Wireless Control Network Commissioning for Hybrid Mesh Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless control systems with large and high-density networks face inefficiencies due to frequent collisions and redundant message transmissions, particularly in flooding-based routing, which can lead to network storms and reduced performance.
Innovation Solution
A method to configure a hybrid network topology combining a sparse core mesh network with many small star networks by assigning router and non-router nodes based on neighboring relationships, enabling efficient multi-hop routing and reducing interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If flooding-based routing is used to distribute control messages to a large number of nodes, then message distribution coverage is improved, but network traffic volume increases leading to collisions and reduced efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the network into two functional types of nodes: router nodes that perform multi-hop routing and relaying messages, and non-router nodes that only receive and process messages locally. This segmentation reduces the number of nodes participating in message relaying, thereby reducing network traffic volume and collisions while maintaining comprehensive message distribution coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different operational qualities to different nodes based on their location and role. Router nodes are configured with multi-hop routing capability to forward messages through the network, while non-router nodes are configured to disable multi-hop routing and operate as leaf nodes. This local differentiation optimizes network efficiency by having only necessary nodes participate in routing.
2Reliability
If all nodes are configured as routers to ensure network coverage, then connectivity is improved, but device complexity and commissioning time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service through automatic neighbor relationship establishment and autonomous node role assignment. Nodes automatically discover and record their neighboring relationships, and the commissioning system automatically identifies and configures nodes as either router or non-router based on their network position and requirements, eliminating manual commissioning complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary actions by automatically establishing neighbor relationships between nodes before full network operation begins. This preliminary neighbor discovery and recording enables the system to automatically determine optimal router assignments without requiring manual intervention or complex commissioning procedures.
3Reliability
If nodes repeatedly transmit messages to ensure delivery, then message delivery reliability is improved, but network traffic volume and collisions increase
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting nodes into routers and non-routers, the patent reduces the number of nodes that repeatedly transmit messages. Only router nodes perform multi-hop relaying with potential retransmissions, while non-router nodes receive messages once and process them locally, significantly reducing total network traffic volume and energy consumption while maintaining delivery reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
To improve the efficiency and reliability of communication in a large and high-density wireless network 100, it is beneficial to assign a subset of the plurality of nodes 500 being router nodes 200, and the rest of the nodes being non-router nodes 300. Thus, the dense wireless network 100 splits into a sparse core mesh network and many small star networks around each router node 200. However, to commission the plurality of nodes into such a hybrid topology can be quite complex and time-consuming. This invention discloses a commissioning method that makes use of one or more neighboring relationship established among the plurality of nodes to derive a proper role for an individual node, and then to configure the individual node to operate according to the role assigned. The disclosed commissioning method may be carried out semi-automatically or automatically.