Methods and systems for connectivity management in mesh networks

Abstract

Network connectivity management system comprising- a mesh network (10) integrating a plurality of interconnected nodes (1-5) among which at least one node (1-2) is provided with a first interface (7) for connection to a computer network (30) external to the mesh network (10);- a first terminal (11) connected to a mobile node (1) of said plurality of interconnected nodes (1-5), this first terminal (11) integrating a second interface (15) for connection to said computer network (30), this first terminal (11) being capable of acting as an access point to said computer network (30) via this second connection interface (15); the first terminal (11) being configured to act, when at least one first predefined condition relating to the connection of the mobile node (1) to the computer network (30) is verified, as an access point to the computer network (30) via the second connection interface (15). Figure for abstract: Fig.1

Description

Title of the invention: Methods and systems for managing connectivity in mesh networks

[0001] The present invention relates to mesh networks and more particularly to the management of network connectivity of a mobile node in such networks.

[0002] Thanks to their great flexibility, mesh networks are adopted in many applications, including the interconnection of a fleet of vehicles carrying connected terminals such as a fleet of civil security or emergency service vehicles (ambulances or firefighters for example) or a fleet of aerial vehicles (drones for example). Wireless mesh networks meet the mobility needs in this type of application well.

[0003] However, with the increase in the number of connected terminals on board these vehicles, the need for a high-speed, real-time and uninterrupted connection is very real in several situations, while current mesh networks do not allow this need to be met.

[0004] For example, the availability of permanent connectivity is, during a collaborative mission or intervention on major incidents at any location, extremely important, even vital, to connect the terminals on board the intervention vehicles and coordinate their actions in order to respond appropriately to emergency or crisis situations. In addition, the nodes of the mesh network providing this connectivity must not constitute a bottleneck, in terms of transmission rate, when they connect a user terminal on board a vehicle to an external network.

[0005] More generally, a loss of connectivity, saturation of a connection interface or a degradation in the quality of a communication link involving a mobile node of the mesh network have become a major concern for users of such networks.

[0006] An object of the present invention is to ensure reliable, resilient and permanent connectivity in mesh networks.

[0007] Another object of the present invention is to provide reliable connectivity in degraded mode to terminals connected to a mobile node of a mesh network.

[0008] To this end, there is proposed, firstly, a network connectivity management system comprising - a mesh network integrating a plurality of interconnected nodes among which at least one node is provided with a first interface for connection to an in- external computing to the mesh network; - a first terminal connected to a mobile node of said plurality of interconnected nodes, this first terminal integrating a second connection interface to said computer network, this first terminal being capable of acting as an access point to said computer network via this second connection interface; - this first terminal being configured to act, when at least one first predefined condition relating to the connection of the mobile node to the computer network is verified, as an access point to the computer network via the second connection interface.

[0009] Various additional features may be provided, alone or in combination: - the first predefined condition is at least one of the following: a loss of connection of the mobile node to the computer network; an indicator of the quality of the connection of the mobile node to the computer network greater than a predetermined value; - the first terminal is configured to act as an access point upon request from the mobile node; - the system further comprises a second terminal connected to the mobile node, this mobile node being configured to trigger a connection transfer operation from the second terminal to the first terminal acting as an access point; - the mobile node is configured to share the connection to the computer network provided by the first terminal acting as an access point to this computer network; - the mobile node is configured to deactivate, when at least one second predefined condition relating to the connection of the mobile node to the computer network is verified, the operation as an access point of the first terminal to the computer network; - the second predefined condition is at least one of the following: a reestablishment of the connection of the mobile node to the computer network; an indicator of the quality of the connection of the mobile node to the computer network lower than a predetermined value; - the system further comprises a third terminal connected to the first terminal acting as an access point, the first terminal being able to trigger a connection transfer operation from the third terminal to the mobile node.

[0010] Secondly, there is provided a method for managing network connectivity in a system comprising - a mesh network integrating a plurality of interconnected nodes among which at least one node is provided with a first interface for connection to an in- external computing to the mesh network; - a first terminal connected to a mobile node of said plurality of interconnected nodes, this first terminal integrating a second connection interface to said computer network, this first terminal being capable of acting as an access point to said computer network via this second connection interface; - a second terminal connected to said mobile node; this method comprising the following steps; - configuring the first terminal to act as an access point to the computer network via the second connection interface, when at least one first predefined condition relating to the connection of the mobile node to the computer network is verified; - triggering, by the mobile node, of a connection transfer operation from the second terminal to the first terminal acting as an access point.

[0011] In one embodiment, the method presented above further comprises the following steps - deactivation, by the mobile node, of the operation as an access point of the first terminal to the computer network, when at least one second predefined condition relating to the connection of the mobile node to the computer network is verified; - triggering, by the first terminal, of a connection transfer operation from the second terminal to the mobile node.

[0012] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly and concretely on reading the following description of embodiments, which is given with reference to the appended drawings in which:

[0013] [Fig.l] schematically illustrates elements of a network connectivity management system;

[0014] [Fig.2] schematically illustrates steps of a network connectivity management method.

[0015] It should be noted that, in these figures, elements having similar functions are designated by the same numerical references.

[0016] Referring to [Fig.l], a mesh network 10 is shown comprising a plurality of interconnected nodes 1-5. Each of these nodes 1-5 is provided with at least one communication interface 6 allowing it to connect and communicate with at least one other node 1-5 of the mesh network 10. These communication interfaces 6 may in particular rely on different wired or wireless connectivity technologies.

[0017] At least one node 1-2 of the mesh network 10 is provided with a first interface 7 for wired or wireless connection to a computer network 30 (or an IP network) external to the mesh network 10. No limitation is attached to the nature or size of this network. 30 computer network which can be private or public, wide or local, wired or wireless. The computer network 30 is, for example, of the Internet, Intranet or a virtual private network (VPN).

[0018] A node 1-2 provided with a first connection interface 7 can, thus, form an access point to the computer network 30 for at least one other node 3-5 of the mesh network 10. The first connection interface 7 is, for example, a WAN interface (acronym for “Wide Area Network”) of the 4G or 5G type, a Wi-Fi interface (according to the IEEE 802.11 standards), a WiMax interface (according to the IEEE 802.16 standards), a satellite interface, an Ethernet interface or, in general, any other equivalent connection interface allowing a connection to the computer network 30.

[0019] In one embodiment, the mesh network 10 comprises at least one mobile node 1. This mobile node 1 is, for example, on board a vehicle 20. The vehicle 20 may be of any type, such as a land vehicle, an air vehicle or a nautical vehicle. In another embodiment, the mesh network 10 comprises a plurality of mobile nodes 1. This plurality of mobile nodes 1 equips, for example, a fleet of vehicles 20, such as a fleet of emergency or rescue and victim assistance service vehicles, or a fleet of aircraft (drones for example).

[0020] In one embodiment, the mobile node 1 is provided with a first interface 7 for radio connection to the computer network 30, such as a 4G or 5G type radio WAN interface, a Wi-Fi interface, a WiMax interface, a satellite interface or a Bluetooth interface. The mobile node 1 can thus act as an access point to the computer network 30 directly via a first local radio connection interface 7 or via a first radio or wired connection interface 7 equipping another node 2 of the mesh network 10.

[0021] Furthermore, the mobile node 1 is capable of connecting, to the computer network 30, one or more terminals 11-13 which are attached to it. The mobile node 1 comprises, in fact, at least one local communication interface 14 (or LAN for Local Area Network) to accommodate these terminals 11-13. This local communication interface 14 is, in one embodiment, an Ethernet interface, a Wi-Fi interface or a Bluetooth interface. By terminal 11-13, we mean any user equipment requiring a connection to the computer network 30 such as a laptop, a tablet, a telephone or a connected object (a camera, an alarm or a measuring instrument for example). These terminals 11-13 can be on board the vehicle 20 or located in an environment associated with it (parking lot, stop, or route of the vehicle 20 for example).

[0022] In the case of a fleet of vehicles 20, each vehicle 20 comprises a local network integrating a mobile node 1 to which one or more terminals 11-13 are connected. Each terminal 11-13 is, in one embodiment, identified by a private IP address comprising a fleet identifier, a vehicle identifier 20 and an identifier of the terminal 11-13 on the local network.

[0023] The mobile node 1 provides the function of a gateway or an IP router to route data packets between its local communication interface 14 and a first connection interface 7 connecting the mesh network 10 to the computer network 30 and vice versa. This first connection interface 7 may be a first local radio connection interface 7 to the mobile node 1 or a first connection interface 7 equipping another node 2 of the mesh network 10.

[0024] At least one first terminal 11 connected to the mobile node 1 integrates a second interface 15 for connection to the computer network 30. This second connection interface 15 is, for example, a radio WAN interface (acronym for “Wide Area Network”) of the 4G or 5G type, a Wi-Fi interface, a satellite interface or, more generally, any other equivalent radio connection interface allowing a wireless connection to the computer network 30. In addition, this first terminal 11 is configurable as an access point via said second interface 15 for connection to the computer network 30. In other words, this first terminal 11 can be configured to act as an access point (or configured to operate as an access point or in access point mode) to the computer network 30 via the second connection interface 15.In other words, the first terminal 11 integrates a modem function (for example, of the 4G or 5G type), also called a "connection sharing" or "bridge mode" function. As non-limiting examples, the first terminal 11 is a tablet or a Smartphone comprising a 3G, 4G or 5G type connection interface and a modem function using this connection interface.

[0025] Consequently, the first terminal 11 is able to create a local network from its connection to the computer network 30 allowing other terminals 12-13 and / or the mobile node 1 to connect to this computer network 30 by connecting to the local network created by this first terminal 11. For example, a tablet or a Smartphone can be configured in access point mode so as to create a Wi-Fi access point to which other terminals 12-13 and / or the mobile node 1 of the mesh network 10 can connect. This tablet or this Smartphone can then route, via its 4G connection interface, the data flows of the other terminals 12-13 and / or the mobile node 1 connected on its Wi-Fi interface to a computer network 30 (Internet, for example).

[0026] In one embodiment, the first connection interface 7 and the second connection interface 15 allow a connection to, respectively, a first access network and a second access network administered by two operators. different. The first connection interface 7 and the second connection interface 15 may, in particular, be of different technologies (for example, a satellite interface and a radio WAN interface).

[0027] When at least one predefined condition relating to the connection of the mobile node 1 to the computer network 30 is verified, the first terminal 11 is configured to act as an access point to the computer network 30 via the second connection interface 15.

[0028] In the presence of several terminals 11 configurable as access points, user preferences or parameters associated with these terminals 11 (transmission capacity, battery charge status, mobile network operator associated with the connection interface, communication cost, quality of the received signal, or connection history for example) can be used to select one or more to act as access points.

[0029] A condition triggering the configuration of the first terminal 11 as an access point is, in one embodiment, a loss of connection of the mobile node 1 to the computer network 30. Such a loss of connection may occur, for example, at the entrance of the mobile node 1 (or, equivalently, of another node 2 constituting an access point of the mesh network 10 to the computer network 30) in a shadow zone not covered by the access network of the first connection interface 7 (equipping the mobile node 1 and / or said other node 2 of the mesh network 10), but which could, advantageously, be covered by the access network of the second connection interface 15 (in particular, when the access networks are managed by two different operators or when the first and second connection interfaces 7, 15 are of different technologies).A break in the connection of the mobile node 1 to the computer network 30 may also be linked to a hardware connection problem at the node 1-2 constituting the access point of the mesh network 10 to the computer network 30 or on the network link leading to this node 1-2. A loss of connection of the mobile node 1 to the computer network 30 is, in one embodiment, verified after a predefined number of successive unsuccessful reconnection attempts and / or after a predefined duration of the loss of connection.

[0030] In another embodiment, a condition relating to the connection of the first mobile node 1 to the computer network 30 is a quality indicator (i.e. representative of the quality) of the connection of the first mobile node 1 to the computer network 30 greater than a predetermined value. This indicator is, for example, a transmission rate providing information on the load of the first connection interface 7 or a signal-to-noise ratio, an error rate, a received signal strength (RSSI), an interference level or a propagation delay reflecting the quality of transmission on this first connection interface 7.

[0031] In one embodiment, the predetermined value is a predefined threshold value. The terminal 11 is configured to act as an access point when the quality indicator of the connection of the first mobile node 1 to the computer network 30 is such that a fallback solution must be sought (for example, saturation of the first connection interface or a transmission quality below a predetermined threshold).

[0032] In another embodiment, the predetermined value is an indicator of the quality of the connection of the first terminal 11 to the computer network 30. In this case, the terminal 11 is configured to act as an access point to the computer network 30 as soon as it is able to offer a better connection to the computer network 30. For this, a continuous or periodic evaluation of the second connection interface 15 as to its potential for use in accessing the computer network 30 may be envisaged.

[0033] In one embodiment, the first terminal 11 is configured to act as an access point upon request from the mobile node 1. Thus, the mobile node 1 is responsible for configuring the first terminal 11 as an access point to the computer network 30, as soon as any of the aforementioned conditions is verified. A request for activation and sharing of the second connection interface 15 may include configuration data, for example, such as a password, a network name (or an SSID for "Service Set Identifier" in English), a type of encryption, a frequency band, a broadcast channel, a maximum number of authorized connections, a time limit for deactivating the access point, or a list of IP addresses authorized to attach to this access point.

[0034] In another embodiment, the mobile node 1 is configured to trigger a connection transfer operation (commonly called "handover" in English) from at least one second terminal 12-13 which is connected to it to the first terminal 11 acting as an access point to the computer network 30. Following the configuration of the first terminal 11 as an access point, the mobile node 1 sends a handover command to the second terminal 12-13. A handover command may comprise any data making it possible to connect to the first terminal 11 configured as an access point (password, SSID, encryption type, a frequency band and / or a broadcast channel for example) and / or a roaming delay for example. It follows that this second terminal 12-13 disconnects from the mobile node 1 and connects to the first terminal 11 configured as an access point.When the first terminal 11 is configured as an access point taking into account a quality indicator of the connection of the first mobile node 1 to the computer network 30 greater than a predetermined value, the mobile node 1 triggers a forced handover operation of the second terminal 12-13. In one embodiment, only some of the terminals 12-13 connected to the node 1. mobile are affected by a handover operation so as to partially unload the mobile node 1 and delegate part of the connections to the first terminal 11 (a load distribution).

[0035] In another embodiment, the first terminal 11 is capable of self-configuring as a network access point to the computer network 30 as soon as at least one first predefined condition relating to the connection of the first mobile node 1 to the computer network 30 is verified. The first terminal 11 can automatically switch to the second connection interface 15 as soon as it detects, for example, a loss of connection of the mobile node 1 to the computer network 30 or a quality indicator of the connection of the first mobile node 1 to the computer network 30 greater than a predetermined value. The first terminal 11 can inform the mobile node 1 thereof. Alternatively, the mobile node 1 detects on its local communication interface 14 the connection sharing proposed by the first terminal 11.

[0036] When acting as an access point, the first terminal 11 is, in one embodiment, configured to advertise itself to the other terminals 12-13 and / or the mobile node 1 as the default access point to the computer network 30. With this configuration, the other terminals 12-13 and / or the mobile node 1 discover the IP address of the first terminal 11 acting as an access point and use it as their access point to the computer network 30.

[0037] In one embodiment, at least one second terminal 12-13 is configured to automatically attach to the first terminal 11 as soon as the latter acts as an access point. A default configuration (in particular, based on a set of predefined rules and / or user preferences) of the local communication interface of a second terminal 12-13 can, in fact, force this second terminal 12-13 to change its anchor point in the local network from a first current access point to a second predefined access point.

[0038] In another embodiment, the mobile node 1 is configured to share the connection to the computer network 30 provided by the first terminal 11 acting as an access point to this network. Several connection sharing modes can be envisaged such as connection sharing via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or Ethernet, or a configuration of the mobile node 1 as a Wi-Fi repeater (or extender) for example. This advantageously results in the other terminals 12-13 being able to maintain their connection to the mobile node 1.

[0039] It should be noted that once the connection to the computer network 30 is reestablished thanks to the first terminal 11, the mobile node 1 can update, accordingly, its routing table so that this connection is accessible to the other nodes 2-5 of the mesh network. This advantageously results in an extension of the mesh network making it possible to remedy a loss of connection of the nodes 2-5 to the network 30 in computer via a first connection interface 7 equipping any of its nodes 1-5.

[0040] Furthermore, when at least one second predefined condition relating to the connection of the mobile node 1 to the computer network 30 is verified, the mobile node 1 is configured to deactivate the operation as an access point of the first terminal 11. For this, the mobile node 1 sends to the first terminal 11 a command to deactivate the access point mode. The second condition is, in particular, a reestablishment of the connection of the mobile node 1 to the computer network 30 via the first connection interface 7, or a quality indicator of the connection of the mobile node 1 to the computer network 30 lower than a predetermined value.

[0041] Advantageously, the first terminal 11 is capable of triggering a connection transfer operation (handover) from a terminal 12-13 connected to it to the mobile node 1. Upon receiving a command to deactivate the access point mode, the first terminal 11 sends a handover command to the mobile node 1 to the terminals connected to it. As a result, these terminals disconnect from the first terminal 11 and connect to the mobile node 1.

[0042] For centralized management of the connectivity of the nodes 1-5 of the mesh network 10, a configuration server may be considered. This server contains configuration data that each node 1-5 of the mesh network 10 can retrieve at each startup or each time a modification is made to the configuration data. The nodes 1-5, including in particular the mobile nodes 1, of the mesh network 10 notify the server of any event produced on their connection interfaces such as connection / disconnection of a terminal 1 configurable as an access point, connection / disconnection of a terminal 12-13 not configurable as an access point or loss / reestablishment of a connection to the computer network 30. Quality indicators of a connection of the mobile nodes 1-5 to the computer network 30 may be recorded periodically and transmitted to the configuration server.Based on the events and information notified to it, the configuration server advantageously allows centralized management of the activation / deactivation of the operation in access point mode of a terminal 1 and the control of a connection transfer from a mobile node 1 to a terminal configured as an access point and vice versa.

[0043] In an implementation of the embodiments described above, the mobile nodes 1 of the mesh network 10 and / or the terminals 11 configurable as access points integrate software applications responsible for performing the corresponding tasks presented above. Advantageously, the embodiments described above do not generate any hardware extension either on the mobile nodes 1 of the mesh network 10, or on the terminals 11-13.

[0044] Referring to [Fig. 2], steps of a method for managing network connectivity in the system presented above are shown. This method comprises, in particular, a step 21 of configuring the first terminal 11 to act as an access point to the computer network 30 via the second connection interface 15, when at least one first predefined condition relating to the connection of the mobile node 1 to the computer network 30 is verified. Once the first terminal 11 is configured as an access point, the mobile node 1 triggers (step 22) a handover operation of at least one of the terminals 12-13 connected to it to the first terminal 11 acting as an access point.

[0045] Once suitable connectivity is re-established at the mobile node 1, the latter deactivates (step 23) the operation as an access point of the first terminal 11 which, in turn, triggers (step 24) a connection transfer operation of the terminals connected to it towards the mobile node 1.

[0046] Advantageously, the embodiments described above make it possible to - remedying a degradation or loss of connection of a mobile mesh network 10 to a computer network 30, by using the capacity of the terminals 11-13 connected to the nodes of the mesh network 10 to act as an access point to the computer network 30; - respond adaptively to varying connectivity needs in a mesh network; - ensure permanent connectivity within a mobile mesh network 10 while moving; - improve the performance of mesh networks by avoiding saturation of mobile node connection interfaces (for example, caused by a simultaneous need for connectivity of several terminals); - provide connectivity extensions to mobile nodes for better availability of the mesh network.

[0047] Although the network connectivity management system is described above with respect to embodiments and variations, those skilled in the art will understand that these embodiments and variations are not limiting and may be combined with each other and / or with any other equivalent embodiment.

Claims

Claims

1. Network connectivity management system comprising - a mesh network (10) integrating a plurality of interconnected nodes (1-5) among which at least one node (1-2) is provided with a first interface (7) for connection to a computer network (30) external to the mesh network (10); - a local network integrating a mobile node (1) of said plurality of interconnected nodes (1-5) and a first terminal (11) connected to said mobile node (1), this first terminal (11) integrating a second interface (15) for connection to said computer network (30), this first terminal (11) being capable of acting as an access point to said computer network (30) via this second connection interface (15);this system being characterized in that the first terminal (11) is configured to act, when at least one first predefined condition relating to the connection of the mobile node (1) to the computer network (30) is verified, as an access point to the computer network (30) via the second connection interface (15).;

2. System according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the first predefined condition is at least one of the following: - a loss of connection of the mobile node (1) to the computer network (30); - a quality indicator of the connection of the mobile node (1) to the computer network (30) greater than a predetermined value.

3. System according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the first terminal (11) is configured to act as an access point upon request from the mobile node (1).

4. System according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the system further comprises a second terminal (12-13) connected to the mobile node (1), this mobile node (1) being configured to trigger a connection transfer operation from the second terminal (12-13) to the first terminal (11) acting as an access point.

5. System according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the mobile node (1) is configured to share the connection to the computer network (30) provided by the first terminal (11) acting as an access point to this computer network (30).

6. A system according to any preceding claim, ca- characterized in that the mobile node (1) is configured to deactivate, when at least one second predefined condition relating to the connection of the mobile node (1) to the computer network (30) is verified, the operation as an access point of the first terminal (11) to the computer network (30).

7. System according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the second predefined condition is at least one of the following: - a reestablishment of the connection of the mobile node (1) to the computer network (30); - a quality indicator of the connection of the mobile node (1) to the computer network (30) lower than a predetermined value.

8. System according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the system further comprises a third terminal (12-13) connected to the first terminal (11) acting as an access point, the first terminal (11) being capable of triggering a connection transfer operation from the third terminal (12-13) to the mobile node (1).

9. Method for managing network connectivity in a system comprising - a mesh network (10) integrating a plurality of interconnected nodes (1-5) among which at least one node (1-2) is provided with a first interface (7) for connection to a computer network (30) external to the mesh network (10); - a local network integrating a mobile node (1) of said plurality of interconnected nodes (1-5), a first terminal (11) connected to said mobile node (1) and a second terminal (12-13) connected to said mobile node (1), the first terminal (11) integrating a second interface (15) for connection to said computer network (30), this first terminal (11) being capable of acting as an access point to said computer network (30) via this second connection interface (15);this method being characterized in that it comprises the following steps - configuration of the first terminal (11) to act as an access point to the computer network (30) via the second connection interface (15), when at least one first predefined condition relating to the connection of the mobile node (1) to the computer network (30) is verified; - triggering, by the mobile node (1), of a connection transfer operation from the second terminal (12-13) to the first terminal (11) acting as an access point.;

10. Method according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it further comprises the following steps: - deactivation, by the mobile node (1), of the operation as an access point of the first terminal (11) to the computer network (30), when at least one second predefined condition relating to the connection of the mobile node (1) to the computer network (30) is verified; - triggering, by the first terminal (11), of a connection transfer operation from the second terminal (12-13) to the mobile node (1).

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