A multi-hop networking method of a multi-mode wireless communication terminal and the terminal

Abstract

The application discloses a multi-hop networking method of a multi-mode wireless communication terminal and the terminal, relates to the technical field of wireless communication, and the terminal is internally provided with a cellular communication module, a WIFI module, a self-organizing network master module and a self-organizing network slave module; the cellular module and the self-organizing network slave module are used as lower modules, and the self-organizing network master module of a base station or other terminals is used as an upper module; the lower modules automatically listen to and connect the upper module according to the priority of 5G>4G>WIFI router>self-organizing network; when there is a network, the self-organizing network master module is started to accept the connection of the lower modules; and when there is no network, the master module is closed. The terminal connects the master module of other terminals through the self-organizing network slave module, forms a multi-hop relay link, and each terminal simultaneously has the master module and the slave module to support the extension of the hop number; and the application also protects a pure self-organizing network scheme which does not contain the cellular module. The application realizes multi-hop self-organizing network, intelligent power consumption management and seamless priority switching, is clearly distinguished from the existing single-hop WiFi hotspot sharing scheme, and is suitable for urban blind area coverage and emergency network interruption communication.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of wireless communication technology, and more specifically, to a multi-hop networking method and terminal for a multi-mode wireless communication terminal. Background Technology

[0002] With the widespread adoption of 4G / 5G networks, urban environments have achieved extensive coverage. However, signal blind spots still exist in areas such as basements, elevator lobbies, and high-rise buildings. Furthermore, under extreme conditions such as natural disasters, emergencies, or network failures by operators leading to the loss of internet, power, and electricity, conventional cellular communication becomes completely ineffective.

[0003] In existing technologies, mobile phones can access the internet via 4G / 5G and share a WiFi hotspot, allowing other devices to connect and access the internet. However, this approach has the following drawbacks:

[0004] (1) Only single-hop relay is supported: After mobile phone A connects to the base station and turns on the hotspot, mobile phone B connects to A. At most, one-hop sharing can be achieved, and multi-hop cascaded networks cannot be formed (e.g., A→B→C→base station).

[0005] (2) Fixed role: The terminal that turns on the hotspot can only provide connection as the main module and cannot connect to other hotspots as a slave module at the same time, so the network cannot be dynamically expanded.

[0006] (3) No network state drive: Even if mobile phone A loses the cellular network, its WiFi hotspot is often still turned on, resulting in ineffective power consumption and channel interference.

[0007] (4) No priority automatic switching: The terminal cannot automatically select the best superior according to priority among 5G, 4G and self-organizing network, nor can it smoothly switch when the communication quality is below the threshold.

[0008] (5) Cannot work in a purely self-organizing network scenario: When there is no cellular module, the existing WiFi hotspot solution cannot form a network independently.

[0009] Therefore, there is an urgent need for a terminal networking solution that can support multi-hop relay, dynamic role switching, network status-driven operation, automatic priority selection, and is compatible with terminals with and without cellular modules. Summary of the Invention

[0010] This invention aims to provide a multi-hop networking method and terminal for multi-mode wireless communication terminals, solving the problems of existing technologies being unable to communicate, unable to perform multi-hop relay, and unable to dynamically self-organize networks under conditions of cellular blind spots or network outages.

[0011] To achieve the above-mentioned objectives, the present invention provides a multi-hop networking method for a multi-mode wireless communication terminal, the method comprising the following steps:

[0012] The terminal is equipped with at least one cellular communication module, one WIFI module, one self-organizing network master module, and one self-organizing network slave module; wherein, the self-organizing network master module is used to accept connections from other terminals, and the self-organizing network slave module is used to connect to the self-organizing network master module of other terminals;

[0013] The cellular communication module and the self-organizing network slave module are used as lower-level modules, and the self-organizing network master module of the cellular base station, WIFI router or other terminal is used as the upper-level module; the lower-level module listens for and selects the upper-level module that can be connected to according to the preset priority;

[0014] When a terminal establishes a connection with a higher-level module through any lower-level module and is in a network connectivity state, the self-organizing network main module is activated to accept connections from other terminals.

[0015] When all subordinate modules of the terminal are disconnected from the network due to not establishing a connection with any superior module, the self-organizing network master module is shut down, and the connected subordinate modules are disconnected.

[0016] When the network is disconnected, the terminal searches for and connects to the self-organizing network master module of other terminals through the self-organizing network slave module to establish a multi-hop relay link; wherein, the multi-hop relay link includes cascading between at least two terminals, and each terminal has both a self-organizing network master module and a self-organizing network slave module to support the extension of the number of relay hops.

[0017] Existing terminals cannot simultaneously function as network nodes and relay nodes, cannot dynamically form networks in multi-hop scenarios, and cannot automatically switch the main module status based on network conditions. Therefore, this method sets up at least one cellular communication module, one self-organizing network main module, and one self-organizing network slave module within the terminal. Lower-level modules (cellular module + self-organizing network slave module) and upper-level modules (cellular base station + self-organizing network main modules of other terminals) are defined. Lower-level modules listen for and connect to the upper-level module according to priority. When network access is available, the self-organizing network main module is activated to accept connections; when network access is unavailable, the main module is deactivated and the lower-level modules are disconnected. When network access is lost, the self-organizing network slave module connects to the self-organizing network main module of other terminals, forming a multi-hop cascade. When the cellular network is available, the terminal functions as a regular terminal and can also provide relay services to other terminals; when network access is lost, it automatically switches to self-organizing network mode and can extend the network via multiple hops; the entire process is completed automatically without manual intervention.

[0018] Preferably, the WIFI module, the self-organizing network master module, and / or the self-organizing network slave module are based on the same physical wireless communication chip, and their functions are logically distinct. When the WIFI router can provide internet access (e.g., connected to broadband or cellular backhaul), its priority is higher than that of the self-organizing network; if the WIFI router cannot provide internet access, its priority is equal to that of the self-organizing network master module of other terminals.

[0019] Preferably, the preset priority is: 5G base station > 4G base station > WIFI router > self-organizing network main module of other terminals. When multiple upstream devices exist simultaneously, the terminal cannot decide which one to connect to first, which may result in connecting to a suboptimal network. This method explicitly presets the priority as 5G base station > 4G base station > self-organizing network main module of other terminals. The terminal always prioritizes accessing the network with the best quality and fastest speed, improving the user experience.

[0020] Preferably, when a lower-level module listens for and selects a higher-level module, it only disconnects the current connection and switches to another available higher-priority higher-level module if the communication quality of the currently connected higher-level module falls below a set threshold. Frequent network switching can cause communication interruptions and signaling burdens, reducing stability. This method triggers switching only when the communication quality of the current connection falls below a set threshold. This invention avoids the ping-pong effect, ensures communication continuity, and switches only when truly necessary.

[0021] Preferably, lower-level modules within a terminal are not allowed to connect to the self-organizing network main module within the same terminal. If a lower-level module connects to the self-organizing network main module, a loop will be formed, resulting in invalid connections and wasted resources. This design prevents self-loops and ensures the correctness of the network topology.

[0022] Preferably, the self-organizing network master module and the self-organizing network slave module within the same terminal are the same physical wireless communication module, logically distinguishing between master and slave functions. Separate master and slave modules would increase hardware costs. Using the same physical wireless communication module for both the self-organizing network master module and slave module within the same terminal, with logically distinguished master and slave functions, reduces terminal manufacturing costs while maintaining functional integrity.

[0023] Preferably, each terminal in the multi-hop relay link can dynamically decide whether to enable or disable its own self-organizing network main module based on its own network connectivity status, thereby automatically expanding or shrinking the relay network. This dynamic decision by each terminal to enable or disable its self-organizing network main module based on its own network connectivity status enables adaptive adjustment of network size, automatically expanding coverage when there is network access and automatically shrinking when there is no network access, resulting in energy saving and high efficiency.

[0024] To achieve the above-mentioned objectives, the present invention also provides a multi-mode wireless communication terminal without a cellular module for multi-hop networking. The terminal does not contain a cellular communication module and achieves multi-hop networking only through a self-organizing network master module and a self-organizing network slave module.

[0025] The self-organizing network master module is used to accept connections from other terminals, and the self-organizing network slave module is used to connect to the self-organizing network master module of other terminals.

[0026] The terminal searches for and connects to the self-organizing network master module of other terminals through the self-organizing network slave module to establish a multi-hop relay link; the multi-hop relay link includes cascading between at least two terminals, and each terminal has both a self-organizing network master module and a self-organizing network slave module to support the extension of the number of relay hops;

[0027] The terminal dynamically decides whether to enable or disable its self-organizing network main module based on its own network connectivity status.

[0028] Some terminals (such as dedicated self-organizing network walkie-talkies) do not have 4G / 5G modules, and existing technologies cannot provide multi-hop networking capabilities for these terminals. For such cases, the terminal in this invention does not contain a cellular communication module; it achieves multi-hop networking solely through a self-organizing network master module and a self-organizing network slave module. The self-organizing network slave modules connect to the self-organizing network master modules of other terminals, forming a multi-hop cascade. The master module is dynamically activated or deactivated based on its own network connectivity status. Even without a cellular network, a pure self-organizing network terminal can independently form a multi-hop network, suitable for emergency communications, field operations, military communications, and other scenarios.

[0029] To achieve the above-mentioned objectives, the present invention also provides a multi-mode wireless communication terminal, comprising:

[0030] At least one cellular communication module for connecting to a cellular base station;

[0031] A self-organizing network main module is used to accept connections from other terminals;

[0032] A self-organizing network slave module is used to connect to the self-organizing network master module of other terminals;

[0033] And a control unit configured to execute the multi-hop networking method of the multi-mode wireless communication terminal or to execute the cellular-free multi-hop networking method of the multi-mode wireless communication terminal.

[0034] Preferably, the cellular communication module includes a 5G module and / or a 4G module.

[0035] Preferably, the self-organizing network master module and the self-organizing network slave module are implemented by the same wireless communication chip, and the chip has a master role and a slave role in its working logic.

[0036] One or more technical solutions provided by this invention have at least the following technical effects or advantages:

[0037] Supports multi-hop relay: Breaks through the single-hop limitation, and can extend the coverage area through terminal cascading in the environment of network outage or blind spot.

[0038] Intelligent power consumption management: The main module is activated to provide services when there is a network connection, and automatically shuts down when there is no network connection to avoid unnecessary power consumption.

[0039] Seamless priority switching: Automatically selects the best network and smoothly switches when communication quality deteriorates, ensuring communication continuity.

[0040] Flexible configuration: The terminal can be equipped with any combination of 5G / 4G modules, or it can be completely without cellular modules, to adapt to different cost and scenario requirements.

[0041] Clearly distinguishable from existing technologies: It differs from WiFi hotspot sharing through features such as multi-hop, master-slave coexistence, and network state-driven operation.

[0042] Hardware reuse: Master and slave modules can share the same chip, reducing costs.

[0043] Protocol independence: Supports WiFi, self-organizing network protocols, and custom protocols; suitable for both broadband and narrowband networks, with a wide range of applications. Attached Figure Description

[0044] The accompanying drawings, which are provided to further illustrate embodiments of the invention and constitute a part of this invention, are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

[0045] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the module structure of the terminal of the present invention;

[0046] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of a connection scenario with full network coverage.

[0047] Figure 3 This is a diagram illustrating a multi-hop connection scenario where there is network coverage but not complete coverage.

[0048] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of a terminal network scenario with its own base station during a triple network outage.

[0049] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of a network deployment scheme for three-stage interruption.

[0050] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram illustrating a scenario where a terminal connects to the internet via a Wi-Fi router and enables self-organizing network relay. Detailed Implementation

[0051] To better understand the above-mentioned objectives, features, and advantages of the present invention, the present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments. It should be noted that, where there is no conflict, the embodiments of the present invention and the features thereof can be combined with each other.

[0052] Many specific details are set forth in the following description in order to provide a full understanding of the invention. However, the invention may also be practiced in other ways different from those described herein, and therefore the scope of protection of the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed below.

[0053] Those skilled in the art should understand that, in the disclosure of this invention, the terms "longitudinal," "lateral," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," and "outer," etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing this invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, the above terms should not be construed as limiting this invention.

[0054] It is understood that the term "a" should be understood as "at least one" or "one or more", that is, in one embodiment, the number of an element can be one, while in another embodiment, the number of the element can be multiple, and the term "a" should not be understood as a limitation on the number.

[0055] Example 1;

[0056] Embodiment 1 of the present invention provides a multi-hop networking method for a multi-mode wireless communication terminal, the method comprising the following steps:

[0057] The terminal is equipped with at least one cellular communication module, one WIFI module, one self-organizing network master module, and one self-organizing network slave module; wherein, the self-organizing network master module is used to accept connections from other terminals, and the self-organizing network slave module is used to connect to the self-organizing network master module of other terminals;

[0058] The cellular communication module and the self-organizing network slave module are used as lower-level modules, and the self-organizing network master module of the cellular base station, WIFI router or other terminal is used as the upper-level module; the lower-level module listens for and selects the upper-level module that can be connected to according to the preset priority;

[0059] When a terminal establishes a connection with a higher-level module through any lower-level module and is in a network connectivity state, the self-organizing network main module is activated to accept connections from other terminals.

[0060] When all subordinate modules of the terminal are disconnected from the network due to not establishing a connection with any superior module, the self-organizing network master module is shut down, and the connected subordinate modules are disconnected.

[0061] When the network is disconnected, the terminal searches for and connects to the self-organizing network master module of other terminals through the self-organizing network slave module to establish a multi-hop relay link; wherein, the multi-hop relay link includes cascading between at least two terminals, and each terminal has both a self-organizing network master module and a self-organizing network slave module to support the extension of the number of relay hops.

[0062] The specific objectives of this invention include:

[0063] It enables a single terminal to simultaneously possess both a self-organizing network master module and a slave module, supporting multi-hop cascading; it automatically enables or disables the self-organizing network master module based on network connectivity status, reducing power consumption; it automatically selects the upper-level module according to priority (5G>4G>self-organizing network) and switches when the quality falls below a threshold; it covers both terminal configurations with and without cellular modules, expanding application scenarios; and it is clearly distinguished from existing WiFi hotspot solutions.

[0064] The technical principles of this invention include:

[0065] This invention integrates at least one cellular communication module (optional), one self-organizing network master module, and one self-organizing network slave module within a wireless communication terminal. Wherein:

[0066] Self-organizing network main module: As the upper-level module, it accepts connections from other terminals, similar to the role of a base station or hotspot.

[0067] The ad hoc network slave module is used to connect to the ad hoc network master module of other terminals. Priority mechanism: the lower-level module selects the upper-level module according to the priority of 5G base station > 4G base station > other terminal ad hoc network master module.

[0068] Network state driven:

[0069] When any lower-level module of the terminal successfully connects to the upper-level module (with network access), the self-organizing network main module is automatically activated to accept lower-level connections and form a relay.

[0070] When all subordinate modules are disconnected (no network state), the self-organizing network main module will automatically shut down and disconnect existing subordinate connections.

[0071] Multi-hop relay: Each terminal has both master and slave modules, so it can form any number of hops of cascading from terminal A to base station → terminal B to A → terminal C to B.

[0072] Switching conditions: The lower-level module will only disconnect and switch to a higher-priority available upper-level module when the current connection quality is lower than the set threshold.

[0073] Loop prevention: Lower-level modules are not allowed to connect to the self-organizing network master module within this terminal.

[0074] Hardware optimization: The master module and slave module can be the same physical chip, with logical distinction between master and slave functions.

[0075] Simplified solution: The terminal may not contain a cellular module, and can achieve multi-hop networking solely through the self-organizing network master-slave module.

[0076] The specific implementation methods of this method include:

[0077] 1) A terminal has a built-in 4G / 5G module, a self-organizing network master module, and a self-organizing network slave module. The self-organizing network master module is used to share the network, and the slave modules are used to connect to other master modules. The self-organizing network slave module is not allowed to connect to the master module of the same terminal. After the self-organizing network master and slave modules are interconnected, the terminal where the master module is located is called the upper-level terminal, and the terminal where the slave module is located is called the lower-level terminal. The terminal connected by 4G / 5G is called the lower-level terminal, and the base station is considered the upper-level terminal.

[0078] 2) Regardless of whether the terminal has a network, the 4G / 5G module and the self-organizing network slave module are both enabled and continuously monitor the connectable upstream, and select the highest priority network connection in the order of 5G, 4G, and self-organizing network slave module in descending order of priority.

[0079] 3) When a terminal switches from no network to a network, the self-organizing network main module immediately (in milliseconds) starts (self-organizing network) to receive connections from the next level;

[0080] 4) When a terminal switches from having a network connection to not having a network connection, the self-organizing network master module must immediately (within milliseconds) notify all subordinate terminals to disconnect and shut down the self-organizing network master module.

[0081] 5) When the terminal is connected to the network and detects that a higher priority network is available, it should first disconnect the low-priority connection as in step 4) and then switch to high-priority mode as in step 3).

[0082] 6) When a lower-level self-organizing network terminal finds other available upper-level terminals, it will only switch to another upper-level terminal if the current connection quality is unacceptable (set threshold) under the same priority.

[0083] 7) A maximum of 8 subordinate nodes are allowed to connect to the upper level of a self-organizing network; the bandwidth between the upper and lower level self-organizing network terminals should be maintained at more than 10Mbps, mainly for sending data from the lower level to the upper level.

[0084] In this embodiment of the invention, the communication between the self-organizing network master module and the self-organizing network slave module adopts any of the following air interface protocols: WiFi5, WiFi6, self-organizing network protocol, or custom air interface protocol.

[0085] In this embodiment of the invention, the terminal supports either broadband wireless connectivity or narrowband wireless connectivity. Broadband connectivity includes technologies such as WiFi and 4G / 5G; narrowband connectivity includes technologies such as LoRa, NB-IoT, and ZigBee.

[0086] The upper-level module refers to the connectable upper-level nodes, including the ad hoc network master module of base stations and other terminals. As the aggregation node in the network, the ad hoc network master module can accept connections from one or more ad hoc network slave modules and provide data relay services. The ad hoc network slave modules, as terminal nodes in the network, can actively scan for and connect to the ad hoc network master module, but do not accept connections from other nodes. A multi-hop relay link consists of three or more terminals, with at least one terminal acting as an intermediate node, forwarding data received from the upper level to the lower level.

[0087] The main module is used to accept connections from other terminals (similar to a server), while the slave module is used to actively connect to the main module or base station of other terminals (similar to a client).

[0088] In this embodiment of the invention, the self-organizing network is a wireless communication network that does not require pre-built infrastructure and allows terminals to automatically discover and establish multi-hop routes.

[0089] Among them, air interface protocols refer to the physical layer and link layer protocols of wireless communication, including but not limited to 4G / 5G NR, WiFi, and custom self-organizing network protocols.

[0090] Communication quality includes at least one of signal strength, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), bit error rate (BER), and packet loss rate. The threshold can be preset or dynamically adjusted. The communication quality threshold refers to at least one of signal strength (RSRP), signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), bit error rate (BER), or packet loss rate. When the measured value is lower than the preset threshold, it is determined that normal communication is not possible.

[0091] Among them, the "with network" status means that the user can access external networks (such as the Internet) through an upstream provider, while the "without network" status means that the user has no upstream connection or can only conduct local self-organizing network communication.

[0092] Multi-hop refers to relay communication between two terminals through at least one intermediate terminal, i.e., the number of hops is ≥2. However, this scheme also supports single-hop, but its innovation lies in its multi-hop capability.

[0093] Please refer to Figure 1 , Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the terminal module structure.

[0094] like Figure 1As shown, the terminal of this invention internally includes: at least one cellular communication module (in this embodiment, a 5G module and a 4G module), a self-organizing network master module, a self-organizing network slave module, and a control unit. The 5G module, 4G module, and self-organizing network slave module are defined as lower-level modules, and the self-organizing network master module is defined as a higher-level module. The control unit is connected to each module and is used to perform logical control such as status monitoring, priority determination, and module start / stop. The self-organizing network master module and the self-organizing network slave module can be the same physical chip. The terminal is also connected to peripherals such as a microphone, camera, buttons, speaker, and display screen (not shown in detail in the figure).

[0095] like Figure 2 As shown, when the terminal is in an area with extensive 4G / 5G base station coverage, the terminal's 5G module or 4G module connects to the base station according to priority (5G > 4G). At this time, the terminal is in a network connectivity state. According to the present invention, after the control unit detects a network connection, it automatically activates the self-organizing network main module. However, at this time, no other terminals need to connect, and the main module is in a standby state. Solid lines in the figure represent cellular connections, and dashed lines represent main module activated but no downstream connections.

[0096] like Figure 3 As shown, there is a signal dead zone in the building's basement. Outdoor terminal B's 4G module is successfully connected to the base station (network active), and its self-organizing network main module is activated. In the basement, terminal A's 5G / 4G module cannot connect to any base station (no network). Its self-organizing network slave module begins scanning for surrounding upstream nodes. Terminal A's self-organizing network slave module discovers terminal B's self-organizing network main module and establishes a connection according to priority (self-organizing network priority is higher than no connection at this time). Terminal A gains network access, and its control unit detects the change from no network to network active, immediately activating its self-organizing network main module. At this point, terminal C, located deeper in the basement, connects to terminal A's self-organizing network main module via its self-organizing network slave module, forming a two-hop relay from A to B to the base station. In the diagram, solid lines with arrows represent cellular connections, and dashed lines with arrows represent self-organizing network connections; the hop count is clearly visible.

[0097] like Figure 4 As shown, all operator base stations are offline (a three-way disconnection scenario). Terminals D, E, and F have no cellular signal, but each terminal has a built-in self-organizing network master module and slave module. Terminal D's slave module, unable to find any upstream unit for an extended period, activates its self-organizing network master module according to a preset strategy (or manual triggering). Terminal E's slave module finds D's master module, establishes a connection, and terminal E gains network access, automatically activating its own master module. Terminal F's slave module connects to E's master module, forming a three-hop chain network of D←E←F. The arrows in the diagram indicate the direction of connection from the slave module to the master module, forming a multi-hop relay link.

[0098] like Figure 5As shown, in an emergency communication scenario, a communications operator carries a portable base station (equivalent to an enhanced terminal with stronger self-organizing network master module capabilities; a portable base station is a special type of multi-mode terminal whose self-organizing network master module has higher transmission power or a wider coverage area, but its internal structure is the same as a regular terminal, also possessing a self-organizing network master module and slave modules). The portable base station is deployed at a high location, and its self-organizing network master module is activated. Multiple signal enhancement terminals (regular terminals) connect to the portable base station through their self-organizing network slave modules, and each simultaneously activates its own self-organizing network master module, radiating coverage outwards. Other communication terminals on site can connect to these signal enhancement terminals, forming a star-shaped + multi-hop hybrid network. The diagram shows a multi-level relay network radiating outwards from the portable base station as the center, expanding the communication coverage radius.

[0099] Among them, the portable base station is a special type of multi-mode terminal. Its self-organizing network master module has higher transmission power or wider coverage, and it also has a self-organizing network master module and a self-organizing network slave module.

[0100] like Figure 6 As shown, the terminal connects to the internet via a Wi-Fi router and enables self-organizing network repeater:

[0101] Inside an office building, the 4G / 5G signal from the mobile network operator is weak, but a corporate Wi-Fi router is deployed on the floor, providing internet access via fiber optic broadband. User A has terminal A (equipped with a Wi-Fi module, a self-organizing network master module, and a self-organizing network slave module). Terminal A's Wi-Fi module scans for the Wi-Fi router; the signal quality is above a set threshold. Following priority (5G > 4G > Wi-Fi router > self-organizing network), terminal A connects to the Wi-Fi router and successfully accesses the internet. At this point, terminal A is in a network-connected state, and its control unit automatically activates the self-organizing network master module. Terminal B on the same floor has no cellular signal and cannot find the Wi-Fi router (due to distance), but its self-organizing network slave module discovers terminal A's self-organizing network master module. Terminal B's self-organizing network slave module connects to terminal A's self-organizing network master module, and terminal B gains internet access. Simultaneously, terminal B's control unit detects the change from no network to network access and automatically activates its self-organizing network master module. Terminal C, located further away, connects to the self-organizing network master module of terminal B via the self-organizing network slave module, forming a two-hop relay from C to B to A to the Wi-Fi router. Terminals A, B, and C can all access the Internet normally. This embodiment illustrates that even in scenarios with Wi-Fi but no cellular network, the terminals of the present invention can still use Wi-Fi as the first hop for access and achieve multi-hop relay through the self-organizing network master-slave module, thereby extending network coverage.

[0102] The terminal state switching process is as follows: After the terminal powers on, the lower-level module continuously monitors for available upper-level devices. It determines whether there is a connectable upper-level device (priority 5G > 4G > self-organizing network). If there is, it connects to the upper-level device, the terminal enters the network-enabled state, and the control unit activates the self-organizing network main module. If not, it enters the network-free state, the control unit shuts down the self-organizing network main module and disconnects all lower-level connections. In the network-enabled state, if the communication quality of the currently connected upper-level device remains below a set threshold, the switching process is triggered: first, the current upper-level device is disconnected, and then the monitoring and selection process is repeated. In the network-free state, the terminal continuously scans, and immediately connects once an available upper-level device is found.

[0103] The priority selection and switching process is as follows: Lower-level modules scan sequentially: first, 5G base stations are scanned; if the signal quality is higher than the threshold, a connection is established; otherwise, 4G base stations are scanned; if the signal quality is higher than the threshold, a connection is established; otherwise, the self-organizing network main modules of other terminals are scanned; if the signal quality is higher than the threshold, a connection is established; otherwise, a network-free state is entered. In the connected state, the quality of the current connection is monitored in real time. When the quality falls below the threshold, the current connection is immediately disconnected, and scanning restarts from the highest priority.

[0104] Based on Embodiment 1, the present invention will be further described below with reference to specific embodiments. These embodiments do not constitute a limitation on the scope of protection.

[0105] Example 2: Multi-hop networking in blind spots of urban basements;

[0106] In the basement of a building, 4G / 5G signals are weak. A user has terminal A (equipped with a 5G module, a 4G module, and a self-organizing network master / slave module). Terminal A's 5G module attempts to connect to an outdoor 5G base station, but the signal quality is below a threshold (e.g., -115dBm). Based on priority, the 4G module attempts to connect to a 4G base station, but the signal quality is also poor. At this point, the self-organizing network slave module searches for nearby terminals.

[0107] Terminal B is located at the basement entrance. Its 4G module is already connected to the base station, and its self-organizing network main module is enabled. Terminal A's self-organizing network slave module discovers Terminal B's self-organizing network main module, and its priority (self-organizing network) is higher than that of the connectionless state, so a connection is established. Terminal A gains network access, and its self-organizing network main module automatically enables. At this time, Terminal C, located deeper in the basement, connects to Terminal A's self-organizing network main module through its self-organizing network slave module, forming a two-hop relay from A to B to the base station. Both Terminals A and B dynamically enable their main modules, and Terminal C, as a leaf node, also has its self-organizing network main module enabled, but no other terminal is connected to it.

[0108] Example 3: Pure self-organizing network setup in a disaster-induced network outage scenario;

[0109] After the earthquake, all operator base stations were destroyed. Rescue personnel on site were using purely self-organizing network terminals (no cellular modules, only self-organizing network master-slave modules). The team leader's terminal D's slave module could not find any base stations and was in a no-network state; its master module was off. Team member terminal E approached D, and E's slave module found D's master module, but D's master module was off. At this point, manual or automatic triggering was required: Team leader D pressed and held a button to force the master module to open (or, according to a strategy, when a slave module has no available upstream for an extended period, the master module automatically opens to attract other terminals). Subsequently, E's slave module connected to D's master module, and E gained network access (although there was no internet, intra-group communication was possible). E automatically opened its master module based on its own status (connected to an upstream), allowing team member F to connect to E, forming a multi-hop network. This embodiment illustrates that even without cellular modules, the present invention can still construct a multi-hop self-organizing network.

[0110] Example 4: Optimization scheme for master-slave modules sharing a chip;

[0111] A low-cost terminal uses a WiFi 6-enabled chip as its self-organizing network module. The software configuration allows it to logically operate as both a master and slave role simultaneously: the slave role periodically scans for surrounding beacons, while the master role periodically sends beacon signals. Once the slave role connects to the master role of another terminal, the master role begins operation. The chip processes master and slave tasks in time-sliced ​​chunks, achieving dual roles on a single chip.

[0112] Example 5: Comparative test with existing WiFi hotspots;

[0113] In the same environment, when a regular mobile phone turns on a WiFi hotspot and another mobile phone connects to that hotspot, attempting to connect a third mobile phone to the second mobile phone fails (the second mobile phone's hotspot can only act as the master, not simultaneously as a slave). However, using the terminal of this invention, the second terminal automatically activates the master module after connecting to the first terminal, allowing the third terminal to connect to the second terminal, successfully achieving two-hop relay. Tests demonstrate that this invention possesses multi-hop capabilities not found in existing technologies. Although preferred embodiments of the invention have been described, those skilled in the art, upon learning the basic inventive concept, can make further changes and modifications to these embodiments. Therefore, the appended claims are intended to be interpreted as including the preferred embodiments as well as all changes and modifications falling within the scope of this invention.

[0114] Obviously, those skilled in the art can make various modifications and variations to this invention without departing from its spirit and scope. Therefore, if these modifications and variations fall within the scope of the claims of this invention and their equivalents, this invention also intends to include these modifications and variations.

Claims

1. A multi-hop networking method for a multi-mode wireless communication terminal, characterized in that, The method includes the following steps: The terminal is equipped with at least one cellular communication module, one WIFI module, one self-organizing network master module, and one self-organizing network slave module; wherein, the self-organizing network master module is used to accept connections from other terminals, and the self-organizing network slave module is used to connect to the self-organizing network master module of other terminals; The cellular communication module and the self-organizing network slave module are used as lower-level modules, and the self-organizing network master module of the cellular base station, WIFI router or other terminal is used as the upper-level module; the lower-level module listens for and selects the upper-level module that can be connected to according to the preset priority; When a terminal establishes a connection with a higher-level module through any lower-level module and is in a network connectivity state, the self-organizing network main module is activated to accept connections from other terminals. When all subordinate modules of the terminal are disconnected from the network due to not establishing a connection with any superior module, the self-organizing network master module is shut down, and the connected subordinate modules are disconnected. When the network is disconnected, the terminal searches for and connects to the self-organizing network master module of other terminals through the self-organizing network slave module to establish a multi-hop relay link; wherein, the multi-hop relay link includes cascading between at least two terminals, and each terminal has both a self-organizing network master module and a self-organizing network slave module to support the extension of the number of relay hops.

2. The multi-hop networking method for a multi-mode wireless communication terminal according to claim 1, characterized in that, The preset priority is: 5G base station > 4G base station > WIFI router > self-organizing network main module of other terminals.

3. The multi-hop networking method for a multi-mode wireless communication terminal according to claim 1, characterized in that, When a lower-level module is listening for and selecting a higher-level module, it will only disconnect the current connection and switch to another available higher-priority higher-level module if the communication quality of the currently connected higher-level module is lower than a set threshold.

4. The multi-hop networking method for a multi-mode wireless communication terminal according to claim 1, characterized in that, Sub-modules within a terminal are not allowed to connect to the self-organizing network master module within the same terminal.

5. A multi-hop networking method for a multi-mode wireless communication terminal according to claim 1, characterized in that, The self-organizing network master module and the self-organizing network slave module within the same terminal are the same physical wireless communication module, and logically distinguish between master and slave functions.

6. The multi-hop networking method for a multi-mode wireless communication terminal according to claim 1, characterized in that, Each terminal in the multi-hop relay link can dynamically decide whether to enable or disable its own self-organizing network main module based on its own network connectivity status, thereby automatically expanding or shrinking the relay network.

7. A multi-mode wireless communication terminal's cellular module-free multi-hop networking method, characterized in that, The terminal does not contain a cellular communication module; it achieves multi-hop networking only through an ad hoc network master module and an ad hoc network slave module. The self-organizing network master module is used to accept connections from other terminals, and the self-organizing network slave module is used to connect to the self-organizing network master module of other terminals. The terminal searches for and connects to the self-organizing network master module of other terminals through the self-organizing network slave module to establish a multi-hop relay link; the multi-hop relay link includes cascading between at least two terminals, and each terminal has both a self-organizing network master module and a self-organizing network slave module to support the extension of the number of relay hops; The terminal dynamically decides whether to enable or disable its self-organizing network main module based on its own network connectivity status.

8. A multi-mode wireless communication terminal, characterized in that, include: At least one cellular communication module for connecting to a cellular base station; A self-organizing network main module is used to accept connections from other terminals; A self-organizing network slave module is used to connect to the self-organizing network master module of other terminals; And a control unit configured to perform a multi-hop networking method for a multi-mode wireless communication terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 6 or to perform a cellular-free multi-hop networking method for a multi-mode wireless communication terminal according to claim 7.

9. A multi-mode wireless communication terminal according to claim 8, characterized in that, The cellular communication module includes a 5G module and / or a 4G module.

10. A multi-mode wireless communication terminal according to claim 8, characterized in that, The self-organizing network master module and the self-organizing network slave module are implemented by the same wireless communication chip, which is divided into master role and slave role in working logic.

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