Dynamic Multicast Strategy for Mobile Mesh Networks

Solution Overview

Problem

In highly mobile mesh networks, the standard multicast method of flooding leads to excessive redundant packet rebroadcasting, causing network congestion and failure due to the redundancy and increased noise, which diminishes communication quality and efficiency, especially in large and dynamic environments.

Innovation Solution

Implement a dynamic multicast strategy where nodes only rebroadcast packets to neighboring nodes with 'good quality' links, determined by an embedded computer program that assesses the cost of packet transmission, ensuring that only necessary rebroadcasts occur, thereby minimizing congestion and maintaining network performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If standard multicast flooding is used in mesh networks, then every node receives the multicast message, but network congestion occurs due to exponential packet multiplication

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemulticast delivery reliabilityVSAvoidnetwork throughput

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by making each node's rebroadcasting behavior adaptive to local conditions. Nodes assess their outgoing link qualities and selectively rebroadcast packets only on links deemed 'good quality' based on local assessments of link stability and current traffic conditions. This local decision-making prevents uniform flooding while ensuring reliable delivery on viable paths.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamics by making the multicast rebroadcasting process adaptive and dynamic rather than static. Nodes continuously assess link qualities and adjust their rebroadcasting behavior in real-time based on changing network conditions. This dynamic approach allows the system to adapt to mobile nodes and varying link qualities, preventing congestion while maintaining delivery reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If all nodes rebroadcast received packets, then multicast coverage is maximized, but redundant transmissions cause network failure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemulticast coverageVSAvoidnetwork stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by making each node's rebroadcasting behavior adaptive to local conditions. Nodes assess their outgoing link qualities and selectively rebroadcast packets only on links deemed 'good quality' based on local assessments of link stability and current traffic conditions. This local decision-making prevents uniform flooding while ensuring reliable delivery on viable paths.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies partial action by having nodes perform selective rather than complete rebroadcasting. Instead of all nodes uniformly rebroadcasting on all links, each node partially rebroadcasts only on a subset of its outgoing links that are assessed as having good quality. This partial action maintains sufficient coverage while avoiding the excessive packet multiplication that causes network failure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Reliability

If flooding is used to ensure packet delivery, then all nodes receive packets, but communication quality deteriorates due to increased noise

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepacket delivery guaranteeVSAvoidcommunication noise

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by making each node's rebroadcasting behavior adaptive to local conditions. Nodes assess their outgoing link qualities and selectively rebroadcast packets only on links deemed 'good quality' based on local assessments of link stability and current traffic conditions. This local decision-making prevents uniform flooding while ensuring reliable delivery on viable paths.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the potentially harmful effect of repeated packet transmissions into a benefit by using selective rebroadcasting. Instead of allowing redundant packets to create noise, the system uses local quality assessments to redirect transmissions only through beneficial paths, converting what would be harmful redundancy into useful reinforcement of delivery on reliable links.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Data Source

PatentUS10375597B2System and method for multicast over highly mobile mesh networks

Publication Date: 2019.08.06 RAJANT CORP

AI summary

Systems, devices, and methodology for removing echo and reducing congestion in multicast (broadcast) over a dynamic self-healing mobile mesh network, by use of discrete embedded computers synchronously tracking mesh connections and link quality across multiple RF connections, keeping multicast both efficient and effective in a highly kinetic, ever changing, mesh topology.