A method for interference mitigation in a wireless network

Abstract

A method (600) for interference mitigation in a wireless network (100) comprising a plurality of nodes (300, 300', 300''); wherein the wireless network (100) operates according to a first communication protocol; the method (600) comprising the steps of at least one node (300) out of the plurality of nodes: monitoring (S601) a link quality parameter in the wireless network (100); switching (S602) to a second communication protocol upon detection of a degradation on the link quality parameter, with the second communication protocol different from the first communication protocol and comprising a data streaming mode; obtaining (S603) channel occupancy information upon determining the data streaming mode is in use; switching (S604) back to the first communication protocol; determining (S605) if there is an overlap between a channel usage of the wireless network (100) and the obtained channel occupancy information.

Description

[0001] A METHOD FOR INTERFERENCE MITIGATION IN A WIRELESS NETWORK

[0002] FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The invention relates to the field of wireless communication. More particularly, various methods, apparatus, and systems are disclosed herein related to interference mitigation in a wireless network.

[0004] BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0005] Wireless connected control systems are widely adopted in different application scenarios, such as building automation, smart homes, industrial automation, and healthcare facilities. This technology provides low-latency communication between sensors, actuators, and other devices, enabling real-time control and monitoring.

[0006] Lighting industry is also moving towards wireless connected control systems, which offer greater flexibility and convenience, where the lighting and non-lighting devices (luminaires, switches, sensors etc.) interact with each other by forming wireless networks. These systems allow users to control their lights remotely, such as adjusting the intensity and colour temperature, scheduling when the lights turn on and off.

[0007] Such a system typically comprises a central controller that communicates with a plurality of devices in the system using short-range wireless communication protocols, such as Zigbee, Thread, Bluetooth, Bluetooth Mesh or Z-Wave. These protocols have advantages on supporting low-power, low-data-rate applications, making them ideal for use in connected control systems.

[0008] When there are devices from different vendors coexist in the same environment and operate according to different communication protocols, cross-system interference may result, especially in the already overcrowded ISM bands. Different protocols have different techniques to deal with such situations. For example, some systems use Clear Channel Assessment (CCA) to determine if the RF medium is not busy before transmitting. Some systems use Dynamic Channel Allocation (DAA) to allocate frequency channels dynamically based on demand. Some systems adopt frequency hopping to switch channels rapidly to reduce the impact of interference on a single channel. CARHACIOGLU ONUR ET AL “Cooperative Coexistence of BLE and Time Slotted Channel Hopping Networks” relates to a cooperative coexistence solution for BLE and TSCH networks in which joint time-slot channel hopping synchronization are performed via a dedicated multi-radio BLE-TSCH gateway.

[0009] WANG XIAO ET AL “A Hierarchical Anti-Interference Channel Hopping Algorithm based on Zigbee Priority” relates to a hierarchical anti-interference channel hopping algorithm based on Zigbee priority, built upon the cellular network model. When interference occurs, the algorithm selects the optimal channel for hopping by calculating the interference level of each frequency band.

[0010] NIKOUKAR ALI ET AL “Low-Power Wireless for the Internet of Things: Standards and Applications” relates to an overview of loT standards.

[0011] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0012] Cross-system interference can become a big problem for loT applications because loT devices and sensors may operate on the same frequency bands but according to different communication protocols. This can lead to data collisions, lost data, and / or unreliable connectivity. These problems can become particularly significant when dealing with large-scale loT deployments, such as large public spaces, smart cities or industrial automation, where hundreds of devices and sensors may be deployed within each other’s communication range.

[0013] When the interference comes from a system based on frequency hopping, conventional interference avoidance techniques, such as CCA, become less efficient.

[0014] It is recognized by the inventor that it is beneficial to control a node to switch between two different communication protocols to obtain channel occupancy information in a more effective manner. More particularly, the goal of this invention is achieved by a method as claimed in claim 1, by a node as claimed in claim 7, and by a wireless network as claimed in claim 10.

[0015] In accordance with a first aspect of the invention a method is provided. A method for interference mitigation in a wireless network comprising a plurality of nodes; wherein the wireless network operates according to a first communication protocol; the method comprising the steps of at least one node out of the plurality of nodes: monitoring a link quality parameter in the wireless network; switching to a second communication protocol upon detection of a degradation on the link quality parameter, with the second communication protocol different from the first communication protocol and comprising a data streaming mode; obtaining channel occupancy information upon determining the data streaming mode is in use; switching back to the first communication protocol; determining if there is an overlap between a channel usage of the wireless network and the obtained channel occupancy information; and sharing the obtained channel occupancy information over the wireless network (100) and / or adjusting at least one communication parameter, upon confirming the overlap; wherein the at least one node (300) comprises a single radio operating according to both the first and the second communication protocols on a time-sharing basis.

[0016] The link quality parameter may be related to an absolute or relative value used to quantify the quality of the communication link between two devices, such as from another sending node to the at least one node.

[0017] Data streaming refers to continuous transfer of data from one device to another, which is typically used to transmit audio or video content, such as used for music or video streaming. In data streaming, the content is typically split into small packets to transmit in real-time. A receiving device receives these packets and assembles them into a continuous stream of data that can be played back. Depending on the size of the audio or video content, data streaming may lead to long channel occupancy time.

[0018] Since the first communication protocol is different from the second communication protocol, it is difficult for the at least one node operating according to the first communication protocol to determine if the link quality degradation in the wireless communication network results from the data streaming with some co-located nodes according to the second communication protocol or other interferences. Therefore, it is beneficial for the at least one node to switch to the second communication protocol to understand whether the data streaming mode is currently in use. If so, the at least one node can also obtain channel occupancy information regarding the data streaming mode.

[0019] The channel occupancy information may comprise the frequency range of one or more channels being used, the strength of signals being transmitted on the one or more channels, duty cycle of the channel usage (e.g. the percentage of time one or more channels are being used), and / or occupancy duration (e.g. the length of time the one or more channels being occupied). The channel occupancy information associated with the data streaming mode may be fed back to the wireless network for interference mitigation, such as avoiding overlap between channel usage by the wireless network according to the first communication protocol and the channel occupancy in the data streaming mode according to the second communication protocol.

[0020] Beneficially, the method further comprises a step of the at least one node: sharing the obtained channel occupancy information over the wireless network and / or adjusting at least one communication parameter, upon confirming the overlap.

[0021] Since the communication parameter of the wireless network may be controlled in a centralized manner, it is beneficial that the obtained channel occupancy information is shared over the wireless network, such as shared with a network controller or coordinator. And then the at least one communication parameter can be adjusted when there is an overlap between the channel usage of the wireless network and the obtained channel occupancy information.

[0022] In one example, the obtained channel occupancy information further comprises corresponding time information related to the channel occupancy.

[0023] The time information may be related to a duty cycle of the channel occupancy (e.g. the percentage of time that certain channels being used), and / or occupancy duration (e.g. the length of time that certain channels being occupied).

[0024] In another example, the obtained channel occupancy information comprises a channel hopping sequence of the data streaming mode.

[0025] Channel hopping is used in frequency-hopping spread spectrum (FHSS) systems to prevent interference and to improve security. The channel hopping sequence is a pseudo-random sequence used by a device to change its frequency channel when transmitting data. In a Bluetooth system, the channel hopping sequence is typically determined by an algorithm that is shared between two Bluetooth devices when they are paired, and it is unique to each pair of devices. By doing so, it reduces the likelihood of interference from other Bluetooth devices or other systems and makes it more difficult for eavesdroppers to intercept the signal.

[0026] Advantageously, the link quality parameter comprises one of a received signal strength Indicator, a signal-to-noise ratio, a bit error rate, a packet error rate, a latency, a jitter, or a combination thereof.

[0027] Received Signal Strength Indicator (RS SI) measures the strength of the received signal. A higher RSSI indicates a stronger signal, which generally corresponds to better link quality. Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) represents the ratio of the signal power to the noise level. A higher SNR implies less interference and better link quality. Bit Error Rate (BER) quantifies the number of bit errors in a data stream due to noise, interference, or other impairment. Lower BER values indicate better link quality. Similarly, Packet Error Rate (PER) measures the number of packet errors that occur in a given period of time. Lower PER values indicate better link quality.

[0028] The link quality may also be represented by latency and jitter. Latency indicates the time delay between when a packet is sent and when it is received, which may represent the traffic congestion situation, and jitter measures the variation in latency over time.

[0029] It is also possible that the link quality parameter is a customized parameter that combines one or more measures from the above, for example by a weighted average.

[0030] Preferably, the communication parameter is related to channel frequency, back-off time, transmission duration, output power, or a combination thereof.

[0031] The communication parameter is a parameter used to quantify the communication link. The communication parameter may be related to a channel frequency, which is the range of frequency channels or a channel index according to the channelization according to a certain communication standard. The communication parameter may also be related to a back-off time for the node to access the channel or a transmission duration for the node to have channel usage. The communication parameter may also be related to an output power level of the node.

[0032] In one example, the data streaming mode is related to Bluetooth audio streaming.

[0033] Bluetooth audio streaming is a technology that allows audio to be wirelessly transmitted from one device to another using Bluetooth technology, which is a popular technology for streaming music, podcasts, and other audio content from mobile devices.

[0034] As part of Bluetooth Audio Public Broadcast Specification profile, Auracast is released in 2022 to provide enhanced audio experiences. Unlike traditional Bluetooth audio applications, which are primarily focused on connection-oriented point-to-point streaming between devices, Auracast allows audio to be transmitted from a single source to multiple receiving devices simultaneously for efficient audio broadcasting in public spaces. For example, Auracast allows a source device (like a TV or phone) to broadcast to a plurality of audio receivers, such as earbuds, speakers, or hearing aids. Users can also choose which audio stream(s) they want to tune into. Different from the point-to-point communication for Bluetooth or Bluetooth low energy devices, the hopping sequency of an Auracast broadcaster is communicated by the broadcaster to the audio receivers via a control channel, such as the advertisement channels, such that it allows audio receivers to synchronize themselves and tune into the correct frequency to receive the audio signal.

[0035] In accordance with a second aspect of the invention a node is provided. A node out of a plurality of nodes in a wireless network operating according to a first communication protocol; the node comprising: a communication module configured to monitor a link quality parameter in the wireless network; a controller configured to detect a degradation on the link quality parameter and control the communication module to switch to a second communication protocol upon the detection of the degradation; wherein the second communication protocol is different from the first communication protocol and comprises a data streaming mode; wherein the communication module is further configured to obtain channel occupancy information when the data streaming mode is determined to be in use; the controller is further configured to control the communication module to switch back to the first communication protocol; and determine if there is an overlap between a channel usage of the wireless network and the obtained channel occupancy information; wherein the node is further configured to share the obtained channel occupancy information over the wireless network (100) and / or adjust at least one communication parameter, upon confirming the overlap; wherein the communication module (301) comprises a single radio configured to operate according to both the first and the second communication protocols on a time-sharing basis.

[0036] The first communication protocol may be used to support the control function of the plurality of nodes, such as lighting control or building automation. Preferably, the first wireless communication protocol supports a multi-hop technology, which can be Zigbee, Thread, Meta wireless, Z-wave, or any other mesh or tree-based technology.

[0037] The second communication protocol may be related to Bluetooth or Bluetooth Low Energy.

[0038] These short range wireless communications are typically deployed in the globally available unlicensed radio frequency ISM band, such as the 2.4GHz ISM band and the 5 GHz ISM band. Since it is very likely that different systems operating according to different communication protocols deployed in the same location, especially for a smart home or smart office scenario, cross-system interference may degrade the communication performance significantly.

[0039] Therefore, it is beneficial to make use of a node that is capable to operate according to both a first communication protocol and a second communication protocol to implement a cross-system interference mitigation mechanism, such as avoiding interference from the data streaming (related to the second communication protocol) to the wireless network that operates according to the first communication protocol.

[0040] In one example, when the overlap is confirmed, the node is further configured to share the obtained channel occupancy information over the wireless network and / or adjust at least one communication parameter.

[0041] Since one or more communication parameters related to the wireless network may be controlled or adjusted in a centralized manner, it is beneficial that the node to share the obtained channel occupancy information over the wireless network, such as with a network coordinator or controller.

[0042] Beneficially, the obtained channel occupancy information further comprises corresponding time information related to the channel occupancy.

[0043] The time information related to the channel occupancy may be used by the wireless network to schedule the change or adjustment of its communication parameter.

[0044] In one option, the communication module comprises a single radio configured to operate according to both the first and the second communication protocols on a timesharing basis.

[0045] With this option, the radio is a dual mode combo radio to support both communication protocols. Alternatively, the communication module may comprise two radios each operating according to a single communication protocol.

[0046] In accordance with a third aspect of the invention a wireless network is provided. A wireless network comprising a plurality of nodes configured to operate according to a first communication protocol; wherein the plurality of nodes comprises at least a node according to the present invention.

[0047] Preferably, at least one of the plurality of nodes is coupled to a lighting fixture for lighting control.

[0048] Lighting systems are becoming more and more wirelessly connected for both professional and home use cases. For example, the wireless network may be deployed as part of a control system used for building automation, smart homes, industrial automation, and healthcare facilities.

[0049] In one example, the wireless network further comprises a network coordinator; wherein the node is configured to inform the network coordinator about the obtained channel occupancy information.

[0050] The network coordinator may also be a central controller or bridge device of the wireless network.

[0051] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0052] In the drawings, like reference characters generally refer to the same parts throughout the different figures. Also, the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead generally being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention.

[0053] Fig. 1 illustrates a wireless network comprising a plurality of nodes;

[0054] Fig. 2 shows a basic block diagram of a node; and

[0055] Fig. 3 shows a flow chart of a method for for interference mitigation implemented by a node in a wireless network.

[0056] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0057] The embodiments set forth below represent information to enable those skilled in the art to practice the embodiments. Upon reading the following description in light of the accompanying drawings, those skilled in the art will understand the concepts of the disclosure and will recognize applications of these concepts not particularly addressed herein. It should be understood that these concepts and applications fall within the scope of the disclosure.

[0058] FIG. 1 illustrates a wireless network 100 comprising a plurality of nodes 300, 300’, 300”. The plurality of nodes 300, 300’, 300 ’’are configured to operate according to a first communication protocol in the wireless network 100. The plurality of nodes 300, 300’, 300” comprises at least a node 300 configured to switch between the first communication protocol and a second communication protocol to obtain channel occupancy information related to a data streaming mode according to the second communication protocol. In this way, the at least one node 300 helps to mitigate interferences to the wireless network from other co-existing systems operating in the same frequency band. It is also an option that more than one node out of the plurality of nodes 300, 300’, 300” are capable to switch between the first communication protocol and the second communication protocol for interference mitigation.

[0059] Optionally, the wireless network 100 further comprises a network coordinator 200, or a central controller. To assist the wireless network to get adapted to the interference scenario, the node 300 may be configured to inform the network coordinator 200 about the obtained channel occupancy information. And then, the network coordinator 200 may be configured to adjust one or more settings of the wireless network in a centralized manner.

[0060] When more than one node out of the plurality of nodes 300, 300’, 300” are capable to switch between the first communication protocol and the second communication protocol, the channel occupancy information obtained by the more than one node may be combined to make a decision on adjusting one or more settings of the wireless network. For example, the channel occupancy information obtained by a first node out of the more than one node may indicate that a first subset of channels may experience interference, and the channel occupancy information obtained by a second node out of the more than one node may indicate that a second subset of channels may experience interference. And then the combination of the first and second subset of channels may be excluded from usage by the wireless network for a certain period of time, which depends on the individual channel occupancy duration for the first and second subset of channels respectively.

[0061] Below we will take several commonly used short range wireless communication protocols as examples to explain how to implement the schemes disclosed in the present invention.

[0062] The Industrial-Scientific-Medical (ISM) band defined around 2.4 GHz by the International Telecommunications Union is global and license exempt. This makes it attractive for a great variety of local area and personal area networking applications as well as for loT devices. There are different communication protocols operating in this frequency band, such as Zigbee, Wi-Fi, Thread, Bluetooth, Bluetooth Mesh, Meta Wireless, Z-Wave.

[0063] With most of the communication protocols, a network operates on a single frequency channel. However, Bluetooth BR / EDR (Classic) and Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) adopt frequency hopping spread spectrum. If operating in an adaptive mode both Classic and BLE radios will employ a Detect and Avoid (DAA) strategy to determine which of the total number of available hopping channels is free from interference (or quiet enough) to be used. The device will scan all available hopping channels and compare the measured RF power levels against a threshold to determine if the channel is ‘good’ (quiet) and should be included in the hopping sequence or ‘bad’ (noisy / busy) and should be excluded from the hopping sequence. The DAA approaches are typically well adapted to identifying and avoiding the regions of the 2400 - 2483.5 MHz band that are being used by Wi-Fi networks. The DAA functionality is not specifically identified to avoid channels that are subject to use by lower power, narrowband, sporadic users, such as IEEE 802.15.4 radios found in Zigbee and Thread mesh networks. This means that BLE devices are likely to mark the channels used by the IEEE 802.15.4 radios as ‘good’ to use with the result that there will be both packet collisions between IEEE 802.15.4 transmissions and BLE transmissions as well as the IEEE 802.15.4 Clear Channel Assessment (CCA) mechanism being triggered by the BLE radios forcing the IEEE 802.15.4 radios to back off and reducing their airtime. According to the regulations in the European Union, the use of DAA by BLE devices is only required when it is necessary to use the maximum permitted RF transmission power levels without a duty cycle restriction. For power levels below +10dBm, the BLE devices are not required to display any form of adaptivity and can operate at 100% duty cycle. IEEE 802.15.4 radios always carry out a CCA check before transmission and so in the face of a BLE radio will always lose out and potentially could be forced off air.

[0064] Classic Bluetooth audio streaming is typically between two paring devices, such as a smartphone or tablet and a pair of Bluetooth headphones or speakers. The newly released Auracast is a Bluetooth broadcast technology that allows devices to transmit audio wirelessly to multiple compatible receivers simultaneously. For example, streaming the audio of a TV screen in public spaces to earbuds while keeping the screen silent. The new BLE Auracast Broadcast devices are unidirectional so there is no possibility for a Peripheral that could perhaps sense the presence of an IEEE 802.15.4 radio to warn the transmitter.

[0065] It is proposed to make use of a device that is capable to support different communication protocols, such as both BLE and IEEE 802.15.4 protocols. For example, with persistent CCA failures and packet delivery errors in a Zigbee / Thread network, it is disclosed that at least one node recognises this condition and temporarily switches to BLE operating mode. In such a mode, the node can become aware of the presence of nearby BLE signalling on the Primary Advertising channels from which it can determine if the interference source is a BLE Auracast Broadcaster, what the hopping sequence is and whether or not it contains channels that overlap with the Zigbee / Thread network. If this is the case the node can switch back to Zigbee mode and modify a communication parameter of the Zigbee / Thread network, such as a CCA MAC parameter, to improve the radio transmission performance of the Zigbee / Thread network. FIG. 2 shows a basic block diagram of a node 300. As a basic setup, the node 300 comprises a communication module 301 and a controller 302. The communication module 301 is configured to monitor a link quality parameter in the wireless network 100. The controller 302 is configured to detect a degradation on the link quality parameter and control the communication module to switch to a second communication protocol upon the detection of the degradation, with the second communication protocol different from the first communication protocol and comprises a data streaming mode. The communication module is further configured to obtain channel occupancy information when the data streaming mode is determined to be in use. And then, the controller 302 is further configured to control the communication module 301 to switch back to the first communication protocol and determine if there is an overlap between a channel usage of the wireless network 100 and the obtained channel occupancy information.

[0066] The obtained channel occupancy information may further comprise corresponding time information related to the channel occupancy. The time information may be related to a duty cycle of the channel occupancy (e.g. the percentage of time that certain channels being used), and / or occupancy duration (e.g. the length of time that certain channels being occupied).

[0067] In another example, the obtained channel occupancy information may comprise a channel hopping sequence of the data streaming mode, such as used in frequencyhopping spread spectrum (FHSS) systems.

[0068] An overlap between the channel usage of the wireless network 100 and the obtained channel occupancy information from another system may happen on frequency domain and / or time domain. For example, if the two different systems occupy the same one or more frequency channels without overlapping time slots, no interference will be introduced. In another example, if the two different systems have different channel allocation schemes and part of a frequency channel from one system is occupied by another system at the same time, performance degradation will be resulted from such an overlap.

[0069] Upon determining there is an overlap between the channel usage of the wireless network 100 and the obtained channel occupancy information, the node 300 is further configured to share the obtained channel occupancy information over the wireless network 100, such as providing the obtained channel occupancy information to a network coordinator / controller or bridge device to handle the settings of the wireless network in a centralized manner. Alternatively, the node itself may be the network coordinator / controller or bridge device, and it is then configured to adjust at least one communication parameter. To switch between the two different communication protocols, the communication module 301 may comprise two separate radios each configured to operate according to one out of the two different communication protocols. Alternatively, the communication module 301 may comprise a single radio, such as a combo radio, which is configured to operate according to both the first and the second communication protocols on a time-sharing basis.

[0070] FIG. 3 shows a flow chart of a method 600 for for interference mitigation implemented by a node in a wireless network. A method 600 for interference mitigation in a wireless network 100 comprising a plurality of nodes 300, 300’, 300”; wherein the wireless network 100 operates according to a first communication protocol; the method 600 comprising the steps of at least one node 300 out of the plurality of nodes 300, 300’, 300” : monitoring, in step S601, a link quality parameter in the wireless network 100; switching, in step S602, to a second communication protocol upon detection of a degradation on the link quality parameter, with the second communication protocol different from the first communication protocol and comprising a data streaming mode; obtaining, in step S603, channel occupancy information upon determining the data streaming mode is in use; switching, in step S604, back to the first communication protocol; determining, in step S605, if there is an overlap between a channel usage of the wireless network 100 and the obtained channel occupancy information.

[0071] The method 600 may further comprising a step of the at least one node 300: sharing the obtained channel occupancy information over the wireless network 100 and / or adjusting at least one communication parameter, upon confirming the overlap.

[0072] The obtained channel occupancy information may further comprise corresponding time information related to the channel occupancy. Alternatively, or additionally, the obtained channel occupancy information comprises a channel hopping sequence of the data streaming mode.

[0073] The link quality parameter may comprise one of a received signal strength indication, a signal-to-noise ratio, a bit error rate, a packet error rate, a latency, a jitter, or a combination thereof.

[0074] The communication parameter is related to channel frequency, back-off time, transmission duration, output power, or a combination thereof. The method according to the present invention may be implemented on a computer as a computer implemented method, or in dedicated hardware, or in a combination of both.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A method (600) for interference mitigation in a wireless network (100) comprising a plurality of nodes (300, 300’, 300”); wherein the wireless network (100) operates according to a first communication protocol; the method (600) comprising the steps of at least one node (300) out of the plurality of nodes (300, 300’, 300”): monitoring (S601) a link quality parameter in the wireless network (100); switching (S602) to a second communication protocol upon detection of a degradation on the link quality parameter, with the second communication protocol different from the first communication protocol and comprising a data streaming mode; obtaining (S603) channel occupancy information upon determining the data streaming mode is in use; switching (S604) back to the first communication protocol; determining (S605) if there is an overlap between a channel usage of the wireless network (100) and the obtained channel occupancy information; and sharing the obtained channel occupancy information over the wireless network (100) and / or adjusting at least one communication parameter, upon confirming the overlap; wherein the at least one node (300) comprises a single radio operating according to both the first and the second communication protocols on a time-sharing basis.

2. The method (600) of claim 1, wherein the obtained channel occupancy information further comprises corresponding time information related to the channel occupancy.

3. The method (600) of claim 1 or 2, wherein the obtained channel occupancy information comprises a channel hopping sequence of the data streaming mode.

4. The method (600) of any one of the previous claims, wherein the link quality parameter comprises one of a received signal strength Indicator, a signal-to-noise ratio, a bit error rate, a packet error rate, a latency, a jitter, or a combination thereof.

5. The method (600) of any one of the previous claims, wherein the communication parameter is related to channel frequency, back-off time, transmission duration, output power, or a combination thereof.

6. The method (600) of any one of the previous claims, wherein the data streaming mode is related to Bluetooth audio streaming.

7. A node (300) out of a plurality of nodes (300, 300’, 300”) in a wireless network (100) operating according to a first communication protocol; the node (300) comprising: a communication module (301) configured to monitor a link quality parameter in the wireless network (100); a controller (302) configured to detect a degradation on the link quality parameter and control the communication module to switch to a second communication protocol upon the detection of the degradation; wherein the second communication protocol is different from the first communication protocol and comprises a data streaming mode; wherein the communication module is further configured to obtain channel occupancy information when the data streaming mode is determined to be in use; the controller (302) is further configured to control the communication module (301) to switch back to the first communication protocol; and determine if there is an overlap between a channel usage of the wireless network (100) and the obtained channel occupancy information; wherein the node is further configured to share the obtained channel occupancy information over the wireless network (100) and / or adjust at least one communication parameter, upon confirming the overlap; wherein the communication module (301) comprises a single radio configured to operate according to both the first and the second communication protocols on a time-sharing basis.

8. The node (300) of claim 7, wherein when the overlap is confirmed, the node (300) is further configured to share the obtained channel occupancy information over the wireless network (100) and / or adjust at least one communication parameter.

9. The node (300) of claim 7 or 8, wherein the obtained channel occupancy information further comprises corresponding time information related to the channel occupancy.

10. A wireless network (100) comprising a plurality of nodes (300, 300’, 300”) configured to operate according to a first communication protocol; wherein the plurality of nodes (300, 300’, 300”) comprises at least a node (300) according to claim 7.

11. The wireless network (100) of claim 10, wherein at least one of the plurality of nodes (300, 300’, 300”) is coupled to a lighting fixture for lighting control.

12. The wireless network (100) of claim 10 or 11 comprising a network coordinator (200); wherein the node (300) is configured to inform the network coordinator (200) about the obtained channel occupancy information.

13. A computer program product comprising instructions which, when the program is executed by a controller of a node (300) according to any one of claims 7-9, cause the node (300) to carry out the steps of the method (600) according to any one of claims 1-6.

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