Mesh Network Commissioning Dataset Synchronization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wireless mesh networks face challenges in maintaining secure communication when partitions form due to radio frequency interference or device failures, leading to discrepancies in commissioning datasets that hinder network merging and device synchronization.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a distributed coordination mechanism that uses a pending commissioning dataset with a delay timer and timestamps to ensure all devices in a mesh network transition to an updated commissioning dataset simultaneously, managing differences across partitions and maintaining secure communication by propagating the most recent commissioning dataset.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If devices operate on battery power by sleeping radio and network interfaces for extended periods, then energy consumption is reduced, but network synchronization and commissioning dataset updates become difficult to coordinate across partitions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by having devices pre-synchronize their delay timer values before entering sleep mode. The leader device calculates a delay timer that accounts for the maximum sleep duration of battery-powered devices, ensuring all devices wake up simultaneously to apply commissioning dataset updates. This pre-coordination allows energy-efficient sleeping while maintaining reliable network synchronization.
2Reliability
If a mesh network partitions due to radio frequency interference or device failure, then local communication within partitions can continue, but commissioning dataset discrepancies prevent successful merging when partitions reconnect
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by having the leader device compare pending commissioning dataset timestamps from different partitions upon reconnection. When partitions merge, the leader receives pending datasets from each partition, compares their timestamps, and propagates the most recent dataset throughout the merged network. This feedback mechanism ensures all devices synchronize to the latest commissioning dataset, enabling successful network merging while maintaining adaptability.
3Reliability
If a commissioner attaches to one partition and updates the commissioning dataset, then security is improved in that partition, but other partitions cannot merge due to dataset differences
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements merging by consolidating commissioning dataset management through the leader device. When partitions merge, the leader combines the pending datasets from all partitions, compares timestamps to identify the most recent version, and propagates this unified dataset throughout the entire network. This merging approach maintains security improvements from individual partition updates while simplifying dataset management across the distributed network.
Data Source
AI summary
In embodiments of distributed coordination of mesh network configuration updates, pending commissioning datasets are managed and distributed to coordinate configuration changes of parameters that control participation in, and secure communication over, a mesh network. Pending network commissioning datasets are managed across fragmentation of the mesh network into multiple partitions and subsequent merging of the fragments to ensure that the most recent updates to pending commissioning datasets are propagated to mesh network devices and that all mesh network devices will receive pending commissioning datasets before the time that the pending commissioning dataset becomes the active commissioning dataset for the mesh network.