MANET Conglomerated Broadcast Reply Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Mobile ad-hoc networks (MANETs) face challenges in efficient broadcast message reply processes due to the lack of fixed infrastructure, leading to imbalance in workload and increased battery drain and bandwidth usage, especially for nodes closer to the command/control platform.

Innovation Solution

A MANET system where a given mobile node receives a broadcast message, forwards it to downstream nodes, and waits for a reply from the downstream node before sending its own reply, or sends it if a predetermined reply time expires, thereby conglomerating replies to reduce transmissions and conserve bandwidth and battery power.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If nodes forward broadcast messages and send separate replies, then all nodes can respond to the broadcast, but the number of transmissions increases and bandwidth is consumed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebroadcast reply completenessVSAvoidbandwidth consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple separate reply transmissions into a single conglomerated reply transmission. Intermediate nodes collect replies from downstream nodes and forward them together in one transmission, reducing the total number of transmissions and bandwidth consumption while ensuring all nodes respond to the broadcast message.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If nodes closer to command/control platform forward messages and send replies, then broadcast coverage is achieved, but workload imbalance and battery drain increase for these nodes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebroadcast coverageVSAvoidbattery power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges reply transmissions at intermediate nodes, so that multiple replies are sent in one transmission. This reduces the total number of transmissions that nodes closer to the command/control platform must handle, thereby reducing their workload and energy consumption while maintaining full broadcast coverage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Loss of energy

If intermediate nodes wait for downstream node replies before sending their own, then replies can be conglomerated to reduce transmissions, but the reply time may be delayed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebandwidth conservationVSAvoidreply time

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a timeout mechanism where intermediate nodes wait for a predetermined period for downstream nodes to reply. If replies are received within this period, they are conglomerated and sent together. If the timeout expires, the intermediate node sends its own reply, ensuring timely response while still allowing for potential consolidation when possible.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS7468954B2Mobile ad-hoc network providing expedited conglomerated broadcast message reply features and related methods

Publication Date: 2008.12.23 STINGRAY IP SOLUTIONS LLC

AI summary

A MANET may include a plurality of mobile nodes and wireless communications links therebetween. A given mobile node along a route in the MANET may be for receiving a broadcast message inviting replies from mobile nodes along the route, forwarding the broadcast message to at least one downstream mobile node along the route, and waiting for the at least one downstream mobile node to reply based upon the forwarded broadcast message. Moreover, the given mobile node may also send a reply to the broadcast message at the earlier of either the least one downstream mobile node sending a reply to the forwarded broadcast message or a given reply time expiring.