Bluetooth Mesh Path Handover Using Backup Intermediate Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
In wireless mesh networks, especially Bluetooth mesh networks, intermediate devices often disconnect due to mobility, low battery, or high load, leading to increased system latency and overhead as new paths need to be established, causing network performance issues.
Innovation Solution
The described techniques implement improved path handover methods where intermediate devices can transfer forwarding responsibilities to secondary or backup devices, updating forwarding tables and performing handover procedures without requiring new path establishment, using handover addresses included in path response messages.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If intermediate devices disconnect due to mobility, low battery, or high load, then network adaptability is improved, but system latency increases and network performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-establishing backup forwarding paths and storing handover address information during the initial path setup phase. When an intermediate device disconnects, the network can immediately switch to the pre-prepared backup path without needing to perform time-consuming path rediscovery procedures, thus resolving the contradiction between network adaptability and system latency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces handover address information as an intermediary element that enables seamless path switching. This handover address serves as a mediator between the primary path and backup path, allowing the network to transition between forwarding devices without interruption, thereby maintaining low latency while improving adaptability to device disconnections.
2Reliability
If new paths are established after intermediate device disconnection, then network reliability is improved, but network overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring backup forwarding paths and storing handover address information during the initial path establishment phase. This eliminates the need to perform energy-consuming path rediscovery procedures when devices disconnect, as the backup paths are already prepared and can be activated immediately, thus reducing network overhead while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies discarding and recovering by maintaining dormant backup path information that can be quickly activated when needed. Instead of permanently establishing multiple active paths (which would increase overhead), the system discards the backup paths when not needed and recovers them only when a disconnection occurs, optimizing the balance between reliability and network overhead.
3Productivity
If path handover procedures are implemented, then network performance is maintained, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces handover address information as a simple intermediary mechanism that enables path switching without complex procedures. The handover address acts as a straightforward pointer that intermediate devices can use to identify backup forwarding paths, eliminating the need for complex path handover protocols while maintaining network performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies self-service by enabling intermediate devices to autonomously perform path switching using the pre-stored handover address information. Each device independently manages its own path handover based on local information, without requiring complex centralized control or coordination with other network entities, thus maintaining performance while minimizing device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications in a mesh network are described. During a path establishment procedure, a source device may broadcast a path request message, which may be forwarded (e.g., broadcast) by intermediate devices downstream through the mesh network to a destination device. Devices, starting with the destination device and continued upstream through intermediate devices along a path to be established, may feedback path response messages to establish a path between the destination device and the source device. Path response messages transmitted upstream through the mesh network may each include a handover address of a backup intermediate device. Therefore, upon reception of a path response message, an intermediate device selected for path establishment to a destination device may identify a handover address of a backup intermediate device. The intermediate device may perform a handover procedure with the backup intermediate device if a handover condition has been satisfied.