Mesh Network Gateway Failover Mechanism

Solution Overview

Problem

In wireless mesh networks, the failure of a gateway or network controller leads to loss of time synchronization among RF devices, causing inefficient communication and reduced battery life, as devices remain active for longer periods to achieve synchronization, and hinders new nodes from joining the network.

Innovation Solution

An apparatus and method that designates an alternate node to provide network timing synchronization signals when the primary gateway fails, reducing network reformation time and increasing battery life by enabling nodes to maintain connectivity and synchronize independently.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the primary gateway device is used to provide time synchronization to all RF devices, then network devices can maintain synchronized wakeup and sleep cycles, but the network becomes vulnerable to gateway failure causing loss of time basis and communication inefficiency

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork connectivity reliabilityVSAvoidgateway failure impact

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces intermediary devices (secondary gateways or alternative primary devices) that can assume the time synchronization role when the primary gateway fails. These intermediaries act as mediators to maintain the time basis for RF devices, ensuring continuous network operation without complete dependency on a single gateway device.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-configuring alternative primary devices and establishing backup time synchronization capabilities before gateway failure occurs. This allows the network to quickly transition to an alternative time basis provider, minimizing disruption to RF device synchronization and communication efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If RF devices remain active for longer periods to achieve synchronization after gateway failure, then time synchronization can be restored, but battery power consumption increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetime synchronization maintenanceVSAvoidbattery power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-configuring alternative primary devices and establishing backup time synchronization capabilities before gateway failure occurs. This allows the network to quickly transition to an alternative time basis provider, minimizing disruption to RF device synchronization and communication efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback mechanisms where RF devices monitor the availability and performance of the primary gateway device. When gateway failure is detected, the feedback triggers automatic reconfiguration to alternative time synchronization sources, enabling devices to resume synchronized operation without prolonged active periods that would drain battery power.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Ease of operation

If a single primary gateway device is used for network management, then network control is simplified, but new nodes cannot join the network when the gateway fails

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork management simplicityVSAvoidnew node integration capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-configuring alternative primary devices and establishing backup time synchronization capabilities before gateway failure occurs. This allows the network to quickly transition to an alternative time basis provider, minimizing disruption to RF device synchronization and communication efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes operational parameters by transitioning from a single-primary gateway model to a multi-primary or backup-primary model. This parameter change enables the network to maintain management capabilities and accept new nodes even when the original primary gateway fails, improving both adaptability and resilience while maintaining operational simplicity through automated failover mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS7995467B2Apparatus and method for adapting to failures in gateway devices in mesh networks

Publication Date: 2011.08.09 VIGILENT CORP

AI summary

Various embodiments provide an apparatus and method for adapting to failures in gateway devices in mesh networks. An example embodiment is configured to provide a plurality of interconnected nodes in a mesh network, at least one node of the plurality of nodes being designated a primary node, the primary node providing timing synchronization for other nodes of the plurality of nodes; and the primary node to designate another one of the plurality of nodes as a secondary node, the secondary node only providing timing synchronization for other nodes of the plurality of nodes when the primary node fails to provide the timing synchronization.