Bridge-Guided Wireless Node Migration for Topology-Safe Centralization

Solution Overview

Problem

There is no well-defined method to transition an existing distributed wireless network, such as Zigbee, to a centralized network without redeploying the entire network, and critical nodes leaving early can lead to unreachable nodes during migration.

Innovation Solution

A method and bridge device that collect topology information to determine a sequence list for nodes to join the centralized network, ensuring critical nodes remain connected by regulating the migration process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If nodes are migrated to centralized network without topology consideration, then migration speed is improved, but network reliability deteriorates due to unreachable nodes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemigration speedVSAvoidnetwork connectivity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by collecting topology information and determining the migration sequence list before the actual migration process begins. The bridge device queries all nodes to obtain topology data and pre-calculates the migration sequence, ensuring that critical nodes (router/parent nodes) are scheduled to migrate after their dependent nodes. This preliminary planning prevents connectivity loss during migration while maintaining efficient organized transition.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If distributed network is transitioned to centralized network without defined method, then network security is improved, but implementation complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork securityVSAvoidmigration implementation complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements self-service by enabling the bridge device to autonomously collect topology information from nodes, determine the migration sequence, and coordinate the migration process without requiring external intervention or manual configuration. The system automatically queries nodes for their topology data, processes this information to generate the migration sequence list, and executes the migration in the determined order, thereby simplifying implementation while achieving secure centralized transition.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Productivity

If router nodes migrate earlier than end nodes, then migration efficiency is improved, but network functionality deteriorates due to lost connectivity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemigration efficiencyVSAvoidnetwork functionality

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by collecting topology information and determining the migration sequence list before the actual migration process begins. The bridge device queries all nodes to obtain topology data and pre-calculates the migration sequence, ensuring that critical nodes (router/parent nodes) are scheduled to migrate after their dependent nodes. This preliminary planning prevents connectivity loss during migration while maintaining efficient organized transition.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent inverts the conventional migration approach by migrating nodes in reverse topological order rather than the natural hierarchy. Instead of migrating router nodes first (which would improve efficiency but lose functionality), the system migrates end nodes first and router nodes later, ensuring that parent nodes remain in the distributed network to maintain connectivity until their child nodes have successfully joined the centralized network.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentEP4578200B1A method for migrating nodes in a distributed network to a centralized network

Publication Date: 2026.01.28 SIGNIFY HOLDING BV

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AI summary

A method (500) for migrating two or more nodes (400) in a distributed wireless network to a centralized wireless network, the method (500) comprising the steps of receiving (S501) by a first bridge device (200) configuration information about the distributed wireless network from a second bridge device (300) in the distributed wireless network; accessing (S502) the distributed wireless network by the first bridge device (200) based on the received configuration information; querying (S503) the two or more nodes (400) in the distributed wireless network by the first bridge device (200) to collect topology information among the two or more nodes (400); determining (S504) by the first bridge device (200) a sequence list for requesting the two or more nodes (400) to join the centralized wireless network based on the topology information; informing (S505) the two or more nodes (400) to join the centralized wireless network according to the sequence list.