Wireless Mesh Network Delay Optimization via Distance-Based Parameter Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Large-scale wireless mesh networks face scalability issues due to high end-to-end retransmission delays and data packet losses, particularly in outdoor lighting systems with many luminaire nodes, where data packets often travel multiple hops, leading to reduced network throughput and increased delays.

Innovation Solution

A device and method that adjust transmission parameters based on the distance traveled by data packets, prioritizing long-traveled packets to increase their survival chances and reduce end-to-end delays, by modifying parameters such as maximum retransmissions, transmit power, and back-off times, and dynamically adjusting these parameters based on the distance and packet type.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If data packets are transmitted through multiple hops in large-scale wireless mesh networks, then network coverage and connectivity are improved, but end-to-end retransmission delays increase and packet delivery reliability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork coverageVSAvoidend-to-end retransmission delay
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent dynamically changes transmission parameters (power level, retransmission attempts, back-off times) based on the hop distance of data packets. Long-traveled packets receive increased transmission power and more retransmission attempts, while short-traveled packets use standard parameters. This parameter adaptation resolves the contradiction by compensating for the increased delay risk in multi-hop transmissions without unnecessarily increasing delays for short-distance packets.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If transmission parameters are increased for long-traveled data packets to improve delivery reliability, then packet loss is reduced, but network energy consumption and interference increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepacket delivery reliabilityVSAvoidnetwork energy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different transmission quality levels to different data packets based on their specific needs. Long-traveled packets receive enhanced transmission parameters (higher power, more retries) only when necessary, while short-traveled packets use standard parameters. This localized quality adjustment improves overall reliability without uniformly increasing energy consumption across the network.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Device complexity

If uniform retransmission time-out values are used for all data packets, then system complexity is reduced, but end-to-end delay homogeneity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem complexityVSAvoidend-to-end delay homogeneity
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the retransmission time-out value dynamic rather than uniform. The time-out is adjusted based on the hop distance of each data packet, with longer timeouts for long-traveled packets and shorter timeouts for short-traveled packets. This dynamic adjustment maintains delay homogeneity across the network while managing complexity through a systematic adjustment rule rather than complex per-packet optimization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP2622800B2System for delay optimization of end-to-end data packet transmissions in wireless networks
Publication Date: 2020.03.18 SIGNIFY HOLDING BV
  • EP2622800B2 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2622800B2 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP2622800B2 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

For reducing and homogenizing an end-to-end delay of data packet transmissions in a large-scale wireless mesh network, a device, a system and a method are provided for controlling data packet transmission in the wireless network, wherein transmission parameters of an intermediate node are adjusted based on a distance between the intermediate node and a sender node.