Gateway Node Selection for Hybrid Wireless Network Routing

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Solution Overview

Problem

In ad hoc telecommunication networks, finding an optimal gateway for routing data between nodes and fixed infrastructure networks is challenging, especially in hybrid networks, where existing proactive and reactive schemes either waste bandwidth or overload nearby nodes with traffic, and determining the optimal depth and interval for announcement messages is difficult.

Innovation Solution

A method for selecting 'gateway nodes' with high connectivity to relay traffic between ad hoc and fixed networks, involving centralized or distributed selection, broadcasting announcement messages only to these nodes, and adjusting the proactive zone depth based on active sources and cost criteria to optimize bandwidth usage and reduce traffic on nearby nodes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the gateway periodically broadcasts announcement messages throughout the ad hoc network (proactive scheme), then connectivity between nodes and fixed network is improved, but bandwidth in the ad hoc network is unnecessarily occupied

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveconnectivityVSAvoidbandwidth consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the ad hoc network into a proactive zone (where gateway broadcasts are active) and a reactive zone (where nodes perform local routing decisions). By limiting broadcast scope to only necessary nodes within a determined depth, the system maintains connectivity reliability while reducing unnecessary bandwidth consumption in the entire network.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different parts of the network are treated differently: nodes within the proactive zone receive full gateway broadcast announcements to ensure connectivity, while nodes outside this zone make local routing decisions without receiving comprehensive broadcasts. This local differentiation optimizes both connectivity and bandwidth usage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Loss of energy

If only nodes needing connectivity broadcast solicitation messages (reactive scheme), then bandwidth is saved, but bandwidth is misused when a large number of nodes require connectivity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebandwidth consumptionVSAvoidconnectivity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The gateway performs preliminary action by periodically broadcasting announcement messages to nodes within the proactive zone before data transmission occurs. This pre-establishes routing information for nodes that will need connectivity, eliminating the need for reactive solicitation broadcasts when many nodes simultaneously require access to the fixed network.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Loss of energy

If gateway broadcasts announcement messages up to a determined depth (hybrid scheme), then bandwidth consumption is reduced, but determining the optimal depth and time interval is difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebandwidth consumptionVSAvoidparameter determination complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic adjustment of the proactive zone depth and broadcast interval based on network conditions. The gateway monitors node mobility, traffic patterns, and connectivity requirements to adaptively modify these parameters in real-time, transforming static parameter determination into a dynamic optimization process that responds to actual network state.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where gateway nodes report their status and traffic requirements back to the gateway. This feedback enables the gateway to adjust the proactive zone depth and broadcast timing intervals based on actual network demand, simplifying parameter determination through data-driven optimization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

4Reliability

If mobile nodes located one hop from the gateway relay traffic between other nodes and the gateway, then connectivity is improved, but these nodes are heavily stressed by traffic and may not have sufficient capacity

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveconnectivityVSAvoidnode traffic load
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStress or pressure

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces intermediate relay nodes (gateway nodes) that are specifically selected and positioned to mediate traffic between ad hoc network nodes and the gateway. These intermediate nodes are strategically chosen to have sufficient capacity and optimal positioning, distributing the traffic load more evenly across the network rather than concentrating it on nodes immediately adjacent to the gateway.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The network is segmented into multiple relay paths through the selection of multiple gateway nodes. By distributing traffic across multiple intermediate relay nodes rather than relying on a single gateway or nodes one hop away, the system reduces the traffic stress on individual nodes while maintaining overall connectivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP2119147B1Methods and devices for discovering a gateway and for routing towards said gateway in a hybrid wireless network
Publication Date: 2018.08.22 ORANGE SA
  • EP2119147B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP2119147B1 patent drawingFigure 4
  • EP2119147B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

The invention relates to a gateway (25) between an ad-hoc network (5) and a fixed network (2) in a hybrid telecommunication network (1), that selects at least one so-called “gateway” node (10'), among candidate nodes (10) of the ad-hoc network (5) located at one jump from said gateway (25) and having a connectivity with said gateway (25) higher than a predetermined threshold, for relaying at least a portion of the traffic between other nodes (10) of the ad-hoc network (5) and the gateway (25).