Multi-Channel Ad Hoc Network Routing Metric for Throughput
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing routing protocols in ad hoc networks are not optimized for multi-channel and multi-interface environments, leading to reduced throughput due to simultaneous transmission and reception limitations and interference, and fail to effectively utilize frequency diversity.
Innovation Solution
A routing metric that allows existing protocols to adapt by considering simultaneous transmission and reception capabilities, channel alternation, load, quality, and number of hops to optimize route selection and channel allocation, thereby increasing network throughput.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a node uses a single channel to relay data, then the node can receive and transmit data, but the node cannot operate simultaneously in reception and transmission, causing reduction in communication rate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from single-channel to multi-channel operation, adding a frequency dimension to communication. Nodes can simultaneously transmit and receive on different channels (e.g., channel 1 for reception, channel 2 for transmission), effectively resolving the half-duplex limitation without requiring complex spatial MIMO configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters by assigning different channels to different interfaces or directions. Instead of operating on a single frequency, nodes dynamically select appropriate channels for each communication direction, enabling simultaneous reception and transmission operations.
2Productivity
If several frequency bands are used to send data in the network, then the overall throughput increases and concurrency is promoted, but the routing protocols are not suitable for multi-channel and multi-interface networks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the routing decision process into two independent components: path selection (using existing protocols like AODV or OLSR) and channel assignment (using the proposed metric). This segmentation allows existing routing protocols to continue functioning while adding multi-channel capability through the channel assignment module that uses the alternative channel metric.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal solution that works with existing routing protocols (AODV, OLSR, etc.) by adding a channel assignment layer on top. The alternative channel metric can be integrated into various routing protocols without requiring protocol-specific modifications, making the solution universally applicable across different ad hoc network implementations.
3Use of energy by moving object
If the number of hops is reduced, then the resources consumed are reduced, but the useful throughput may be lower compared to using more channels
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the routing metric parameters to include channel quality and alternative channel availability. Instead of minimizing only hop count, the metric balances hop count with channel conditions, allowing routes with slightly more hops but significantly better channel quality to be selected, thereby optimizing the trade-off between resource consumption and useful throughput.
4Device complexity
If nodes share the same channel, then communication is simpler, but interference increases with the number of nodes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves interference issues by moving communications to different frequency dimensions (channels). Instead of multiple nodes competing on the same channel, the system assigns different channels to different communication flows, effectively separating interfering signals in the frequency domain and reducing overall interference levels.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention comprises, in a multi-channel and multi-interface ad hoc network (1), selecting based on a metric (M) a route from a source node to a destination node, that is defined by an sequenced list of nodes and a respective channel to be used between two respective successive nodes in the list. The calculation of the metric value for the route comprises determining a parameter based on the number of nodes respecting the conditions a) and/or b): a) the channel defined for the reception, by a route node, of data of a communication to be established on the route has also been allocated for the transmission by said node of communication data; b) the channel defined for the transmission by a route node of data of a communication to be established on the route has also been allocated for the reception by said node of communication data.