Hybrid Ad-Hoc Network Static Backbone Routing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing mobile ad-hoc networks face scalability issues due to the dynamically changing topology, leading to bandwidth overload from frequent control messages needed to maintain node position information, and previous solutions do not effectively optimize routing and resource management.

Innovation Solution

A hybrid mobile ad-hoc network is introduced, featuring static network nodes that form a backbone infrastructure, allowing mobile nodes to utilize these static nodes for location-aware information dissemination, with static nodes operating in active or hibernating states and periodically transmitting beacons to maintain connectivity and reduce overhead.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If nodes maintain global topology information to optimize routing decisions, then routing efficiency is improved, but network bandwidth is overwhelmed by control messages

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverouting efficiencyVSAvoidnetwork bandwidth consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the network into hierarchical levels: backbone nodes maintain global topology information while mobile nodes only maintain local topology information. This segmentation allows routing decisions to be made with limited local information, reducing control message overhead while maintaining routing efficiency through the structured backbone infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different node types are assigned different information maintenance responsibilities: backbone nodes maintain comprehensive global topology information, while mobile nodes maintain only local topology information about their immediate neighbors. This local quality approach optimizes the balance between routing efficiency and bandwidth consumption by matching information maintenance effort to node capabilities and mobility patterns.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If nodes frequently update position information to track dynamic topology, then connectivity is maintained, but network scalability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveend-to-end connectivityVSAvoidnetwork scalability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The network is segmented into mobile nodes and backbone nodes with different update responsibilities. Mobile nodes perform lightweight local updates, while backbone nodes perform periodic global topology discovery. This segmentation maintains connectivity reliability without requiring all nodes to participate in frequent global updates, thereby improving network scalability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Backbone nodes perform periodic topology discovery and update operations at optimized intervals, rather than continuously or on every topology change. This periodic action maintains connectivity reliability by ensuring topology information is refreshed at appropriate intervals while avoiding the scalability problems of continuous updates.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

3Device complexity

If GPS-based protocols use only one-hop neighbor information for routing, then computational resources are reduced, but routing optimization capability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomputational resource requirementVSAvoidrouting optimization capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

Routing optimization is segmented between node types: backbone nodes with computational capability perform complex routing optimization using global topology information, while mobile nodes with limited computational resources perform simpler local routing decisions. This segmentation allows the system to achieve good routing optimization overall without requiring high computational resources at every node.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Backbone nodes act as intermediaries that aggregate global topology information and provide optimized routing guidance to mobile nodes. This intermediary approach allows mobile nodes to make better routing decisions than pure one-hop protocols without requiring them to perform complex computations, thereby improving routing optimization capability while keeping device complexity low at mobile nodes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP1958469B1Framework for hybrid ad-hoc networks
Publication Date: 2014.04.23 TELCORDIA LICENSING CO LLC
  • EP1958469B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP1958469B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

A hybrid mobile ad-hoc network and a method of operating the same, including a mobile network node and a plurality of static network nodes randomly distributed over a coverage area with a predetermined density. The static network nodes form a static infrastructure backbone of the hybrid mobile ad-hoc network. Position information of the static network nodes, either through position awareness or triangulation with reference to other static nodes enhances the network function. The method tracks mobile node position with a minimum of overhead because of the fixed infrastructure of static nodes. The infrastructure can self-heal by placing excess static nodes in a hibernating state, and activating those in response to the failure of a nearby static node.