Mesh Network Bridge Routing via Alias Translation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mesh network technologies, such as ZigBee, face challenges in facilitating communication between external networks and specific mesh network nodes due to their unique addressing schemes and lack of direct access to node addresses, making it difficult for central management systems to efficiently manage and communicate with nodes across different network types.
Innovation Solution
A wireless mesh network server that acts as a centralized registry, allowing nodes to be registered with both extended addresses and aliases, enabling communication with nodes using network protocols other than ZigBee without requiring knowledge of the ZigBee addressing scheme, and providing a gateway for message forwarding and data translation between different network types.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If mesh network nodes use unique addressing schemes (e.g., ZigBee addresses), then network communication reliability is improved, but compatibility with external networks and ease of management deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a mesh network server as an intermediary component that bridges external networks and mesh network nodes. The server maintains a registry of node aliases and their corresponding ZigBee addresses, enabling external networks to communicate with mesh nodes through user-friendly aliases without needing to understand the proprietary ZigBee addressing scheme. This mediator resolves the contradiction by preserving the reliability of unique ZigBee addresses while providing ease of management through alias-based access from external networks.
2Measurement precision
If mesh network nodes are assigned unique ZigBee addresses, then routing precision is improved, but device complexity for external network integration increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the addressing system into two independent layers: the internal ZigBee addressing layer for precise routing within the mesh network, and the external alias layer for simplified network access. The mesh network server maintains a registry that maps aliases to ZigBee addresses, allowing external networks to use simple aliases while the server handles the complex translation to precise ZigBee addresses for routing. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by isolating routing precision requirements from external integration complexity.
3Area of stationary object
If multiple mesh networks are deployed in remote locations, then network coverage is improved, but centralized management capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the mesh network server with universal functionality that can manage multiple mesh networks through a single interface. The server maintains registries for multiple networks, each mapping aliases to ZigBee addresses, and provides unified access mechanisms for communicating with nodes across different networks. This multi-functional design enables improved network coverage through multiple deployed mesh networks while maintaining centralized management capability through the universal server interface.
Data Source
AI summary
A wireless mesh network server is operable to receive a message to one or more mesh network nodes from a client external to the mesh network, the message comprising an alias identifying the one or more mesh network nodes. The server is further operable to identify the one or more receiving mesh network nodes by the received message alias via an alias table, and forward the received message to the one or more mesh network nodes identified by the alias.