LoRaWAN Gateway Hopping Communication for Backhaul Failure
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Solution Overview
Problem
LoRaWAN networks face congestion and communication failures due to long-distance transmission capabilities, which are exacerbated by the lack of defined peer-to-peer communication protocols and the inability to handle continuous data transmission from sensor devices when backhaul lines become unavailable.
Innovation Solution
A communication system with gateways and a network server that implement connectivity confirmation, data transfer, and hopping communication mechanisms to manage data routing based on connectivity confirmation results and prioritize communication through different base stations, preventing congestion by discarding redundant data transfers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If LoRaWAN performs broadcast communication to transmit data to all gateways within range, then data can be transmitted over long distances, but communication congestion occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the broadcast communication into targeted unicast communications. When a gateway detects backhaul line failure, instead of broadcasting to all gateways, it establishes point-to-point connections with specific relay gateways based on connectivity confirmation results. This segmentation reduces the number of simultaneous transmissions and prevents congestion while maintaining long-distance capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces relay gateways as intermediaries in the data transmission path. When the primary backhaul line fails, data is routed through intermediate gateways that have confirmed connectivity to the network server. This intermediary approach enables long-distance transmission while controlling communication load by using only necessary relay nodes.
2Adaptability or versatility
If LoRaWAN uses broadcast communication for data transmission, then data can reach multiple gateways, but redundant transmissions cause congestion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary actions by having gateways confirm connectivity with the network server in advance through base station communication. This pre-established connectivity information is stored and used later when backhaul line failure occurs, enabling rapid routing decisions without redundant transmissions. The preliminary connectivity confirmation reduces communication load during failure scenarios while maintaining routing flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic routing where the communication path is adjusted based on real-time connectivity conditions. When backhaul line failure is detected, the system dynamically switches from direct gateway-to-server communication to multi-hop relay communication through gateways with confirmed connectivity. This dynamic adaptation provides routing flexibility while preventing congestion by activating only necessary transmission paths.
3Reliability
If connectivity confirmation is performed through base station communication, then routing decisions can be made, but the process takes time and cannot prevent congestion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs connectivity confirmation in advance through base station communication and stores the results locally at each gateway. When backhaul line failure occurs, gateways immediately use this pre-obtained connectivity information to make routing decisions without waiting for time-consuming confirmation processes. This preliminary action maintains high routing accuracy while eliminating the time delay that would otherwise cause congestion.
4Reliability
If LoRaWAN gateways transmit data to all reachable gateways, then data can be routed through alternative paths, but the number of transmissions increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the set of all reachable gateways into two groups: those with confirmed connectivity to the network server and those without. When backhaul line failure occurs, data is transmitted only to gateways in the confirmed connectivity group, rather than broadcasting to all reachable gateways. This segmentation maintains communication continuity through reliable relay paths while significantly reducing the number of transmissions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different transmission strategies to different gateways based on their local connectivity quality. Gateways with confirmed connectivity to the network server receive and forward data, while gateways without confirmed connectivity do not participate in the relay. This local quality differentiation ensures communication continuity through reliable nodes while minimizing the total number of transmissions by excluding nodes that cannot contribute to successful delivery.
Data Source
AI summary
A communication system includes gateways and a network server. Each gateway includes a data transmission/reception unit that transmits data to a base station, a connectivity confirmation unit that transmits a result of confirming connectivity with another gateway to the network server, a data transfer unit that transfers data to an unspecified gateway when a communication failure occurs, and a hopping communication unit that processes transfer data based on a hopping rule. The network server includes a data reception unit, a connectivity confirmation result reception unit, and a hopping rule distribution unit that generates and distributes the hopping rule based on a criterion for giving a priority to a transfer from the gateway camping on a different base station.