Wireless Mesh Network System

Abstract

To provide a mechanism for receiving ACK packets from a plurality of predetermined wireless devices after transmitting ACK request packets to the predetermined wireless devices.SOLUTION: In a wireless mesh network system, each wireless node device includes a link quality information / path information storage unit which stores link quality information and path information between all wireless node devices in a cluster. A wireless gateway node device includes: a transmission unit which transmits ACK request packets to a plurality of predetermined wireless node devices, as receivers, in a cluster, on the basis of the link quality information and the path information; and a receiving unit which receives ACK packets from the predetermined wireless node devices, as receivers, in the cluster, in response to the transmitted ACK request packets, on the basis of the link quality information and the path information.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a wireless mesh network system that is configured from a plurality of wireless node devices. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, wireless sensor networks have been attracting attention as a communication technology for smart meters, HEMS (Home Energy Management Systems), and BEMS (Building Energy Management Systems). One of these is the Zigbee network. Compared to conventional wireless networks, Zigbee networks have the advantage of being able to configure mesh networks. This Zigbee network has router nodes with routing functions and end device nodes without routing functions. Router nodes not only communicate for themselves, but also volunteer to transmit messages for other nodes, thereby expanding the communication coverage area and providing redundancy in communication paths. In addition, when using a mesh network, it is necessary to send an ACK request packet and check whether an ACK packet is returned in response to check whether there are any abnormalities in the route from the source node to the destination node, or whether there is a malfunction in the destination node. Here, ACK is an abbreviation for "Acknowledgement," a technical term commonly used in the field of communications. In communication between two parties, it refers to the signal, data, packet, etc. sent when returning some kind of positive response to the other party. It is used to convey information such as "the connection request has been accepted" or "the data has been received correctly." Meanwhile, in communication between two parties, the receiving side often uses NAK (Negative ACK) to indicate a negative response such as failure or refusal.

[0003] As an example for solving such a problem, a communication system has been proposed as described in Patent Document 1. This invention discloses a technique in which one wireless coordinator transmits a control data frame to multiple wireless devices in turn, and then the wireless devices that receive the control data frame transmit ACK packets to the wireless coordinator in turn. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2016-92737 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, the above-mentioned invention has a problem in that, for example, when this technology is applied to a wireless mesh network such as Zigbee, it does not disclose a mechanism for transmitting an ACK request packet to a specified number of wireless devices and then receiving ACK packets from the specified number of wireless devices, or a mechanism for transmitting an ACK request packet to all wireless devices and then receiving ACK packets from all wireless devices. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In consideration of the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a wireless mesh network system in which each wireless node device has a link quality information / route information storage unit that stores link quality information and route information between all wireless node devices in a cluster, and a wireless gateway node device has a transmitter that transmits an ACK request packet by multicast to a predetermined number of wireless node devices in a destination cluster based on the link quality information and route information stored in the link quality information / route information storage unit, and a receiver that receives ACK packets from the predetermined number of wireless node devices in the destination cluster in response to the ACK request packet transmitted by the transmitter, based on the link quality information and route information stored in the link quality information / route information storage unit.

[0007] Specifically, the present invention provides a wireless mesh network system including at least one or more wireless node devices capable of transmitting and receiving packets and configured with at least one or more clusters, wherein one of the wireless node devices in the cluster functions as a wireless gateway node device, and each wireless node device has a link quality information and route information storage unit that stores link quality information and route information between all of the wireless node devices in the cluster, and the wireless gateway node device has a transmitting unit that transmits an ACK request packet by multicast to a predetermined number of wireless node devices in the destination cluster based on the link quality information and route information stored in the link quality information and route information storage unit, and a receiving unit that receives ACK packets from the predetermined number of wireless node devices in the destination cluster in response to the ACK request packet transmitted by the transmitting unit, based on the link quality information and route information stored in the link quality information and route information storage unit.

[0008] The present invention also provides a wireless mesh network system including at least one or more wireless node devices capable of transmitting and receiving packets and configured with at least one or more clusters, one of the wireless node devices in the cluster functions as a wireless gateway node device, and each wireless node device has a link quality information and route information storage unit that stores link quality information and route information between all of the wireless node devices in the cluster, and the wireless gateway node device has a transmitting unit that broadcasts an ACK request packet to all of the wireless node devices in the destination cluster based on the link quality information and route information stored in the link quality information and route information storage unit, and a receiving unit that receives ACK packets from all of the wireless node devices in the destination cluster in response to the ACK request packet transmitted by the transmitting unit, based on the link quality information and route information stored in the link quality information and route information storage unit.

[0009] The present invention also relates to a wireless mesh network system including at least one or more wireless node devices capable of transmitting and receiving packets and configured with at least one network consisting of at least one or more clusters, wherein one of the wireless node devices in the cluster functions as a wireless gateway node device and one of the wireless gateway node devices in the network functions as a wireless root node device, and each wireless node device has a first link quality information / route information storage unit for storing link quality information and route information between all the wireless node devices in the cluster to which the wireless gateway node device belongs, and each wireless gateway node device stores link quality information and route information between all the wireless node devices in the cluster to which the wireless gateway node device belongs and between the wireless gateway node devices in the network. and a second link quality information and route information storage unit that stores link quality information and route information stored in the first link quality information and route information storage unit and a second link quality information and route information storage unit that stores link quality information and route information stored in the first link quality information and route information storage unit, and the wireless root node device or the wireless gateway node device has a first transmitting unit that transmits an ACK request packet by multicast to a predetermined plurality of wireless node devices in a destination cluster based on the link quality information and route information stored in the first link quality information and route information storage unit and a first receiving unit that receives ACK packets from the predetermined plurality of wireless node devices in the destination cluster in response to the ACK request packet transmitted by the first transmitting unit, based on the link quality information and route information stored in the first link quality information and route information storage unit and / or the second link quality information and route information storage unit.

[0010] The present invention also relates to a wireless mesh network system including at least one or more wireless node devices capable of transmitting and receiving packets and configured with at least one network consisting of at least one or more clusters, wherein one of the wireless node devices in the cluster functions as a wireless gateway node device and one of the wireless gateway node devices in the network functions as a wireless root node device, and each wireless node device has a first link quality information / route information storage unit for storing link quality information and route information between all the wireless node devices in the cluster to which the wireless node device belongs, and each wireless gateway node device stores link quality information and route information between all the wireless node devices in the cluster to which the wireless gateway node device belongs and between the wireless gateway node devices in the network. a second link quality information and route information storage unit that stores link quality information and route information stored in the first link quality information and route information storage unit and a second link quality information and route information storage unit that stores link quality information and route information stored in the second link quality information and route information storage unit, and the wireless root node device or the wireless gateway node device has a second transmitting unit that broadcasts an ACK request packet to all wireless node devices in a destination cluster based on the link quality information and route information stored in the first link quality information and route information storage unit and a second receiving unit that receives an aggregated ACK packet that aggregates ACKs from all wireless node devices in the destination cluster in response to the ACK request packet transmitted by the second transmitting unit based on the link quality information and route information stored in the first link quality information and route information storage unit and / or the second link quality information and route information storage unit.

[0011] Furthermore, in order to realize the above-mentioned wireless mesh network system, an operating method of the wireless mesh network system, which is a computer, and an operating program of the wireless mesh network system, which is written in a manner that can be read and executed by the wireless mesh network system, which is a computer, are provided.

[0012] Specifically, the present invention provides an operating method for a wireless mesh network which is a computer including at least one or more wireless node devices capable of transmitting and receiving packets and which is composed of at least one or more clusters, wherein one of the wireless node devices in the cluster functions as a wireless gateway node device, and each wireless node device has a link quality information / route information storage step of storing link quality information and route information between all of the wireless node devices in the cluster, and the wireless gateway node device has a transmitting step of transmitting an ACK request packet by multicast to a predetermined number of wireless node devices in the cluster which is a destination based on the link quality information and route information stored in the link quality information / route information storage step, and a receiving step of receiving ACK packets from the predetermined number of wireless node devices in the cluster which is a destination in response to the ACK request packet transmitted in the transmitting step, based on the link quality information and route information stored in the link quality information / route information storage step.

[0013] The present invention also provides an operation method for a wireless mesh network which is a computer including at least one or more wireless node devices capable of transmitting and receiving packets and which is configured with at least one or more clusters, wherein one of the wireless node devices in the cluster functions as a wireless gateway node device, and each wireless node device has a link quality information / route information storage step of storing link quality information and route information between all of the wireless node devices in the cluster, and the wireless gateway node device has a transmitting step of broadcasting an ACK request packet to all of the wireless node devices in the cluster which is a destination based on the link quality information and route information stored in the link quality information / route information storage step, and a receiving step of receiving ACK packets from all of the wireless node devices in the cluster which is a destination in response to the ACK request packet transmitted in the transmitting step, based on the link quality information and route information stored in the link quality information / route information storage step.

[0014] The present invention also provides an operating method for a wireless mesh network, which is a computer including at least one or more wireless node devices capable of transmitting and receiving packets and configured with at least one network consisting of at least one or more clusters, wherein one of the wireless node devices in the cluster functions as a wireless gateway node device and one of the wireless gateway node devices in the network functions as a wireless root node device, and each wireless node device has a first link quality information / route information storage step of storing link quality information and route information between all the wireless node devices in the cluster to which the wireless node device belongs, and each wireless gateway node device has a second link quality information / route information storage step of storing link quality information and route information between all the wireless node devices in the cluster to which the wireless gateway node device belongs and between the wireless gateway node devices in the network. a first transmission step of transmitting an ACK request packet by multicast to a predetermined plurality of wireless node devices in a destination cluster based on the link quality information and route information stored in the first link quality information and route information storage step or / and the second link quality information and route information storage step, and a first reception step of receiving ACK packets from a predetermined plurality of wireless node devices in a destination cluster in response to the ACK request packet transmitted in the first transmission step, based on the link quality information and route information stored in the first link quality information and route information storage step or / and the second link quality information and route information storage step.

[0015] The present invention also relates to an operating method of a wireless mesh network, which is a computer including at least one or more wireless node devices capable of transmitting and receiving packets and configured with at least one network consisting of at least one or more clusters, wherein one of the wireless node devices in the cluster functions as a wireless gateway node device and one of the wireless gateway node devices in the network functions as a wireless root node device, and each wireless node device has a first link quality information / route information storage step of storing link quality information and route information between all the wireless node devices in the cluster to which the wireless node device belongs, and each wireless gateway node device has a second link quality information / route information storage step of storing link quality information and route information between all the wireless node devices in the cluster to which the wireless gateway node device belongs and between the wireless gateway node devices in the network. a second transmitting step of transmitting an ACK request packet by broadcast to all wireless node devices in a destination cluster based on the link quality information and route information stored in the first link quality information and route information storing step or / and the second link quality information and route information storing step, and a second receiving step of receiving an aggregated ACK packet in response to the ACK request packet transmitted in the second transmitting step, based on the link quality information and route information stored in the first link quality information and route information storing step or / and the second link quality information and route information storing step.

[0016] Specifically, the present invention provides an operation program for a wireless mesh network, which is a computer, including at least one or more wireless node devices capable of transmitting and receiving packets and which is written in a manner readable and executable by a wireless mesh network, which is a computer configured of at least one or more clusters, wherein one of the wireless node devices in the cluster functions as a wireless gateway node device, and each wireless node device has a link quality information / route information storage step for storing link quality information and route information between all of the wireless node devices in the cluster, and the wireless gateway node device has a transmitting step of transmitting an ACK request packet by multicast to a predetermined number of wireless node devices in the cluster as a destination based on the link quality information and route information stored in the link quality information / route information storage unit, and a receiving step of receiving ACK packets from the predetermined number of wireless node devices in the cluster as a destination in response to the ACK request packet transmitted in the transmitting step, based on the link quality information and route information stored in the link quality information / route information storage unit.

[0017] The present invention also provides an operation program for a wireless mesh network, which is a computer including at least one or more wireless node devices capable of transmitting and receiving packets and which is written in a manner readable and executable by a wireless mesh network, which is a computer configured of at least one or more clusters, wherein one of the wireless node devices in the cluster functions as a wireless gateway node device, and each wireless node device has a link quality information / route information storage step of storing link quality information and route information between all of the wireless node devices in the cluster, and the wireless gateway node device has a transmitting step of broadcasting an ACK request packet to all of the wireless node devices in the cluster as a destination based on the link quality information and route information stored in the link quality information / route information storage step, and a receiving step of receiving ACK packets from all of the wireless node devices in the cluster as a destination in response to the ACK request packet transmitted in the transmitting step, based on the link quality information and route information stored in the link quality information / route information storage step.

[0018] The present invention also provides an operation program for a wireless mesh network, which is written in a readable and executable manner in a wireless mesh network, which is a computer including at least one or more wireless node devices capable of transmitting and receiving packets and which is configured with at least one network consisting of at least one or more clusters, wherein one of the wireless node devices in the cluster functions as a wireless gateway node device and one of the wireless gateway node devices in the network functions as a wireless root node device, and each wireless node device has a first link quality information / route information storage step for storing link quality information and route information between all the wireless node devices in the cluster to which the wireless node device belongs, and each wireless gateway node device stores link quality information and route information between all the wireless node devices in the cluster to which the wireless gateway node device belongs and between the wireless gateway node devices in the network. The present invention provides an operation program for a wireless mesh network, the operation program being written in a readable and executable manner in a wireless mesh network that is a computer, characterized in that the operation program has a first transmitting step of transmitting an ACK request packet by multicast to a predetermined plurality of wireless node devices in a destination cluster based on the link quality information and route information stored in the first link quality information and route information storing step or / and the second link quality information and route information storing step, and the wireless root node device or the wireless gateway node device has a first receiving step of receiving ACK packets from a predetermined plurality of wireless node devices in a destination cluster in response to the ACK request packet transmitted in the first transmitting step, based on the link quality information and route information stored in the first link quality information and route information storing step or / and the second link quality information and route information storing step.

[0019] The present invention also relates to an operation program for a wireless mesh network, which is written in a readable and executable manner in a wireless mesh network, which is a computer including at least one or more wireless node devices capable of transmitting and receiving packets and which is configured with at least one network consisting of at least one or more clusters, wherein one of the wireless node devices in the cluster functions as a wireless gateway node device and one of the wireless gateway node devices in the network functions as a wireless root node device, and each wireless node device has a first link quality information / route information storage step of storing link quality information and route information between all the wireless node devices in the cluster to which the wireless node device belongs, and each wireless gateway node device has a second link quality information / route information storage step of storing link quality information and route information between all the wireless node devices in the cluster to which the wireless gateway node device belongs and between the wireless gateway node devices in the network. The present invention provides an operation program for a wireless mesh network, the operation program being written in a readable and executable manner in a wireless mesh network that is a computer, the operation program comprising: a link quality information and route information storage step, and a second transmission step in which a wireless root node device or a wireless gateway node device broadcasts an ACK request packet to all wireless node devices in a destination cluster based on the link quality information and route information stored in the first link quality information and route information storage step or / and the second link quality information and route information storage step, and a second reception step in which, in response to the ACK request packet transmitted in the second transmission step, an aggregated ACK packet aggregating ACKs from all wireless node devices in a destination cluster based on the link quality information and route information stored in the first link quality information and route information storage step or / and the second link quality information and route information storage step. Effect of the Invention

[0020] As described above, the present invention can provide a wireless mesh network system in which each wireless node device has a link quality information / route information storage unit that stores link quality information and route information between all wireless node devices in a cluster, and a wireless gateway node device has a transmitter that transmits an ACK request packet by multicast to a predetermined number of wireless node devices in a destination cluster based on the link quality information and route information stored in the link quality information / route information storage unit, and a receiver that receives ACK packets from the predetermined number of wireless node devices in the destination cluster in response to the ACK request packet transmitted by the transmitter, based on the link quality information and route information stored in the link quality information / route information storage unit. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0021] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a hardware configuration applied to the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 shows an example of the overall configuration of a wireless mesh network system according to the present invention and an example of address allocation used in the system. [Diagram 3] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of link quality information and route information of a wireless mesh network system according to the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of link quality information of the wireless mesh network system according to the present invention. [Diagram 5] FIG. 1 shows an example of ranking based on link quality information of a wireless mesh network system according to the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a route selection condition for a wireless mesh network system according to the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a functional configuration of a wireless mesh network system according to a first embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a packet configuration in the first embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of an operation in a conventional system. [Figure 10]FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of an operation in the wireless mesh network system of the first embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a hardware configuration of a wireless mesh network system according to a first embodiment. [Figure 12] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a process flow when the wireless mesh network system according to the first embodiment is used. [Figure 13] FIG. 1 shows a functional configuration of a wireless mesh network system according to a second embodiment. [Figure 14] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a packet configuration in the second embodiment. [Figure 15] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of an operation in a conventional system. [Figure 16] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of an operation in the wireless mesh network system according to the second embodiment. [Figure 17] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the hardware configuration of a wireless mesh network system according to a second embodiment. [Figure 18] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a process flow when using a wireless mesh network system according to the second embodiment. [Figure 19] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the functional configuration of a wireless mesh network system according to a third embodiment. [Figure 20] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a packet configuration in the third embodiment. [Figure 21] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of an operation in the wireless mesh network system of the third embodiment. [Figure 22] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a hardware configuration of a wireless mesh network system according to a third embodiment. [Diagram 23] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a process flow when using a wireless mesh network system according to the third embodiment. [Figure 24] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the functional configuration of a wireless mesh network system according to a fourth embodiment. [Diagram 25] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a packet configuration in the fourth embodiment. [Figure 26]FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of an operation in the wireless mesh network system according to the fourth embodiment. [Figure 27] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a hardware configuration of a wireless mesh network system according to a fourth embodiment. [Figure 28] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a process flow when using a wireless mesh network system in the fourth embodiment. <Hardware that can constitute the present invention>

[0022] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a hardware configuration applied to the present invention. The wireless node device in the present invention is equipped with a microcomputer, a storage device, a device for transmitting and receiving wireless signals, a power source, etc., and relates to a wireless mesh network system connected with a plurality of devices that control one or more of devices for acquiring various information such as sensors, output devices such as speakers and LEDs, and control devices such as relays and switches, and its operation method and operation program. The above devices are controlled by a microcomputer, and the wireless mesh network is also connected to an external management device such as a PC, so that each device has a hardware configuration similar to that of an electronic computer, and the present invention is realized by cooperation with the software.

[0023] As shown in the figure, the circuit board is made up of a CPU, a ROM (flash memory) which is a non-volatile memory, a volatile RAM (SRAM) which is a main memory, a serial bus and various general-purpose interfaces, a wireless circuit, an AD / DA converter, a power-on reset circuit, a clock generator, etc. These operate in cooperation with an operating system and various application programs, etc. The various programs and data which make up the present invention are configured to efficiently utilize these hardware resources to execute various processes. For example, the non-volatile memory stores an operation program to be executed by the wireless node device, link quality information between the wireless node device and other wireless node devices, and route information, etc. Here, the link quality information and route information may be configured to be stored in the volatile memory, but it is preferable to configure the non-volatile memory to also store the information so as to be able to cope with a case where the volatile memory is erased due to a momentary interruption or the like.

[0024] Flash memory is a non-volatile memory that uses a semiconductor element called a floating gate MOSFET to store electrons in the floating gate to record data. It is also called flash EEPROM or flash ROM. The basic structure of each bit's memory cell is a kind of EEPROM, but it is characterized by a mechanism that "sweeps" data within blocks of multiple bits, and by the fact that the read / write units (block sizes are a few kilobytes to a few tens of kilobytes) and speed are easy to handle. There are two main types of flash memory: NAND flash memory and NOR flash memory.

[0025] SRAM (Static RAM) is a type of semiconductor memory. In contrast to DRAM (Dynamic RAM), SRAM is so named because it "stores information using a static circuit method."

[0026] The power-on reset circuit is as follows. When power is turned on, all microcontrollers start in a state where their internal logic is not yet determined. For this reason, the microcontroller's internal logic must initialize its internal state by itself immediately after power is turned on. Even after power is turned on, the microcontroller cannot start unless the guaranteed operating voltage is reached. Therefore, during that time, the values ​​of the internal logic circuits are forcibly fixed to prevent the microcontroller from malfunctioning. After that, when the power supply voltage reaches a level at which the logic circuits can operate, the internal circuits set registers and other circuits to their initial values. The circuit that performs this series of operations is called a "power-on reset circuit."

[0027] The wireless mesh network system of the present invention is used, for example, to electrically connect each wireless node device to various sensors installed in machine tools in factories, etc., and to collect temperature, motor rotation speed, vibration frequency, voltage, current, air temperature, humidity, illuminance, etc., to measure the operating status of the machine tools and the surrounding environment in real time. Other possible applications include a system that locally opens and closes windows or locally controls air conditioning in response to air temperature variations, a system that adjusts the brightness of ceiling lights so as to reduce the variation in illuminance on desks in classrooms by placing wireless node devices equipped with illuminometers on desks in classrooms and wireless node devices equipped with brightness adjustment functions on ceiling lights, and a system that collects the observation results of thermometers, hygrometers, barometers, illuminometers, and wind direction and speed meters installed in various places in a city.

[0028] <Satisfying the use of the laws of nature in the present invention>

[0029] The present invention functions through the cooperation of a computer, communication equipment, and software. Specifically, the present invention relates to a wireless mesh network system consisting of multiple wireless node devices, in which each wireless node device performs wireless packet communication and exchanges various information and data between them using hardware resources. From this perspective, if the resources of the present invention, such as a computer, are judged based on the matters described in the claims and specification and the common general technical knowledge related to those matters, the present invention as a whole utilizes the laws of nature and falls under the category of computer-software related invention.

[0030] <The significance of utilizing the laws of nature required in patent law>

[0031] The use of the laws of nature required by the Patent Act is required to ensure that an invention can be used industrially and usefully, based on the purpose of the law, from the viewpoint that an invention must have industrial applicability and contribute to the development of industry. In other words, it is required that the invention be industrially useful, that is, that the effect of the invention declared at the time of application can be reproduced with a certain degree of certainty by implementing the invention. From this perspective, the use of the laws of nature is interpreted as the function of each of the invention-specific matters (invention constituent elements), which are the components of the invention for achieving the effect of the invention, being achieved by utilizing the laws of nature. Furthermore, the effect of an invention should be one that has the potential to provide a certain usefulness to the user who uses the invention, and should not be viewed from the perspective of how the user feels or thinks about that usefulness. Therefore, even if the effect that the user obtains from this system is a psychological effect, the effect itself is not subject to the required use of the laws of nature. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0032] Hereinafter, the embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the attached drawings. The relationships between the embodiments and the claims are as follows. The explanation of the first embodiment mainly relates to claims 1, 5, and 9, the explanation of the second embodiment mainly relates to claims 2, 6, and 10, the explanation of the third embodiment mainly relates to claims 3, 7, and 11, and the explanation of the fourth embodiment mainly relates to claims 4, 8, and 12. The present invention should not be limited to these embodiments in any way, and may be embodied in various forms without departing from the gist of the invention.

[0033] <Overall configuration of the wireless mesh network system of the present invention> FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of a wireless mesh network system according to the present invention and address allocation used in the system. The wireless mesh network system of the present invention is designed to configure a cluster from at least one wireless node device. For example, one cluster is configured from a maximum of 32 wireless node devices. Also, one network is designed to be configured from at least one cluster, and to be configured from a maximum of 32 clusters. In short, it is designed to be expressed in multiples of 8.

[0034] In FIG. 2, one of the clusters consisting of 32 wireless node devices of the same type functions as a wireless gateway node device and is responsible for managing communications within the cluster to which the wireless gateway node device belongs. The wireless gateway node device also serves as a so-called gateway of the cluster to which it belongs and is responsible for managing communications between the clusters. The wireless node devices in one cluster are assigned node IDs (addresses) from 0 to 31 in advance. A maximum of 32 clusters are connected to configure one network. The clusters in one network are assigned cluster IDs (addresses) from 0 to 31 in advance. Communications between clusters are transmitted and received by the wireless gateway node devices belonging to each cluster, and communications are performed by the wireless node devices in each cluster via this wireless gateway node device. Furthermore, one wireless root node device is set for one network to manage communications with the outside of the network and is responsible for communications between the networks. One of the wireless gateway node devices plays the role of the wireless root node device. A maximum of 255 networks are connected to configure one network system. One of the multiple wireless root node devices is responsible for communication between this network system and external management devices (including electronic devices such as PCs, tablet terminals, and smartphones). Networks within this network system are assigned network IDs (addresses) from 0 to 255 in advance. By adopting such a configuration, it is possible to build a large-scale wireless mesh network consisting of a maximum of 261120 wireless node devices as a whole. Moreover, the address is displayed as (network ID (0 to 255). cluster ID (0 to 31). node ID (0 to 31)). For example, node 4 of cluster 21 of network 1 is expressed as "(1.21.4)". Each wireless node device is identified by this address, and is also set as the source or destination of packet communication. The allocation of the wireless root node device and the wireless gateway node device may be configured to be able to be set in advance when the wireless mesh network system is constructed, or may be configured to be able to be set after startup from an external device such as a PC.

[0035] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of link quality information and route information in the wireless mesh network system according to the present invention. In this figure, link quality information and route information states are shown for wireless node devices 1 to 10 in cluster 1 of network 5. The numerical values ​​written in each node device indicate the addresses assigned to each node device. Here, straight lines connect wireless node devices that can communicate with each other. Depending on the link quality rank described later, three types of lines are displayed in order from best to worst: a thick solid line, a thin solid line, and a thin dotted line. Here, in the case of the worst link quality information, communication is not possible, so no lines are drawn between the wireless node devices. For example, from the perspective of wireless node device (5.1.4), direct communication is possible with six adjacent wireless node devices, 5.1.1, 5.1.2, 5.1.3, 5.1.5, 5.1.6, and 5.1.7, so link quality information and route information can be immediately determined and stored. In this case, link quality information is differentiated by ranking into four levels. For example, if the link quality is ranked from worst to best, there are four levels: No Link (communication not possible), Poor, Good, and Excellent. For example, from the perspective of the wireless node device (5.1.9), the link quality information for the wireless node device (5.1.8) is indicated to be in the "Excellent" state, the link quality information for the wireless node devices (5.1.2) and (5.1.10) is indicated to be in the "Good" state, and the link quality information for the wireless node devices (5.1.1) and (5.1.7) is indicated to be in the "Poor" state. 5 is a diagram showing an example of ranking based on link quality information of the wireless mesh network system in the present invention. As shown in this figure, the link quality information is ranked, and Excellent means that the communication quality is very good and is used preferentially. Next, Good means that there is no particular problem with the communication quality, the received signal strength indicator (RSSI) value is within a range where no data loss occurs, and there is almost no communication failure. Poor means that if this route is used, data loss occurs and the received signal strength indicator (RSSI) is low. No Link means that communication is completely impossible and cannot be used as a communication route. Also, when viewed from the wireless node device (5.1.4), the wireless node devices (5.1.8), (5.1.9), and (5.1.10) are configured to acquire link quality information and route information via the wireless node devices (5.1.1) and (5.1.2), respectively. In this way, the link quality information and route information of each wireless node device in the cluster is stored and grasped.

[0036] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of link quality information of the wireless mesh network system in the present invention. This correspondence table summarizes link quality information between the wireless node devices of cluster 1 in FIG. It is preferable that each wireless node device stores such a correspondence table, and is configured to be able to appropriately store and grasp which links have good and bad communication quality. In the wireless mesh network system of the present invention, such link quality information and route information may be stored and understood by a beacon signal transmitted periodically from each wireless node device (for example, once every 5 seconds at startup and once every 30 seconds during stable operation). Also, the link quality information and route information may be stored and updated by referring to the link quality information and route information when actually communicating with other wireless node devices.

[0037] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a route selection condition in the wireless mesh network system according to the present invention. As can be seen from this figure, a certain weighting is applied to route selection, and the priority order is Excellent, Good, and Poor, from best to worst. Also, taking into consideration the number of hops between wireless node devices, it is set to select Good, which has one hop, over Excellent, which has two hops. Poor is set to be used only when there are no Excellent or Good routes. Under these conditions, route information between wireless node devices is selected.

[0038] <Embodiment 1 (corresponding mainly to claims 1, 5, and 9)> <Overview of embodiment 1> The present embodiment provides a wireless mesh network system including at least one or more wireless node devices capable of transmitting and receiving packets and configured with at least one or more clusters, one of the wireless node devices in the cluster functions as a wireless gateway node device, and each wireless node device has a link quality information / route information storage unit that stores link quality information and route information between all of the wireless node devices in the cluster, and the wireless gateway node device has a transmitter that transmits an ACK request packet by multicast to a predetermined number of wireless node devices in the cluster as a destination based on the link quality information and route information stored in the link quality information / route information storage unit, and a receiver that receives ACK packets from the predetermined number of wireless node devices in the cluster as a destination in response to the ACK request packet transmitted by the transmitter, based on the link quality information and route information stored in the link quality information / route information storage unit. To achieve this, the present invention provides an operating method for a wireless mesh network system, which is a computer, and an operating program for the wireless mesh network system, which is written so as to be readable and executable by the wireless mesh network system, which is a computer.

[0039] <Functional configuration of embodiment 1> 7 is a diagram showing a functional configuration of the wireless mesh network system in embodiment 1. In this embodiment, a wireless node device includes a receiving unit, a packet analyzing unit, a link quality information / route information storage unit, a packet creating unit, and a transmitting unit.

[0040] <Description of the configuration of the first embodiment: Receiving section of the wireless node device> The "receiving unit" 701 is configured to have a function of receiving packets sent from other wireless node devices. Here, in the present invention, it is basically configured to use a wireless frequency band of 2.4 GHz, but it is also possible to configure it to operate in other wireless bands by changing an antenna (not shown) or the like.

[0041] <Description of the configuration of the first embodiment: Packet analysis unit of the wireless node device> The "packet analysis unit" 702 is configured to have a function of analyzing packets sent from other wireless node devices. Generally, a packet is composed of a header section and a payload section, and various information and data are stored in them. The "packet analysis unit" 702 plays a role of analyzing and examining what information and data are contained in them. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a packet in the first embodiment. As shown in this figure, the header information includes packet type information, a source address, a destination address, and ACK information. The packet type information is information indicating what kind of packet the packet is. For example, "000" may represent an ACK request packet, and "001" may represent an ACK packet. The ACK information is assigned 32 bits corresponding to a maximum of 32 wireless node devices constituting a cluster. That is, when a wireless node device with a node ID of 1 returns an ACK, "ACK(1)" (acknowledgement) is entered in the part of the ACK information corresponding to the node ID of 1. If the wireless node device with node ID 1 has a malfunction and is not operating normally, a "NAK(0)" (negative acknowledgement) will be entered in the corresponding portion of this ACK information. The "packet analysis unit" 702 is also configured to have a function of extracting a destination address from the header information of a transmitted packet and judging whether or not the packet is addressed to its own wireless node device. If it judges that the packet is addressed to its own wireless node device, it refers to packet type information and the like and proceeds to the next operation. If it judges that the packet was not addressed to its own wireless node device, it refers to the link quality information / route information storage unit and transfers the packet to the next wireless node device. For example, if the network ID is 1, the cluster ID is 1, and the node ID is 1, the destination address is set to (1.1.1). If there are multiple destinations, the destination addresses are set to (1.1.1), (1.1.2), or (1.1.3). Furthermore, if all wireless node devices in a cluster are to be destinations, the destination address may be set to (1.1.X). Here, ACK is an abbreviation for "Acknowledgement," a technical term commonly used in the field of communications. In communication between two parties, it refers to the signal, data, packet, etc. sent when returning some kind of positive response to the other party. It is used to convey information such as "the connection request has been accepted" or "the data has been received correctly." Meanwhile, in communication between two parties, the receiving side often uses NAK (Negative ACK) to indicate a negative response such as failure or refusal.

[0042] <Configuration of embodiment 1: Link quality information and route information storage unit of wireless node device> The "link quality information and route information storage unit" 703 is configured to have a function of storing link quality information and route information between all wireless node devices in a cluster. For example, information such as that shown in Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 above may be stored. Also, for example, the link quality information and route information may be stored and updated by a beacon signal transmitted periodically from each wireless node device (for example, the beacon signal may be issued once every 5 seconds at startup and once every 30 seconds during stable operation), or may be stored and updated by referring to link quality information and route information when communication is actually performed with another wireless node device.

[0043] <Description of the configuration of the first embodiment: Packet creation unit of the wireless node device> The "packet creation unit" 704 is configured to have a function of creating a packet when the device itself is the source and sends a packet to another wireless node device. In this case, the source address is set to the device's own address, for example, (1.1.1). Also, by setting packet type information, for example, "000" may indicate an ACK request packet, and "001" may indicate an ACK packet. Here, when there are multiple destinations, the destination address may be set as, for example, (1.1.1), (1.1.2), or (1.1.3). Furthermore, when all wireless node devices in a cluster are the destinations, the destination address may be set as (1.1.X).

[0044] <Description of the configuration of the first embodiment: Transmitter of the wireless node device> The “transmitting unit” 705 is configured to have the function of forwarding packets not addressed to itself to other wireless node devices based on link quality information and route information, and transmitting packets that it has created to a wireless node device specified by a specified destination address. Here, the present invention is basically configured to utilize radio frequencies in the 2.4 GHz band, but it is also possible to configure it to operate in other radio bands by changing the antenna, etc. (not shown).

[0045] Here, the operation of the wireless mesh network system of this embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of the operation of the above-mentioned conventional system. As a premise, the communication between wireless node devices in the same cluster is shown in a simplified manner. The wireless node device with node ID "1" functions as a wireless gateway node device in this cluster. Consider a case where an ACK request packet is sent from a wireless gateway node device with node ID "1" as a sender to wireless node devices with node IDs "2", "4" and "6" as destinations. In this case, conventionally, an ACK request packet is transmitted to one destination wireless node device, and in response, an ACK packet is returned from the destination to the source. Specifically, first, the wireless gateway node device with node ID "1" transmits an ACK request packet to the wireless node device with node ID "2". Here, the wireless gateway node device with node ID "1" cannot directly communicate with the wireless node device with node ID "2", so it transmits the ACK request packet via the wireless node device with node ID "5". The wireless node device with node ID "2" receives the ACK request packet, and in response transmits an ACK packet via the wireless node device with node ID "5", and the wireless gateway node device with node ID "1" receives the ACK packet from the wireless node device with node ID "2". Similarly, the wireless gateway node device with node ID "1" transmits an ACK request packet to the wireless node device with node ID "4". In this case, the wireless gateway node device with node ID "1" cannot directly communicate with the wireless node device with node ID "4", so it transmits the ACK request packet via the wireless node devices with node IDs "5" and "3". The wireless node device with node ID "4" receives the ACK request packet and transmits an ACK packet in response via the wireless node devices with node IDs "3" and "5", and the wireless gateway node device with node ID "1" receives the ACK packet from the wireless node device with node ID "4". In the same manner, the wireless gateway node device with node ID "1" transmits an ACK request packet to the wireless node device with node ID "6". In this case, the wireless gateway node device with node ID "1" cannot directly communicate with the wireless node device with node ID "6", so it transmits the ACK request packet via the wireless node device with node ID "5". The wireless node device with node ID "6" receives the ACK request packet and transmits an ACK packet in response via the wireless node device with node ID "5", and the wireless gateway node device with node ID "1" receives the ACK packet from the wireless node device with node ID "6". Up to this point, the total number of hops between wireless node devices is 14.

[0046] On the other hand, FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of the operation of the wireless mesh network system of the first embodiment. As a premise, the communication between wireless node devices in the same cluster is shown in a simplified manner. The wireless node device with node ID "1" functions as a wireless gateway node device in this cluster. Consider a case where an ACK request packet is sent from a wireless gateway node device with node ID "1" as a sender to wireless node devices with node IDs "2", "4" and "6" as destinations. In this case, in this embodiment, the wireless gateway node device with node ID "1" is configured to transmit an ACK request packet by multicast to the wireless node devices with node IDs "2", "4" and "6" as destinations. Specifically, first, the wireless gateway node device with node ID "1" sends an ACK request packet with destination node IDs "2," "4," and "6" set to the wireless node device with node ID "5" based on the link quality information and route information stored in itself. Based on the link quality information and route information stored in itself, the wireless node device with node ID "5" transmits an ACK request packet to the destination wireless node devices with node IDs "2" and "6", and also transmits an ACK request packet to the wireless node device with node ID "3" that is on the route to the destination node ID "4". Since the wireless node devices with node IDs "2" and "6" are themselves the destination and there are no further routes, they send ACK packets to the wireless node device with node ID "5", which receives and stores them. The wireless node device with node ID "3" transmits an ACK request packet to the wireless node device with node ID "4" based on the link quality information and route information stored in itself, and in response, the wireless node device with node ID "4" transmits an ACK packet to the wireless node device with node ID "3". The wireless node device with node ID "3" transmits an ACK packet to the wireless node device with node ID "5". The wireless node device with node ID "5" collects ACK packets from the wireless node devices with node IDs "2," "4," and "6," and transmits them to the wireless gateway node device with node ID "1," which receives them. In this embodiment, the total number of hops between wireless node devices is 10. Therefore, in this embodiment, the total number of hops is less than 14 in the conventional system, making it more efficient and enabling high-speed, highly reliable communication with ACK.

[0047] <Embodiment 1: Wireless Mesh Network System: Hardware Configuration> The hardware configuration of the wireless mesh network system according to this embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0048] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a hardware configuration of a wireless mesh network system (wireless node device) in this embodiment. As shown in this diagram, the wireless node device in this embodiment includes a "CPU (Central Processing Unit)" that performs various arithmetic processing, a "volatile RAM (SRAM)" that stores and holds predetermined information and data, and a "non-volatile ROM (flash memory)". In addition, the wireless node device includes a "wireless circuit" that performs wireless transmission and reception with an external wireless node device, a "serial I / O" and a "general-purpose I / O", a "counter / timer", an "AD / DA converter", and the like that are connected to an external sensor and exchange information and data. These are then connected to each other by a data communication path such as an "internal bus", and perform transmission and reception of information and processing.

[0049] Here, the "volatile RAM" reads out programs that perform various processes to be executed by the "CPU", and at the same time provides a work area that is also a work area for the programs. In addition, a plurality of addresses are assigned to each of the "volatile RAM (SRAM)" and "non-volatile ROM (flash memory)", and the programs executed by the "CPU" can exchange data with each other and perform processing by identifying and accessing the addresses. In this embodiment, the programs stored in the "volatile RAM (SRAM)" are a link quality / route information storage program, a transmission program, a reception program, a packet analysis program, and a packet creation program. In addition, the "volatile RAM (SRAM)" and the "non-volatile ROM (flash memory)" store link quality information, route information, packet type information, source address, destination address, ACK information, etc.

[0050] The "CPU" executes a link quality information / route information storage program stored in the "volatile RAM (SRAM)" and stores link quality information and route information between wireless node devices in a cluster in the "volatile RAM (SRAM)" or "non-volatile ROM (flash memory)." Also, the receiving program stored in the "volatile RAM (SRAM)" is executed to receive packets sent from other wireless node devices. In addition, the packet analysis program stored in the "volatile RAM (SRAM)" is executed to analyze the received packets, and packet type information, source address, destination address, ACK information, etc. are stored in the "volatile RAM (SRAM)" or "non-volatile ROM (flash memory)." In addition, a packet creation program stored in the "volatile RAM (SRAM)" is executed to create a packet based on packet type information, source address, destination address, ACK information, and the like. It also executes a transmission program stored in "volatile RAM (SRAM)" to transmit packets not addressed to itself to other wireless node devices, and to transmit packets it has created to other wireless node devices.

[0051] <Embodiment 1: Wireless mesh network system: Processing flow> 12 is a diagram showing a process flow when using the wireless mesh network system in this embodiment. As shown in the diagram, the processing method includes a receiving step S1201, a packet analyzing step S1202, a link quality information and route information storing step S1203, a packet creating step S1204, and a transmitting step S1205. These processing methods are executed by a wireless mesh network system including at least one or more wireless node devices capable of transmitting and receiving packets and configured with at least one or more clusters, one of the wireless node devices in the cluster functions as a wireless gateway node device, each wireless node device has a link quality information / route information storage unit that stores link quality information and route information between all of the wireless node devices in the cluster, and the wireless gateway node device has a transmitter that transmits an ACK request packet by multicast to a predetermined number of wireless node devices in the cluster that is a destination, based on the link quality information and route information stored in the link quality information / route information storage unit, and a receiver that receives ACK packets from the predetermined number of wireless node devices in the cluster that is a destination, in response to the ACK request packet transmitted by the transmitter, based on the link quality information and route information stored in the link quality information / route information storage unit.

[0052] A "reception step" S1201 is a stage for receiving a packet transmitted from another wireless node device.

[0053] The "packet analysis step" S1202 is a stage in which a packet received from another wireless node device is analyzed.

[0054] The "link quality information and route information storage step" S1203 is a stage for storing link quality information and route information between wireless node devices in a cluster.

[0055] The "packet creation step" S1204 is a stage in which a packet is created based on packet type information, source address, destination address, ACK information, and the like.

[0056] The "transmission step" S1205 is a stage in which a packet not addressed to itself is transmitted to another wireless node device, or a packet created by itself is transmitted to another wireless node device.

[0057] <Summary> As a result, it is possible to provide a wireless mesh network system in which each wireless node device has a link quality information / route information storage unit that stores link quality information and route information between all wireless node devices in a cluster, and the wireless gateway node device has a transmitter that transmits an ACK request packet by multicast to a predetermined number of wireless node devices in a destination cluster based on the link quality information and route information stored in the link quality information / route information storage unit, and a receiver that receives ACK packets from the predetermined number of wireless node devices in the destination cluster in response to the ACK request packet transmitted by the transmitter, based on the link quality information and route information stored in the link quality information / route information storage unit. In addition, compared to conventional systems, it is now possible to perform reliable communications with ACK efficiently and at high speed.

[0058] <Embodiment 2 (corresponding mainly to claims 2, 6 and 10)> <Overview of the second embodiment>

[0059] In this embodiment, there is provided a wireless mesh network system including at least one or more wireless node devices capable of transmitting and receiving packets and configured with at least one or more clusters, wherein one of the wireless node devices in the cluster functions as a wireless gateway node device, and each wireless node device has a link quality information and route information storage unit that stores link quality information and route information between all of the wireless node devices in the cluster, and the wireless gateway node device has a transmitter that broadcasts an ACK request packet to all of the wireless node devices in the destination cluster based on the link quality information and route information stored in the link quality information and route information storage unit, and a receiver that receives ACK packets from all of the wireless node devices in the destination cluster in response to the ACK request packet transmitted by the transmitter, based on the link quality information and route information stored in the link quality information and route information storage unit. To achieve this, the present invention provides an operating method for a wireless mesh network system, which is a computer, and an operating program for the wireless mesh network system, which is written so as to be readable and executable by the wireless mesh network system, which is a computer.

[0060] <Functional configuration of embodiment 1> 13 is a diagram showing a functional configuration of a wireless mesh network system in embodiment 2. In this embodiment, a wireless node device includes a receiving unit, a packet analyzing unit, a link quality information / route information storage unit, a packet creating unit, and a transmitting unit.

[0061] <Description of the configuration of the second embodiment: Receiving section of the wireless node device> The "receiving unit" 1301 is configured to have a function of receiving packets sent from other wireless node devices. Here, in the present invention, it is basically configured to use a wireless frequency band of 2.4 GHz, but it is also possible to configure it to operate in other wireless bands by changing an antenna (not shown) or the like.

[0062] <Description of the configuration of the second embodiment: Packet analysis unit of the wireless node device> The "packet analysis unit" 1302 is configured to have a function of analyzing packets sent from other wireless node devices. Generally, a packet is composed of a header section and a payload section, and various information and data are stored in them. The "packet analysis unit" 1302 plays a role of analyzing and examining what information and data are contained in them. FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a packet in the second embodiment. As shown in this figure, the header information includes packet type information, a source address, a destination address, and ACK information. The packet type information is information indicating what kind of packet the packet is. For example, "000" may represent an ACK request packet, and "001" may represent an ACK packet. The ACK information is assigned 32 bits corresponding to a maximum of 32 wireless node devices constituting a cluster. That is, when a wireless node device with a node ID of 1 returns an ACK, "ACK(1)" (acknowledgement) is entered in the part of the ACK information corresponding to the node ID of 1. If the wireless node device with node ID 1 has a malfunction and is not operating normally, a "NAK(0)" (negative acknowledgement) will be entered in the corresponding portion of this ACK information. The "packet analysis unit" 1302 is also configured to have a function of extracting a destination address from the header information of a transmitted packet and judging whether or not the packet is addressed to its own wireless node device. If it judges that the packet is addressed to its own wireless node device, it refers to packet type information and the like and proceeds to the next operation. If it judges that the packet was not addressed to its own wireless node device, it refers to the link quality information / route information storage unit and transfers the packet to the next wireless node device. For example, if the network ID is 1, the cluster ID is 1, and the node ID is 1, the destination address is set to (1.1.1). If there are multiple destinations, the destination addresses are set to (1.1.1), (1.1.2), or (1.1.3). Furthermore, if all wireless node devices in a cluster are to be destinations, the destination address may be set to (1.1.X). Here, ACK is an abbreviation for "Acknowledgement," a technical term commonly used in the field of communications. In communication between two parties, it refers to the signal, data, packet, etc. sent when returning some kind of positive response to the other party. It is used to convey information such as "the connection request has been accepted" or "the data has been received correctly." Meanwhile, in communication between two parties, the receiving side often uses NAK (Negative ACK) to indicate a negative response such as failure or refusal.

[0063] <Configuration of the Second Embodiment: Link Quality Information and Route Information Storage Unit of the Wireless Node Device> The "link quality information and route information storage unit" 1303 is configured to have a function of storing link quality information and route information between all wireless node devices in a cluster. For example, information such as that shown in Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 above may be stored. Also, for example, the link quality information and route information may be stored and updated by a beacon signal transmitted periodically from each wireless node device (for example, the beacon signal may be issued once every 5 seconds at startup and once every 30 seconds during stable operation), or may be stored and updated by referring to link quality information and route information when communication is actually performed with another wireless node device.

[0064] <Description of the configuration of the second embodiment: Packet creation unit of the wireless node device> The "packet creation unit" 1304 is configured to have a function of creating a packet when the device itself is the source and sends a packet to another wireless node device. In this case, the source address is set to the device's own address, for example, (1.1.1). Also, by setting packet type information, for example, "000" may indicate an ACK request packet, and "001" may indicate an ACK packet. Here, when there are multiple destinations, the destination address may be set as, for example, (1.1.1), (1.1.2), or (1.1.3). Furthermore, when all wireless node devices in a cluster are the destinations, the destination address may be set as (1.1.X).

[0065] <Description of the configuration of the second embodiment: Transmitter of the wireless node device> The “transmitting unit” 1305 is configured to have the function of forwarding packets not addressed to itself to other wireless node devices based on link quality information and route information, and transmitting packets that it has created to a wireless node device specified by a specified destination address. Here, the present invention is basically configured to utilize radio frequencies in the 2.4 GHz band, but it is also possible to configure it to operate in other radio bands by changing the antenna, etc. (not shown).

[0066] Here, the operation of the wireless mesh network system of this embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an example of the operation of the above-mentioned conventional system. As a premise, the communication between wireless node devices in the same cluster is shown in a simplified manner. The wireless node device with node ID "1" functions as a wireless gateway node device in this cluster. Consider a case where a wireless gateway node device with a node ID "1" transmits an ACK request packet in order to all wireless node devices with node IDs "2," "3," "4," "5," and "6" in a cluster. In this case, conventionally, an ACK request packet is transmitted to one destination wireless node device, and in response, an ACK packet is returned from the destination to the source. Specifically, first, the wireless gateway node device with node ID "1" transmits an ACK request packet to the wireless node device with node ID "2". Here, the wireless gateway node device with node ID "1" cannot directly communicate with the wireless node device with node ID "2", so it transmits the ACK request packet via the wireless node device with node ID "5". The wireless node device with node ID "2" receives the ACK request packet, and in response transmits an ACK packet via the wireless node device with node ID "5", and the wireless gateway node device with node ID "1" receives the ACK packet from the wireless node device with node ID "2". Similarly, the wireless gateway node device with node ID "1" transmits an ACK request packet to the wireless node device with node ID "3". Here, the wireless gateway node device with node ID "1" cannot directly communicate with the wireless node device with node ID "3", so it transmits the ACK request packet via the wireless node device with node ID "5". The wireless node device with node ID "3" receives the ACK request packet and transmits an ACK packet in response via the wireless node device with node ID "5", and the wireless gateway node device with node ID "1" receives the ACK packet from the wireless node device with node ID "3". Similarly, the wireless gateway node device with node ID "1" transmits an ACK request packet to the wireless node device with node ID "4". In this case, the wireless gateway node device with node ID "1" cannot directly communicate with the wireless node device with node ID "4", so it transmits the ACK request packet via the wireless node devices with node IDs "5" and "3". The wireless node device with node ID "4" receives the ACK request packet and transmits an ACK packet in response via the wireless node devices with node IDs "3" and "5", and the wireless gateway node device with node ID "1" receives the ACK packet from the wireless node device with node ID "4". Similarly, the wireless gateway node device with node ID "1" transmits an ACK request packet to the wireless node device with node ID "5." In this case, since direct communication is possible, the wireless node device with node ID "5" transmits an ACK packet to the wireless gateway node device with node ID "1," and the wireless gateway device with node ID "1" receives this packet. In the same manner, the wireless gateway node device with node ID "1" transmits an ACK request packet to the wireless node device with node ID "6". In this case, the wireless gateway node device with node ID "1" cannot directly communicate with the wireless node device with node ID "6", so it transmits the ACK request packet via the wireless node device with node ID "5". The wireless node device with node ID "6" receives the ACK request packet and transmits an ACK packet in response via the wireless node device with node ID "5", and the wireless gateway node device with node ID "1" receives the ACK packet from the wireless node device with node ID "6". Up to this point, the total number of hops between wireless node devices is 20.

[0067] On the other hand, FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an example of the operation of the wireless mesh network system of the second embodiment. As a premise, the communication between wireless node devices in the same cluster is shown in a simplified manner. The wireless node device with node ID "1" functions as a wireless gateway node device in this cluster. Consider a case where a wireless gateway node device with node ID "1" transmits an ACK request packet to wireless node devices with node IDs "2", "3", "4", "5" and "6" as destinations. In this case, in this embodiment, the wireless gateway node device with node ID "1" is configured to broadcast an ACK request packet to the wireless node devices with node IDs "2," "3," "4," "5," and "6" as destinations. Specifically, first, the wireless gateway node device with node ID "1" sends an ACK request packet with destination node IDs "2," "3," "4," "5," and "6" set to the wireless node device with node ID "5" based on the link quality information and route information stored in itself. Based on the link quality information and route information stored in itself, the wireless node device with node ID "5" transmits an ACK request packet to the destination wireless node devices with node IDs "2" and "6", and also transmits an ACK request packet to the wireless node device with node ID "3" that is on the route to the destination node ID "4". Since the wireless node devices with node IDs "2" and "6" are themselves the destination and there are no further routes, they send ACK packets to the wireless node device with node ID "5", which receives and stores them. The wireless node device with node ID "3" transmits an ACK request packet to the wireless node device with node ID "4" based on the link quality information and route information stored in itself, and in response, the wireless node device with node ID "4" transmits an ACK packet to the wireless node device with node ID "3". The wireless node device with node ID "3" collects ACK packets and transmits them to the wireless node device with node ID "5". The wireless node device with node ID "5" collects ACK packets from the wireless node devices with node IDs "2," "3," "4," "5," and "6," and transmits them to the wireless gateway node device with node ID "1," which receives them. In this embodiment, the total number of hops between wireless node devices is 10. Therefore, in this embodiment, the total number of hops is less than 20 in the conventional system, making it more efficient and enabling high-speed, highly reliable communication with ACK.

[0068] <Embodiment 1: Wireless Mesh Network System: Hardware Configuration> The hardware configuration of the wireless mesh network system according to this embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0069] FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a hardware configuration of a wireless mesh network system in this embodiment. As shown in this figure, the wireless node device in this embodiment includes a "CPU (Central Processing Unit)" that performs various arithmetic processing, a "volatile RAM (SRAM)" that stores and holds predetermined information and data, and a "non-volatile ROM (flash memory)". In addition, the wireless node device includes a "wireless circuit" that performs wireless transmission and reception with external wireless node devices, a "serial I / O" and a "general-purpose I / O", a "counter / timer", an "AD / DA converter", and the like that are connected to external sensors and the like and exchange information and data. These are then connected to each other by a data communication path such as an "internal bus" to transmit and receive information and perform processing.

[0070] Here, the "volatile RAM (SRAM)" reads out programs that perform various processes to be executed by the "CPU", and at the same time provides a work area that is also a work area for the programs. In addition, this "volatile RAM (SRAM)" and "non-volatile ROM (flash memory)" are each assigned multiple addresses, and the programs executed by the "CPU" can exchange data with each other and perform processing by identifying and accessing the addresses. In this embodiment, the programs stored in the "volatile RAM (SRAM)" are a link quality / route information storage program, a transmission program, a reception program, a packet analysis program, and a packet creation program. In addition, the "volatile RAM (SRAM)" and "non-volatile ROM (flash memory)" store link quality information, route information, packet type information, source address, destination address, ACK information, etc.

[0071] The "CPU" executes a link quality information / route information storage program stored in the "volatile RAM (SRAM)" and stores link quality information and route information between wireless node devices in a cluster in the "volatile RAM (SRAM)" or "non-volatile ROM (flash memory)." Also, the receiving program stored in the "volatile RAM (SRAM)" is executed to receive packets sent from other wireless node devices. In addition, the packet analysis program stored in the "volatile RAM (SRAM)" is executed to analyze the received packets, and packet type information, source address, destination address, ACK information, etc. are stored in the "volatile RAM (SRAM)" or "non-volatile ROM (flash memory)." In addition, a packet creation program stored in the "volatile RAM (SRAM)" is executed to create a packet based on packet type information, source address, destination address, ACK information, and the like. It also executes a transmission program stored in "volatile RAM (SRAM)" to transmit packets not addressed to itself to other wireless node devices, and to transmit packets it has created to other wireless node devices.

[0072] <Embodiment 2: Wireless mesh network system: Processing flow> 18 is a diagram showing a process flow when using the wireless mesh network system in this embodiment. As shown in the diagram, the processing method includes a receiving step S1801, a packet analyzing step S1802, a link quality information and route information storing step S1803, a packet creating step S1804, and a transmitting step S1805. These processing methods are executed by a wireless mesh network system including at least one or more wireless node devices capable of transmitting and receiving packets, and configured with at least one or more clusters, one of the wireless node devices in the cluster functions as a wireless gateway node device, and each wireless node device has a link quality information and route information storage unit that stores link quality information and route information between all of the wireless node devices in the cluster, and the wireless gateway node device has a transmitter that broadcasts an ACK request packet to all of the wireless node devices in the destination cluster based on the link quality information and route information stored in the link quality information and route information storage unit, and a receiver that receives ACK packets from all of the wireless node devices in the destination cluster in response to the ACK request packet transmitted by the transmitter, based on the link quality information and route information stored in the link quality information and route information storage unit.

[0073] A "reception step" S1801 is a stage for receiving a packet transmitted from another wireless node device.

[0074] The "packet analysis step" S1802 is a stage in which a packet received from another wireless node device is analyzed.

[0075] The "link quality information and route information storage step" S1803 is a step of storing link quality information and route information between wireless node devices in a cluster.

[0076] The "packet creation step" S1804 is a step of creating a packet based on packet type information, source address, destination address, ACK information, and the like.

[0077] The "transmission step" S1805 is a stage in which a packet not addressed to itself is transmitted to another wireless node device, or a packet created by itself is transmitted to another wireless node device.

[0078] <Summary> As a result, it is possible to provide a wireless mesh network system including at least one or more wireless node devices capable of transmitting and receiving packets and configured with at least one or more clusters, in which one of the wireless node devices in the cluster functions as a wireless gateway node device, and each wireless node device has a link quality information and route information storage unit that stores link quality information and route information between all of the wireless node devices in the cluster, and the wireless gateway node device has a transmitter that broadcasts an ACK request packet to all of the wireless node devices in the cluster that is the destination based on the link quality information and route information stored in the link quality information and route information storage unit, and a receiver that receives ACK packets from all of the wireless node devices in the cluster that is the destination in response to the ACK request packet transmitted by the transmitter, based on the link quality information and route information stored in the link quality information and route information storage unit. In addition, compared to conventional systems, it is now possible to perform reliable communications with ACK efficiently and at high speed.

[0079] <Embodiment 3 (corresponding mainly to claims 3, 7, and 11)> <Overview of the Third Embodiment> In this embodiment, in a wireless mesh network system including at least one or more wireless node devices capable of transmitting and receiving packets and configured with at least one network consisting of at least one or more clusters, one of the wireless node devices in the cluster functions as a wireless gateway node device and one of the wireless gateway node devices in the network functions as a wireless root node device, each wireless node device has a first link quality information / route information storage unit that stores link quality information and route information between all the wireless node devices in the cluster to which the wireless node device belongs, and each wireless gateway node device stores link quality information and route information between all the wireless node devices in the cluster to which the wireless gateway node device belongs and between the wireless gateway node devices in the network. and a second link quality information and route information storage unit that stores link quality information and route information stored in the first link quality information and route information storage unit and a second link quality information and route information storage unit that stores link quality information and route information stored in the first link quality information and route information storage unit, and the wireless root node device or the wireless gateway node device has a first transmitting unit that transmits an ACK request packet by multicast to a predetermined plurality of wireless node devices in a destination cluster based on the link quality information and route information stored in the first link quality information and route information storage unit and a first receiving unit that receives ACK packets from the predetermined plurality of wireless node devices in the destination cluster in response to the ACK request packet transmitted by the first transmitting unit, based on the link quality information and route information stored in the first link quality information and route information storage unit and / or the second link quality information and route information storage unit. To achieve this, the present invention provides an operating method for a wireless mesh network system, which is a computer, and an operating program for the wireless mesh network system, which is written so as to be readable and executable by the wireless mesh network system, which is a computer.

[0080] <Functional configuration of embodiment 3> 19 is a diagram showing a functional configuration of a wireless mesh network system in embodiment 3. In this embodiment, a wireless node device includes a first receiving unit, a packet analyzing unit, a first link quality information and route information storage unit, a second link quality information and route information storage unit, a packet creating unit, and a first transmitting unit.

[0081] <Embodiment 3: Configuration of First Receiving Unit of Wireless Node Device> The "first receiver" 1901 is configured to have a function of receiving packets sent from other wireless node devices. Here, in the present invention, it is basically configured to use a wireless frequency band of 2.4 GHz, but it is also possible to configure it to operate in other wireless bands by changing an antenna (not shown) or the like.

[0082] <Embodiment 3: Configuration of Packet Analysis Unit of Wireless Node Device> The "packet analysis unit" 1902 is configured to have a function of analyzing packets sent from other wireless node devices. Generally, a packet is composed of a header section and a payload section, and various information and data are stored in them. The "packet analysis unit" 1902 plays a role of analyzing and examining what information and data are contained in them. FIG. 20 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a packet in the first embodiment. As shown in this figure, the header information includes packet type information, a source address, a destination address, and ACK information. The packet type information is information indicating what kind of packet the packet is. For example, "000" may represent an ACK request packet, and "001" may represent an ACK packet. The ACK information is assigned 32 bits corresponding to a maximum of 32 wireless node devices constituting a cluster. That is, when a wireless node device with a node ID of 1 returns an ACK, "ACK(1)" (acknowledgement) is entered in the part of the ACK information corresponding to the node ID of 1. If the wireless node device with node ID 1 has a malfunction and is not operating normally, a "NAK(0)" (negative acknowledgement) will be entered in the corresponding portion of this ACK information. The "packet analysis unit" 1902 is also configured to have a function of extracting a destination address from the header information of a received packet and judging whether or not the packet is addressed to its own wireless node device. If it judges that the packet is addressed to its own wireless node device, it refers to packet type information and the like and proceeds to the next operation. If it judges that the packet was not addressed to its own wireless node device, it refers to the first link quality information / route information storage unit and the second link quality information / route information storage unit and transfers the packet to the next wireless node device. For example, if the network ID is 1, the cluster ID is 1, and the node ID is 1, the destination address is set to (1.1.1). If there are multiple destinations, the destination addresses are set to (1.1.1), (1.1.2), or (1.1.3). Furthermore, if all wireless node devices in a cluster are to be destinations, the destination address may be set to (1.1.X). Here, ACK is an abbreviation for "Acknowledgement," a technical term commonly used in the field of communications. In communication between two parties, it refers to the signal, data, packet, etc. sent when returning some kind of positive response to the other party. It is used to convey information such as "the connection request has been accepted" or "the data has been received correctly." Meanwhile, in communication between two parties, the receiving side often uses NAK (Negative ACK) to indicate a negative response such as failure or refusal.

[0083] <Configuration of the Third Embodiment: First Link Quality Information and Route Information Storage Unit of the Wireless Node Device> The "first link quality information and route information storage unit" 1903 is configured to have a function of storing link quality information and route information between all wireless node devices in a cluster. For example, information such as that shown in Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 above may be stored. Also, for example, the link quality information and route information may be stored and updated by a beacon signal transmitted periodically from each wireless node device (for example, the information may be issued once every 5 seconds at startup and once every 30 seconds during stable operation), or may be stored and updated by referring to link quality information and route information when communication is actually performed with another wireless node device.

[0084] <Configuration of the Third Embodiment: Second Link Quality Information and Route Information Storage Unit of Wireless Node Device> The "second link quality information and route information storage unit" 1904 is configured to have a function of storing link quality information and route information between all wireless node devices in a cluster, and link quality information and route information between wireless gateway devices. For example, information such as that shown in FIG. 3 or FIG. 4 may be stored. Also, for example, the link quality information and route information may be stored and updated by a beacon signal transmitted periodically from each wireless node device (for example, the beacon signal may be issued once every 5 seconds at startup and once every 30 seconds during stable operation), or may be stored and updated by referring to link quality information and route information when communication is actually performed with another wireless node device.

[0085] <Embodiment 3: Configuration of the Packet Creation Unit of the Wireless Node Device> The "packet creation unit" 1905 is configured to have a function of creating a packet when the device itself is the source and sends a packet to another wireless node device. In this case, the source address is set to the device's own address, for example, (1.1.1). Also, by setting packet type information, for example, "000" may indicate an ACK request packet, and "001" may indicate an ACK packet. Here, when there are multiple destinations, the destination address may be set as, for example, (1.1.1), (1.1.2), or (1.1.3). Furthermore, when all wireless node devices in a cluster are the destinations, the destination address may be set as (1.1.X).

[0086] <Embodiment 3: Configuration of First Transmitter of Wireless Node Device> The “first transmitting unit” 1906 is configured to have the function of forwarding packets not addressed to itself to other wireless node devices, and transmitting packets that it has created to a wireless node device specified by a predetermined destination address, based on the link quality information and route information stored in the first link quality information and route information storage unit 1903 and the second link quality information and route information storage unit 1904. Here, the present invention is basically configured to utilize radio frequencies in the 2.4 GHz band, but it is also possible to configure it to operate in other radio bands by changing the antenna, etc. (not shown).

[0087] Here, the operation of the wireless mesh network system of this embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 21 is a diagram showing an example of the operation of the wireless mesh network system according to the third embodiment. As a premise, a case will be considered in which a wireless gateway node device (3.3.0) belonging to cluster 3 transmits an ACK request packet by multicast to wireless node devices (3.4.0), (3.4.1), and (3.4.6) in cluster 4. In this case, first, based on the link quality information and route information stored in the second link quality information and route information storage unit, the wireless gateway node device (3.3.0) belonging to cluster 3 transmits an ACK request packet to the wireless gateway node device (3.4.10) in cluster 4 via the wireless gateway node device (3.0.5) belonging to cluster 0 and the wireless gateway node device (3.2.2) belonging to cluster 2. Next, the wireless gateway node device (3.4.10) belonging to cluster 4 transmits an ACK request packet to the wireless node devices (3.4.0), (3.4.1), and (3.4.6) in the same cluster based on the link quality information and route information stored in the first link quality information and route information storage unit. In response to the ACK request packet, these wireless node devices (3.4.0), (3.4.1), and (3.4.6) transmit an ACK packet to the wireless gateway node device (3.4.10). Then, the wireless gateway node device (3.4.10) transmits the ACK packet to the wireless gateway node device (3.3.0) belonging to cluster 3 via the wireless gateway node device (3.0.5) belonging to cluster 0 and the wireless gateway node device (3.2.2) belonging to cluster 2, and receives it.

[0088] <Embodiment 3: Wireless Mesh Network System: Hardware Configuration> The hardware configuration of the wireless mesh network system according to this embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0089] FIG. 22 is a diagram showing a hardware configuration of a wireless mesh network system in this embodiment. As shown in this diagram, the wireless node device in this embodiment includes a "CPU (Central Processing Unit)" that performs various arithmetic processing, a "volatile RAM (SRAM)" that stores and holds predetermined information and data, and a "non-volatile ROM (flash memory)". In addition, the wireless node device includes a "wireless circuit" that performs wireless transmission and reception with external wireless node devices, a "serial I / O" and a "general-purpose I / O", a "counter / timer", an "AD / DA converter", and the like that are connected to external sensors and the like and exchange information and data. These are then connected to each other by a data communication path such as an "internal bus" to transmit and receive information and perform processing.

[0090] Here, the "volatile RAM (SRAM)" reads out programs that perform various processes to be executed by the "CPU" and also provides a work area that is a work area for the programs. In addition, a plurality of addresses are assigned to each of the "volatile RAM (SRAM)" and the "non-volatile ROM (flash memory)", and the programs executed by the "CPU" can exchange data with each other and perform processing by identifying and accessing the addresses. In this embodiment, the programs stored in the "volatile RAM (SRAM)" are a first link quality and route information storage program, a second link quality information and route information storage program, a first transmission program, a first reception program, a packet analysis program, and a packet creation program. In addition, the "volatile RAM (SRAM)" and the "non-volatile ROM (flash memory)" store link quality information, route information, packet type information, source address, destination address, ACK information, and the like.

[0091] The "CPU" executes a first link quality information / route information storage program stored in the "volatile RAM (SRAM)" to store link quality information and route information between wireless node devices in a cluster in the "volatile RAM (SRAM)" or the "non-volatile ROM (flash memory)." In addition, a second link quality information / route information storage program stored in the "volatile RAM (SRAM)" is executed to store link quality information / route information between wireless node devices in a cluster and link quality information / route information between wireless gateway node devices in a "volatile RAM (SRAM)" or a "non-volatile ROM (flash memory)." Also, the first reception program stored in the "volatile RAM (SRAM)" is executed to receive packets sent from other wireless node devices. In addition, the packet analysis program stored in the "volatile RAM (SRAM)" is executed to analyze the received packets, and packet type information, source address, destination address, ACK information, etc. are stored in the "volatile RAM (SRAM)" or "non-volatile ROM (flash memory)." In addition, a packet creation program stored in the "volatile RAM (SRAM)" is executed to create a packet based on packet type information, source address, destination address, ACK information, and the like. In addition, the node executes a first transmission program stored in the "volatile RAM (SRAM)" to transmit packets not addressed to itself to other wireless node devices, and transmit packets that it has created to other wireless node devices.

[0092] <Embodiment 3: Wireless Mesh Network System: Processing Flow> Fig. 23 is a diagram showing a process flow when using the wireless mesh network system in this embodiment. As shown in the diagram, the processing method includes a first receiving step S2301, a packet analyzing step S2302, a first link quality information / route information storing step S2303, a second link quality information / route information storing step S2304, a packet creating step S2305, and a first transmitting step S2306. These processing methods include a wireless mesh network system including at least one or more wireless node devices capable of transmitting and receiving packets, and configured with at least one network consisting of at least one or more clusters, one of the wireless node devices in the cluster functions as a wireless gateway node device, and one of the wireless gateway node devices in the network functions as a wireless root node device, each wireless node device has a first link quality information / route information storage unit that stores link quality information and route information between all the wireless node devices in the cluster to which the wireless node device belongs, and each wireless gateway node device stores link quality information and route information between all the wireless node devices in the cluster to which the wireless gateway node device belongs and between the wireless gateway node devices in the network. The wireless mesh network system according to the present invention is characterized in that the wireless root node device or the wireless gateway node device has a first transmitting unit that transmits an ACK request packet by multicast to a predetermined plurality of wireless node devices in a destination cluster based on the link quality information and route information stored in the first link quality information and route information storage unit or / and the second link quality information and route information storage unit, and a first receiving unit that receives ACK packets from the predetermined plurality of wireless node devices in the destination cluster in response to the ACK request packet transmitted by the first transmitting unit, based on the link quality information and route information stored in the first link quality information and route information storage unit or / and the second link quality information and route information storage unit.

[0093] The "first receiving step" S2301 is a stage for receiving a packet transmitted from another wireless node device.

[0094] A "packet analysis step" S2302 is a stage in which a packet received from another wireless node device is analyzed.

[0095] The "first link quality information and route information storage step" S2303 is a step of storing link quality information and route information between wireless node devices in a cluster.

[0096] The "second link quality information and route information storing step" S2304 is a step of storing link quality information and route information between wireless node devices in a cluster and link quality information and route information between wireless gateway node devices.

[0097] The "packet creation step" S2305 is a step of creating a packet based on packet type information, source address, destination address, ACK information, and the like.

[0098] The "first transmission step" S2306 is a stage in which a packet not addressed to itself is transmitted to another wireless node device, or a packet created by itself is transmitted to another wireless node device.

[0099] <Summary> As described above, in a wireless mesh network system including at least one or more wireless node devices capable of transmitting and receiving packets and configured with at least one network consisting of at least one or more clusters, one of the wireless node devices in the cluster functions as a wireless gateway node device and one of the wireless gateway node devices in the network functions as a wireless root node device, each wireless node device has a first link quality information / route information storage unit that stores link quality information and route information between all the wireless node devices in the cluster to which the wireless node device belongs, and each wireless gateway node device has a second link quality information / route information storage unit that stores link quality information and route information between all the wireless node devices in the cluster to which the wireless gateway node device belongs and between the wireless gateway node devices in the network. a first transmitting unit that transmits an ACK request packet by multicast to a predetermined plurality of wireless node devices in a destination cluster, via the network and / or the cluster, based on the link quality information and route information stored in the first link quality information and route information storage unit or / and the second link quality information and route information storage unit, and a first receiving unit that receives ACK packets from the predetermined plurality of wireless node devices in the destination cluster, via the network and / or the cluster, in response to the ACK request packet transmitted by the first transmitting unit, based on the link quality information and route information stored in the first link quality information and route information storage unit or / and the second link quality information and route information storage unit.

[0100] <Embodiment 4 (corresponding mainly to claims 4, 8 and 12)> <Overview of embodiment 4> In this embodiment, in a wireless mesh network system including at least one or more wireless node devices capable of transmitting and receiving packets and configured with at least one network consisting of at least one or more clusters, one of the wireless node devices in the cluster functions as a wireless gateway node device and one of the wireless gateway node devices in the network functions as a wireless root node device, each wireless node device has a first link quality information / route information storage unit that stores link quality information and route information between all the wireless node devices in the cluster to which the wireless node device belongs, and each wireless gateway node device stores link quality information and route information between all the wireless node devices in the cluster to which the wireless gateway node device belongs and between the wireless gateway node devices in the network. a second link quality information and route information storage unit that stores information related to a first link quality information and route information storage unit and a second link quality information and route information storage unit that stores information related to a first link quality information and route information storage unit, and the wireless root node device or the wireless gateway node device has a second transmitting unit that broadcasts an ACK request packet to all wireless node devices in a destination cluster based on the link quality information and route information stored in the first link quality information and route information storage unit and a second receiving unit that receives an aggregated ACK packet that aggregates ACKs from all wireless node devices in the destination cluster in response to the ACK request packet transmitted by the second transmitting unit, based on the link quality information and route information stored in the first link quality information and route information storage unit and / or the second link quality information and route information storage unit. To achieve this, the present invention provides an operating method for a wireless mesh network system, which is a computer, and an operating program for the wireless mesh network system, which is written so as to be readable and executable by the wireless mesh network system, which is a computer.

[0101] <Functional Configuration of Fourth Embodiment> 24 is a diagram showing a functional configuration of a wireless mesh network system in embodiment 4. In this embodiment, a wireless node device includes a second receiving unit, a packet analyzing unit, a first link quality information and route information storing unit, a second link quality information and route information storing unit, a packet creating unit, and a second transmitting unit.

[0102] <Fourth embodiment: Second receiving unit of wireless node device> The "second receiver" 2401 is configured to have a function of receiving packets sent from other wireless node devices. Here, in the present invention, it is basically configured to use a wireless frequency band of 2.4 GHz, but it is also possible to configure it to operate in other wireless bands by changing an antenna (not shown) or the like.

[0103] <Fourth embodiment: Configuration of wireless node device packet analysis unit> The "packet analysis unit" 2402 is configured to have a function of analyzing packets sent from other wireless node devices. Generally, a packet is composed of a header section and a payload section, and various information and data are stored in them. The "packet analysis unit" 2402 plays a role of analyzing and examining what information and data are contained in them. FIG. 25 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a packet in the fourth embodiment. As shown in this figure, the header information includes packet type information, a source address, a destination address, and ACK information. The packet type information is information indicating what kind of packet the packet is. For example, "000" may represent an ACK request packet, and "001" may represent an ACK packet. The ACK information is basically assigned 32 bits corresponding to a maximum of 32 wireless node devices constituting a cluster. That is, when a wireless node device with a node ID of 1 returns an ACK, "ACK(1)" (acknowledgement) is entered in the part of the ACK information corresponding to the node ID of 1. If the wireless node device with node ID 1 has a malfunction and is not operating normally, a "NAK(0)" (negative acknowledgement) will be entered in the corresponding portion of this ACK information. In this embodiment, the ACK information collected from one cluster is aggregated and stored in the ACK information area in correspondence with one bit. For example, when all wireless node devices in cluster 0 receive an ACK request packet and transmit an ACK packet in response thereto, "ACK(1)" (positive response) is stored in the ACK information area position corresponding to that cluster 0. If even one wireless node device does not return ACK information, "NAK(0)" (negative response) is stored overall in the ACK information area position corresponding to that cluster 0. The "packet analysis unit" 2402 is also configured to have a function of extracting a destination address from the header information of a received packet and judging whether or not the packet is addressed to its own wireless node device. If it judges that the packet is addressed to its own wireless node device, it refers to packet type information and the like and proceeds to the next operation. If it judges that the packet was not addressed to its own wireless node device, it refers to the first link quality information / route information storage unit and the second link quality information / route information storage unit and transfers the packet to the next wireless node device. For example, if the network ID is 1, the cluster ID is 1, and the node ID is 1, the destination address is set to (1.1.1). If there are multiple destinations, the destination addresses are set to (1.1.1), (1.1.2), or (1.1.3). Furthermore, if all wireless node devices in a cluster are to be destinations, the destination address may be set to (1.1.X). Here, ACK is an abbreviation for "Acknowledgement," a technical term commonly used in the field of communications. In communication between two parties, it refers to the signal, data, packet, etc. sent when returning some kind of positive response to the other party. It is used to convey information such as "the connection request has been accepted" or "the data has been received correctly." Meanwhile, in communication between two parties, the receiving side often uses NAK (Negative ACK) to indicate a negative response such as failure or refusal.

[0104] <Fourth embodiment: configuration of first link quality information and route information storage unit of wireless node device> The "first link quality information and route information storage unit" 2403 is configured to have a function of storing link quality information and route information between all wireless node devices in a cluster. For example, information such as that shown in Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 may be stored. Also, for example, the link quality information and route information may be stored and updated by a beacon signal transmitted periodically from each wireless node device (for example, the information may be issued once every 5 seconds at startup and once every 30 seconds during stable operation), or may be stored and updated by referring to link quality information and route information when actually communicating with another wireless node device.

[0105] <Fourth embodiment: Second link quality information and route information storage unit of wireless node device> The "second link quality information and route information storage unit" 2404 is configured to have a function of storing link quality information and route information between all wireless node devices in a cluster and link quality information and route information between wireless gateway devices. For example, information such as that shown in FIG. 3 or FIG. 4 may be stored. Also, for example, the link quality information and route information may be stored and updated by a beacon signal transmitted periodically from each wireless node device (for example, once every 5 seconds at startup and once every 30 seconds during stable operation), or may be stored and updated by referring to link quality information and route information when actually communicating with another wireless node device.

[0106] <Fourth embodiment: Configuration of wireless node device packet creation unit> The "packet creation unit" 2405 is configured to have a function of creating a packet when the device itself is the source and sends a packet to another wireless node device. In this case, the source address is set to the device's own address, for example, (1.1.1). Also, by setting packet type information, for example, "000" may indicate an ACK request packet, and "001" may indicate an ACK packet. Here, when there are multiple destinations, the destination address may be set as, for example, (1.1.1), (1.1.2), or (1.1.3). Furthermore, when all wireless node devices in a cluster are the destinations, the destination address may be set as (1.1.X). In this embodiment, the ACK information collected from one cluster is aggregated and stored in the ACK information area in correspondence with one bit. For example, when all wireless node devices in cluster 0 receive an ACK request packet and transmit an ACK packet in response thereto, "ACK(1)" (positive response) is stored in the ACK information area position corresponding to that cluster 0. If even one wireless node device does not return ACK information, "NAK(0)" (negative response) is stored overall in the ACK information area position corresponding to that cluster.

[0107] <Fourth embodiment: configuration of second transmission unit of wireless node device> The “second transmitting unit” 2406 is configured to have the function of forwarding packets not addressed to itself to other wireless node devices, and transmitting packets that it has created to a wireless node device specified by a specified destination address, based on the link quality information and route information stored in the first link quality information and route information memory unit 2403 and the second link quality information and route information memory unit 2404. Here, the present invention is basically configured to utilize radio frequencies in the 2.4 GHz band, but it is also possible to configure it to operate in other radio bands by changing the antenna, etc. (not shown).

[0108] Here, the operation of the wireless mesh network system of this embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 26 is a diagram showing an example of the operation of the wireless mesh network system according to the fourth embodiment. As a premise, a case will be considered in which a wireless gateway node device (3.3.0) belonging to cluster 3 transmits an ACK request packet by broadcast to all wireless node devices in cluster 0, cluster 1, cluster 2 and cluster 4. In this case, first, based on the link quality information and route information stored in the second link quality information and route information storage unit, the wireless gateway node device (3.3.0) belonging to cluster 3 transmits an ACK request packet to the wireless gateway node device (3.4.10) in cluster 4 via the wireless gateway node device (3.0.5) belonging to cluster 0 and the wireless gateway node device (3.2.2) belonging to cluster 2. Similarly, it transmits an ACK request packet to the wireless gateway node device (3.1.3) belonging to cluster 1. Next, when the wireless gateway node device belonging to cluster 1 receives ACK packets from all wireless node devices in the same cluster, it aggregates them into one bit, stores “ACK(1)” (acknowledgement) in the corresponding position of the ACK information in the ACK packet, and transmits it to the wireless gateway node device (3.3.0) belonging to cluster 3. Similarly, when a wireless gateway node device (3.4.10) belonging to cluster 4 receives ACK packets from all wireless node devices in the same cluster, it aggregates them into one bit, stores “ACK(1)” (acknowledgement) in the corresponding position of the ACK information in the ACK packet, and transmits it to the wireless gateway node device (3.2.2) of cluster 2. In addition, when the wireless gateway node device (3.2.2) belonging to cluster 2 receives ACK packets from all wireless node devices in the same cluster, it aggregates them into one bit, stores “ACK(1)” (acknowledgement) in the corresponding position of the ACK information of the ACK packet received from the wireless gateway node device (3.4.10) belonging to cluster 4, and transmits it to the wireless gateway node device (3.0.5) belonging to cluster 0. In addition, when the wireless gateway node device belonging to cluster 0 receives ACK packets from all wireless node devices in the same cluster, it aggregates them into one bit and stores "ACK(1)" (acknowledgement) in the corresponding position of the ACK information of the ACK packet received from the wireless gateway node device (3.2.2) belonging to cluster 2, and transmits it to the wireless gateway node device (3.3.0) belonging to cluster 3, which receives it. In this way, the wireless gateway node device (3.3.0) can analyze whether or not "ACK(1)" (acknowledgement) is present in the ACK information of the ACK packet at positions corresponding to cluster 0, cluster 1, cluster 2, and cluster 4, and can acquire ACKs for all wireless node devices at once. In other words, acquiring the collective ACK enables more efficient and faster communication while maintaining high reliability.

[0109] <Embodiment 4: Wireless Mesh Network System: Hardware Configuration> The hardware configuration of the wireless mesh network system according to this embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0110] FIG. 27 is a diagram showing a hardware configuration of a wireless mesh network system in this embodiment. As shown in this diagram, the wireless node device in this embodiment includes a "CPU (Central Processing Unit)" that performs various arithmetic processing, a "volatile RAM (SRAM)" that stores and holds predetermined information and data, and a "non-volatile ROM (flash memory)". In addition, the wireless node device includes a "wireless circuit" that performs wireless transmission and reception with external wireless node devices, a "serial I / O" and a "general-purpose I / O", a "counter / timer", an "AD / DA converter", and the like that are connected to external sensors and the like and exchange information and data. These are then connected to each other by a data communication path such as an "internal bus" to transmit and receive information and perform processing.

[0111] Here, the "volatile RAM (SRAM)" reads out programs that perform various processes to be executed by the "CPU" and also provides a work area that is a work area for the programs. In addition, a plurality of addresses are assigned to each of the "volatile RAM (SRAM)" and the "non-volatile ROM (flash memory)", and the programs executed by the "CPU" can exchange data with each other and perform processing by identifying and accessing the addresses. In this embodiment, the programs stored in the "volatile RAM (SRAM)" are a first link quality and route information storage program, a second link quality information and route information storage program, a second transmission program, a second reception program, a packet analysis program, and a packet creation program. In addition, the "volatile RAM (SRAM)" and the "non-volatile ROM (flash memory)" store link quality information, route information, packet type information, source address, destination address, ACK information, and the like.

[0112] The "CPU" executes a first link quality information / route information storage program stored in the "volatile RAM (SRAM)" to store link quality information and route information between wireless node devices in a cluster in the "volatile RAM (SRAM)" or the "non-volatile ROM (flash memory)." In addition, a second link quality information / route information storage program stored in the "volatile RAM (SRAM)" is executed to store link quality information / route information between wireless node devices in a cluster and link quality information / route information between wireless gateway node devices in a "volatile RAM (SRAM)" or a "non-volatile ROM (flash memory)." Also, the second reception program stored in the "volatile RAM (SRAM)" is executed to receive packets sent from other wireless node devices. In addition, the packet analysis program stored in the "volatile RAM (SRAM)" is executed to analyze the received packets, and packet type information, source address, destination address, ACK information, etc. are stored in the "volatile RAM (SRAM)" or "non-volatile ROM (flash memory)." In addition, a packet creation program stored in the "volatile RAM (SRAM)" is executed to create a packet based on packet type information, source address, destination address, ACK information, and the like. In addition, the node executes a second transmission program stored in the "volatile RAM (SRAM)" to transmit packets not addressed to itself to other wireless node devices, or transmit packets that it has created to other wireless node devices.

[0113] <Embodiment 4: Wireless mesh network system: processing flow> Fig. 28 is a diagram showing a process flow when using the wireless mesh network system in this embodiment. As shown in the diagram, the processing method includes a second receiving step S2801, a packet analyzing step S2802, a first link quality information / route information storing step S2803, a second link quality information / route information storing step S2804, a packet creating step S2805, and a second transmitting step S2806. These processing methods include a wireless mesh network system including at least one or more wireless node devices capable of transmitting and receiving packets, and configured with at least one network consisting of at least one or more clusters, in which one of the wireless node devices in the cluster functions as a wireless gateway node device and one of the wireless gateway node devices in the network functions as a wireless root node device, each wireless node device has a first link quality information / route information storage unit that stores link quality information and route information between all the wireless node devices in the cluster to which the wireless node device belongs, and each wireless gateway node device stores link quality information and route information between all the wireless node devices in the cluster to which the wireless gateway node device belongs and between the wireless gateway node devices in the network. and a second link quality information and route information storage unit that stores therein link quality information and route information stored in the first link quality information and route information storage unit and a second transmission unit that transmits an ACK request packet by broadcast to all wireless node devices in a destination cluster based on the link quality information and route information stored in the first link quality information and route information storage unit and / or the second link quality information and route information storage unit, and a second reception unit that receives an aggregated ACK packet in response to the ACK request packet transmitted by the second transmission unit based on the link quality information and route information stored in the first link quality information and route information storage unit and / or the second link quality information and route information storage unit.

[0114] The "second receiving step" S2801 is a stage of receiving a packet transmitted from another wireless node device.

[0115] The "packet analysis step" S2802 is a stage for analyzing a packet received from another wireless node device.

[0116] The "first link quality information and route information storage step" S2803 is a step of storing link quality information and route information between wireless node devices in a cluster.

[0117] The “second link quality information and route information storing step” S2804 is a step of storing link quality information and route information between wireless node devices in a cluster and link quality information and route information between wireless gateway node devices.

[0118] The "packet creation step" S2805 is a step of creating a packet based on packet type information, source address, destination address, ACK information, and the like.

[0119] The “second transmission step” S2806 is a stage in which a packet not addressed to itself is transmitted to another wireless node device, or a packet created by itself is transmitted to another wireless node device.

[0120] <Summary> As described above, in a wireless mesh network system including at least one or more wireless node devices capable of transmitting and receiving packets and configured with at least one network consisting of at least one or more clusters, one of the wireless node devices in the cluster functions as a wireless gateway node device and one of the wireless gateway node devices in the network functions as a wireless root node device, each wireless node device has a first link quality information / route information storage unit that stores link quality information and route information between all the wireless node devices in the cluster to which the wireless gateway node device belongs, and each wireless gateway node device stores link quality information and route information between all the wireless node devices in the cluster to which the wireless gateway node device belongs and between the wireless gateway node devices in the network. a second link quality information and route information storage unit that stores therein link quality information and route information stored in the first link quality information and route information storage unit or the second link quality information and route information storage unit, and the wireless root node device or the wireless gateway node device has a second transmitting unit that broadcasts an ACK request packet to all wireless node devices in a destination cluster based on the link quality information and route information stored in the first link quality information and route information storage unit or the second link quality information and route information storage unit, and a second receiving unit that receives an aggregated ACK packet in response to the ACK request packet transmitted by the second transmitting unit, based on the link quality information and route information stored in the first link quality information and route information storage unit or the second link quality information and route information storage unit. Moreover, by obtaining a batch ACK, communication can be performed at high speed with high reliability. [Explanation of symbols]

[0121] Wireless node device: 700, 1300, 1900, 2400 Receiving unit: 701, 1301 First receiving unit: 1901 Second receiving unit: 2401 Packet analysis section: 702, 1302, 1902, 2402 Link quality information / route information storage unit: 703, 1303 First link quality information / route information storage unit: 1903, 2403 Second link quality information / route information storage unit: 1904, 2404 Packet creation unit: 704, 1304, 1905, 2405 Transmitter: 705, 1305 First transmitter: 1906 Second transmitter: 2406

Claims

1. A wireless mesh network system including at least one wireless node device capable of transmitting and receiving packets and configured with at least one cluster, One of the wireless node devices in the cluster functions as a wireless gateway node device; Each of the wireless node devices a link quality information / route information storage unit configured to store link quality information and route information between all wireless node devices in the cluster; a transmission unit that transfers a packet not addressed to itself to another wireless node device and transmits a packet created by itself to a wireless node device specified by a predetermined destination address based on the link quality information and route information stored in the link quality information / route information storage unit; having The wireless gateway node device, a transmission unit that transmits an ACK request packet by multicast to a predetermined number of wireless node devices in a destination cluster based on the link quality information and route information stored in the link quality information / route information storage unit; a receiving unit that receives ACK packets from a plurality of predetermined wireless node devices in a cluster that is a destination of the ACK request packet transmitted by the transmitting unit, based on the link quality information and route information stored in the link quality information and route information storage unit; A wireless mesh network system comprising:

2. A wireless mesh network system including at least one wireless node device capable of transmitting and receiving packets and configured with at least one cluster, One of the wireless node devices in the cluster functions as a wireless gateway node device; Each of the wireless node devices a link quality information / route information storage unit configured to store link quality information and route information between all wireless node devices in the cluster; a transmission unit that transfers a packet not addressed to itself to another wireless node device and transmits a packet created by itself to a wireless node device specified by a predetermined destination address based on the link quality information and route information stored in the link quality information / route information storage unit; having The wireless gateway node device, a transmission unit that transmits an ACK request packet by broadcast to all wireless node devices in a destination cluster based on the link quality information and route information stored in the link quality information / route information storage unit; a receiving unit that receives ACK packets from all wireless node devices in a cluster as a destination in response to an ACK request packet transmitted by the transmitting unit, based on the link quality information and route information stored in the link quality information and route information storage unit; A wireless mesh network system comprising:

3. A wireless mesh network system including at least one wireless node device capable of transmitting and receiving packets and configured with at least one network consisting of at least one cluster, One of the wireless node devices in the cluster functions as a wireless gateway node device, and one of the wireless gateway node devices in the network functions as a wireless root node device; Each of the wireless node devices a first link quality information / route information storage unit that stores link quality information and route information between all wireless node devices in a cluster to which the wireless node device belongs; a first transmitting unit that transfers a packet not addressed to itself to another wireless node device and transmits a packet created by itself to a wireless node device specified by a predetermined destination address based on the link quality information and route information stored in the first link quality information / route information storage unit; having Each of the wireless gateway node devices a second link quality information / route information storage unit that stores link quality information and route information between all the wireless node devices in a cluster to which the wireless gateway node device belongs and between the wireless gateway node devices in a network; a first transmitting unit that transfers a packet not addressed to itself to another wireless node device and transmits a packet created by itself to a wireless node device specified by a predetermined destination address based on the link quality information and route information stored in the second link quality information / route information storage unit; having The wireless root node device or the wireless gateway node device, a first transmission unit that transmits an ACK request packet by multicast to a predetermined number of wireless node devices in a cluster that is a destination, based on the link quality information and route information stored in the first link quality information and route information storage unit and / or the second link quality information and route information storage unit; a first receiving unit that receives ACK packets from a predetermined number of wireless node devices in a cluster that is a destination of the ACK request packet in response to the ACK request packet transmitted by the first transmitting unit, based on the link quality information and route information stored in the first link quality information and route information storage unit and / or the second link quality information and route information storage unit; A wireless mesh network system comprising:

4. A wireless mesh network system including at least one wireless node device capable of transmitting and receiving packets and configured with at least one network consisting of at least one cluster, One of the wireless node devices in the cluster functions as a wireless gateway node device, and one of the wireless gateway node devices in the network functions as a wireless root node device; Each of the wireless node devices a first link quality information / route information storage unit that stores link quality information and route information between all wireless node devices in a cluster to which the wireless node device belongs; a second transmission unit that transfers a packet not addressed to itself to another wireless node device and transmits a packet created by itself to a wireless node device specified by a predetermined destination address based on the link quality information and route information stored in the first link quality information / route information storage unit; having Each of the wireless gateway node devices a second link quality information / route information storage unit that stores link quality information and route information between all the wireless node devices in a cluster to which the wireless gateway node device belongs and between the wireless gateway node devices in a network; a second transmission unit that transfers a packet not addressed to itself to another wireless node device and transmits a packet created by itself to a wireless node device specified by a predetermined destination address based on the link quality information and route information stored in the second link quality information / route information storage unit; having The wireless root node device or the wireless gateway node device, a second transmission unit that transmits an ACK request packet by broadcast to all wireless node devices in a destination cluster based on the link quality information and route information stored in the first link quality information and route information storage unit and / or the second link quality information and route information storage unit; a second receiving unit that receives an aggregated ACK packet in which ACKs are aggregated from all wireless node devices in a cluster that is a destination of the ACK request packet transmitted by the second transmitting unit, based on the link quality information and route information stored in the first link quality information and route information storage unit and / or the second link quality information and route information storage unit; A wireless mesh network system comprising:

5. A method for operating a wireless mesh network system, which is a computer including at least one wireless node device capable of transmitting and receiving packets and configured with at least one cluster, comprising: One of the wireless node devices in the cluster functions as a wireless gateway node device; Each of the wireless node devices a link quality information / route information storage step of storing link quality information and route information between all wireless node devices in the cluster; a transmission step of transferring a packet not addressed to itself to another wireless node device and transmitting a packet created by itself to a wireless node device specified by a predetermined destination address based on the link quality information and the route information stored in the link quality information / route information storage step; having The wireless gateway node device, a transmitting step of transmitting an ACK request packet by multicast to a predetermined number of wireless node devices in a destination cluster based on the link quality information and the route information stored in the link quality information and route information storing step; a receiving step of receiving ACK packets from a plurality of predetermined wireless node devices in a cluster as a destination in response to the ACK request packet transmitted in the transmitting step, based on the link quality information and the route information stored in the link quality information and route information storing step; A method for operating a wireless mesh network system, comprising:

6. A method for operating a wireless mesh network system, which is a computer including at least one wireless node device capable of transmitting and receiving packets and configured with at least one cluster, comprising: One of the wireless node devices in the cluster functions as a wireless gateway node device; Each of the wireless node devices a link quality information / route information storage step of storing link quality information and route information between all wireless node devices in the cluster; a transmission step of transferring a packet not addressed to itself to another wireless node device and transmitting a packet created by itself to a wireless node device specified by a predetermined destination address based on the link quality information and the route information stored in the link quality information / route information storage step; having The wireless gateway node device, a transmitting step of broadcasting an ACK request packet to all wireless node devices in a destination cluster based on the link quality information and the route information stored in the link quality information and route information storing step; a receiving step of receiving ACK packets from all wireless node devices in a cluster as a destination in response to the ACK request packet transmitted in the transmitting step, based on the link quality information and route information stored in the link quality information and route information storing step; A method for operating a wireless mesh network system, comprising:

7. A method for operating a wireless mesh network system, which is a computer including at least one wireless node device capable of transmitting and receiving packets and configured with at least one network consisting of at least one cluster, comprising: One of the wireless node devices in the cluster functions as a wireless gateway node device, and one of the wireless gateway node devices in the network functions as a wireless root node device; Each of the wireless node devices a first link quality information / route information storage step of storing link quality information and route information between all wireless node devices in a cluster to which the wireless node device belongs; a first transmission step of transferring a packet not addressed to itself to another wireless node device and transmitting a packet created by itself to a wireless node device designated by a predetermined destination address based on the link quality information and route information stored in the first link quality information / route information storage step; having Each of the wireless gateway node devices a second link quality information / route information storage step of storing link quality information and route information between all the wireless node devices in the cluster to which the wireless gateway node device belongs and between the wireless gateway node devices in the network; a first transmission step of transferring a packet not addressed to itself to another wireless node device and transmitting a packet created by itself to a wireless node device designated by a predetermined destination address based on the link quality information and the route information stored in the second link quality information / route information storage step; having The wireless root node device or the wireless gateway node device, a first transmission step of transmitting an ACK request packet by multicast to a plurality of predetermined wireless node devices in a destination cluster based on the link quality information and the route information stored in the first link quality information and route information storage step and / or the second link quality information and route information storage step; a first receiving step of receiving ACK packets from a predetermined number of wireless node devices in a cluster as a destination in response to the ACK request packet transmitted in the first transmitting step, based on the link quality information and route information stored in the first link quality information and route information storing step and / or the second link quality information and route information storing step; A method for operating a wireless mesh network system, comprising:

8. A method for operating a wireless mesh network system, which is a computer including at least one wireless node device capable of transmitting and receiving packets and configured with at least one network consisting of at least one cluster, comprising: One of the wireless node devices in the cluster functions as a wireless gateway node device, and one of the wireless gateway node devices in the network functions as a wireless root node device; Each of the wireless node devices a first link quality information / route information storage step of storing link quality information and route information between all wireless node devices in a cluster to which the wireless node device belongs; a second transmission step of transferring a packet not addressed to itself to another wireless node device and transmitting a packet created by itself to a wireless node device designated by a predetermined destination address based on the link quality information and route information stored in the first link quality information / route information storage step; having Each of the wireless gateway node devices a second link quality information / route information storage step of storing link quality information and route information between all the wireless node devices in the cluster to which the wireless gateway node device belongs and between the wireless gateway node devices in the network; a second transmission step of transferring a packet not addressed to itself to another wireless node device and transmitting a packet created by itself to a wireless node device designated by a predetermined destination address based on the link quality information and the route information stored in the second link quality information / route information storage step; having The wireless root node device or the wireless gateway node device, a second transmission step of broadcasting an ACK request packet to all wireless node devices in a destination cluster based on the link quality information and the route information stored in the first link quality information and route information storage step and / or the second link quality information and route information storage step; a second receiving step of receiving an aggregated ACK packet in which ACKs are aggregated from all wireless node devices in a cluster as a destination in response to the ACK request packet transmitted in the second transmitting step, based on the link quality information and route information stored in the first link quality information and route information storing step and / or the second link quality information and route information storing step; A method for operating a wireless mesh network system, comprising:

9. An operation program for a wireless mesh network system, the operation program being written in a readable and executable manner for a wireless mesh network system that is a computer including at least one wireless node device capable of transmitting and receiving packets and configured with at least one cluster, One of the wireless node devices in the cluster functions as a wireless gateway node device; Each of the wireless node devices a link quality information / route information storage step of storing link quality information and route information between all wireless node devices in the cluster; a transmission step of transferring a packet not addressed to itself to another wireless node device and transmitting a packet created by itself to a wireless node device specified by a predetermined destination address based on the link quality information and the route information stored in the link quality information / route information storage step; having The wireless gateway node device, a transmitting step of transmitting an ACK request packet by multicast to a predetermined number of wireless node devices in a destination cluster based on the link quality information and the route information stored in the link quality information and route information storing step; a receiving step of receiving ACK packets from a plurality of predetermined wireless node devices in a cluster as a destination in response to the ACK request packet transmitted in the transmitting step, based on the link quality information and the route information stored in the link quality information and route information storing step; 2. A wireless mesh network system operation program comprising: a wireless mesh network system operation program that is written in a readable and executable manner in a computer that is a wireless mesh network system, the computer comprising:

10. An operation program for a wireless mesh network system, the operation program being written in a readable and executable manner for a wireless mesh network system that is a computer including at least one wireless node device capable of transmitting and receiving packets and configured with at least one cluster, One of the wireless node devices in the cluster functions as a wireless gateway node device; Each of the wireless node devices a link quality information / route information storage step of storing link quality information and route information between all wireless node devices in the cluster; a transmission step of transferring a packet not addressed to itself to another wireless node device and transmitting a packet created by itself to a wireless node device specified by a predetermined destination address based on the link quality information and the route information stored in the link quality information / route information storage step; having The wireless gateway node device, a transmitting step of broadcasting an ACK request packet to all wireless node devices in a destination cluster based on the link quality information and the route information stored in the link quality information and route information storing step; a receiving step of receiving ACK packets from all wireless node devices in a cluster as a destination in response to the ACK request packet transmitted in the transmitting step, based on the link quality information and route information stored in the link quality information and route information storing step; 2. A wireless mesh network system operation program comprising: a wireless mesh network system operation program that is written in a readable and executable manner in a computer that is a wireless mesh network system, the computer comprising:

11. An operation program for a wireless mesh network system, the operation program being written in a readable and executable manner for a wireless mesh network system that is a computer including at least one wireless node device capable of transmitting and receiving packets and configured with at least one network consisting of at least one cluster, One of the wireless node devices in the cluster functions as a wireless gateway node device, and one of the wireless gateway node devices in the network functions as a wireless root node device; Each of the wireless node devices a first link quality information / route information storage step of storing link quality information and route information between all wireless node devices in a cluster to which the wireless node device belongs; a first transmission step of transferring a packet not addressed to itself to another wireless node device and transmitting a packet created by itself to a wireless node device specified by a predetermined destination address based on the link quality information and route information stored in the first link quality information / route information storage step; having Each of the wireless gateway node devices a second link quality information / route information storage step of storing link quality information and route information between all the wireless node devices in the cluster to which the wireless gateway node device belongs and between the wireless gateway node devices in the network; a first transmission step of transferring a packet not addressed to itself to another wireless node device and transmitting a packet created by itself to a wireless node device designated by a predetermined destination address based on the link quality information and the route information stored in the second link quality information / route information storage step; having The wireless root node device or the wireless gateway node device, a first transmission step of transmitting an ACK request packet by multicast to a plurality of predetermined wireless node devices in a destination cluster based on the link quality information and the route information stored in the first link quality information and route information storage step and / or the second link quality information and route information storage step; a first receiving step of receiving ACK packets from a predetermined number of wireless node devices in a cluster as a destination in response to the ACK request packet transmitted in the first transmitting step, via the network and / or the cluster, based on the link quality information and route information stored in the first link quality information and route information storing step or / and the second link quality information and route information storing step; 2. A wireless mesh network system operation program comprising: a wireless mesh network system operation program that is written in a readable and executable manner in a computer that is a wireless mesh network system, the computer comprising:

12. An operation program for a wireless mesh network system, the operation program being written in a readable and executable manner for a wireless mesh network system that is a computer including at least one wireless node device capable of transmitting and receiving packets and configured with at least one network consisting of at least one cluster, One of the wireless node devices in the cluster functions as a wireless gateway node device, and one of the wireless gateway node devices in the network functions as a wireless root node device; Each of the wireless node devices a first link quality information / route information storage step of storing link quality information and route information between all wireless node devices in a cluster to which the wireless node device belongs; a second transmission step of transferring a packet not addressed to itself to another wireless node device and transmitting a packet created by itself to a wireless node device designated by a predetermined destination address based on the link quality information and route information stored in the first link quality information / route information storage step; having Each of the wireless gateway node devices a second link quality information / route information storage step of storing link quality information and route information between all the wireless node devices in the cluster to which the wireless gateway node device belongs and between the wireless gateway node devices in the network; a second transmission step of transferring a packet not addressed to itself to another wireless node device and transmitting a packet created by itself to a wireless node device designated by a predetermined destination address based on the link quality information and the route information stored in the second link quality information / route information storage step; having The wireless root node device or the wireless gateway node device, a second transmission step of broadcasting an ACK request packet to all wireless node devices in a destination cluster based on the link quality information and the route information stored in the first link quality information and route information storage step and / or the second link quality information and route information storage step; a second receiving step of receiving, via the network and / or the cluster, an aggregated ACK packet in which ACKs are aggregated from all wireless node devices in a cluster as a destination, in response to the ACK request packet transmitted in the second transmitting step, based on the link quality information and route information stored in the first link quality information and route information storing step or / and the second link quality information and route information storing step; 2. A wireless mesh network system operation program comprising: a wireless mesh network system operation program that is written in a readable and executable manner in a computer that is a wireless mesh network system, the computer comprising:

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