Hybrid Network Gateway Protocol Conversion

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Solution Overview

Problem

The integration of Power Line Communication (PLC) and Radio Frequency (RF) technologies in hybrid networks is hindered by significant differences in their physical and link layers, making it difficult to establish efficient communication across transformers and in challenging environments like underground and tunnel settings.

Innovation Solution

A gateway device manages communication by receiving association requests from multimode devices supporting both PLC and RF protocols, obtaining IPv6 addresses, and recording correspondences between MAC addresses and physical interfaces, allowing packets to be routed appropriately across different interfaces without requiring the application layer to sense and select networks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If PLC technology is used for hybrid networking, then high bandwidth and wall-penetration capability are achieved, but communication across transformers is not supported

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication reliabilityVSAvoidnetwork adaptability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The gateway device serves as an intermediary between PLC and RF networks, performing protocol conversion and packet routing. It receives packets from one network type, converts the protocol format, and forwards to the appropriate network, enabling communication across the transformer barrier that PLC alone cannot overcome

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If RF mesh network is constructed to enlarge coverage area, then device deployment flexibility is improved, but wireless signal strength deteriorates in underground and tunnel environments

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice deployment flexibilityVSAvoidcommunication reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges PLC and RF network technologies into a hybrid architecture where PLC handles backbone communication through transformers and underground infrastructure, while RF provides wireless access in suitable areas. The gateway devices coordinate both networks to provide comprehensive coverage and reliable communication

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Adaptability or versatility

If PLC and RF technologies are integrated in hybrid networking, then advantages of each technology are highlighted, but implementation difficulty increases due to differences in physical and link layers

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork versatilityVSAvoidimplementation complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the hybrid network into distinct functional layers: PLC network segment, RF network segment, and gateway conversion segment. Each segment operates independently with its own protocol stack, while gateways handle the protocol conversion between segments, simplifying overall implementation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Gateway devices act as mediators between PLC and RF networks, performing protocol conversion at the physical and link layers. The gateways receive packets from one network type, convert the protocol format, and forward to the appropriate network, abstracting away the complexity of direct PLC-RF integration

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Adaptability or versatility

If application layer senses and selects network, then network selection adaptability is achieved, but communication efficiency decreases due to sensing overhead

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork selection capabilityVSAvoidcommunication efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of having the application layer sense and select networks (bottom-up approach), the patent implements a top-down approach where the network infrastructure (gateways and routing layer) automatically routes packets based on destination and network status. This eliminates sensing overhead while maintaining adaptability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentEP4012986B1Communication method for hybrid network, device and system

Publication Date: 2023.11.22 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD

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AI summary

A hybrid network communication method is disclosed. A gateway device receives a first association request of a multimode device through a first physical interface, where the first association request includes a MAC address of a second physical interface of the multimode device. The gateway device receives a second association request of the multimode device through a third physical interface, where the second association request includes a MAC address of a fourth physical interface of the multimode device. The gateway device obtains an IPv6 address of the multimode device, and records a first correspondence and a second correspondence. The first correspondence includes the IPv6 address of the multimode device, the MAC address of the second physical interface, and the first physical interface. The second correspondence includes the IPv6 address of the multimode device, the MAC address of the fourth physical interface, and the third physical interface. In this way, any physical interface may be selected based on the IPv6 address of the multimode device to access the multimode device without sensing a link-layer forwarding path. This improves flexibility and communication quality of a hybrid network.