is configured to switch the current data transmission link from the primary link to the backup link in response to the link switching command, so as to transmit data through the backup link.

9. A network link switching device, wherein, The device is applicable to dual-band repeater equipment. The dual-band repeater equipment includes a first radio frequency (RF) chip and a second RF chip. The first RF chip and the second RF chip operate in different frequency bands. The first RF chip includes a first site interface and a first wireless access interface. The second RF chip includes a second site interface and a second wireless access interface. The first site interface and the second wireless access interface are bridged via a first bridge, and the second site interface and the first wireless access interface are bridged via a second bridge. The dual-band repeater equipment is pre-configured with a primary link and a backup link. The primary link is implemented based on either the first bridge or the second bridge, and the backup link is implemented based on a bridge that is different from the primary link among the first bridge and the second bridge. The device includes: The fault detection module is configured to periodically detect the link status of the main link; The link switching module is configured to switch the current data transmission link from the primary link to the backup link when the primary link fails and data transmission is in progress, based on the link status.

10. A dual-frequency repeater device, wherein, The dual-band repeater includes a first radio frequency chip and a second radio frequency chip. The first radio frequency chip and the second radio frequency chip operate in different frequency bands. The first radio frequency chip includes a first site interface and a first wireless access interface. The second radio frequency chip includes a second site interface and a second wireless access interface. The first site interface and the second wireless access interface are bridged through a first bridge. The second site interface and the first wireless access interface are bridged through a second bridge. The dual-band repeater is pre-configured with a main link and a backup link. The main link is implemented based on the first bridge or the second bridge. The backup link is implemented based on a bridge that is different from the main link among the first bridge and the second bridge. The dual-band repeater also includes a processor and a memory. The memory is configured to store computer programs and transfer the computer programs to the processor; The processor is configured to execute the network link switching method as described in any one of claims 1 to 6 according to instructions in the computer program.

11. A storage medium for storing computer-executable instructions, wherein, The computer-executable instructions, when executed by a computer processor, are configured to perform the network link switching method as described in any one of claims 1 to 6.

12. A computer program product comprising a computer program, wherein, When the computer program is executed by the processor, it implements the network link switching method according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

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