Wireless Mesh Controller Resynchronization via Inverted Timing Pulses

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Solution Overview

Problem

In wireless mesh networks with sleeping nodes, if the controller loses sleep timing information, it may fail to communicate with the network during brief awake periods, leading to delayed resynchronization with the mesh network.

Innovation Solution

A rapid series of synchronization pulses or signals is sent by the controller to indicate lost synchronization, allowing nearby nodes to detect and respond with sleep timing information, enabling the controller to resynchronize without resetting the network nodes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the controller sends traditional synchronization signals, then the mesh network nodes can maintain their sleep schedules, but the controller cannot resynchronize if it loses sleep timing information during brief awake periods

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontroller resynchronization capabilityVSAvoidcommunication failure duration

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of the controller sending synchronization signals to nodes (traditional approach), the invention inverts the approach by having nodes send their sleep timing information back to the controller when they detect the rapid synchronization pulses. This allows the controller to resynchronize by receiving timing data from nodes rather than imposing it on them.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The mesh network nodes continuously maintain accurate sleep timing information in advance, so when the controller needs to resynchronize, it can quickly obtain pre-computed timing data from nearby nodes without needing to recalculate or wait for extended periods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If the controller sends a rapid series of synchronization pulses, then nearby nodes can detect and respond with timing information, but the communication window must be extremely brief

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesynchronization recoveryVSAvoidtiming synchronization precision

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The invention implements a feedback mechanism where nodes detect the rapid synchronization pulses and automatically respond by sending their current sleep timing information back to the controller. This closed-loop feedback allows the controller to acquire accurate timing data quickly and resynchronize without prolonged communication attempts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If sleeping nodes wake up frequently to check for controller signals, then they can detect lost synchronization, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesynchronization detectionVSAvoidnode power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention uses periodic rapid synchronization pulses sent by the controller at predetermined intervals rather than requiring continuous monitoring by nodes. Nodes wake up at their scheduled times and can detect these periodic pulses, maintaining synchronization reliability while allowing nodes to remain in low-power sleep mode between periods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentUS9351267B2Wireless mesh network controller synchronization

Publication Date: 2016.05.24 DIGI INTERNATIONAL

AI summary

A set sleep period is coordinated among a plurality of mesh network nodes to conserve power. A controller is synchronized with an existing wireless mesh network by sending a network synchronization signal from the controller indicating that sleep timing information is lost, and receiving a reply from one or more wireless mesh network nodes within the existing wireless mesh network comprising sleep timing information for the wireless mesh network.