Wireless Mesh Network Heterogeneous Node Coexistence
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional networks cannot include both continuously-powered and battery-powered nodes due to differences in communication protocols, which hinders the growth of the 'Internet of Things' by preventing the interconnection of heterogeneous nodes.
Innovation Solution
A wireless mesh network system that uses a homogeneous communication protocol allowing both continuously-powered and battery-powered nodes to coexist, with network management nodes facilitating communication by managing power usage and synchronization through a discovery protocol, forwarding databases, and time beacons.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If different communication protocols are used for continuously-powered nodes and battery-powered nodes, then each node type can optimize its power consumption, but heterogeneous nodes cannot communicate with each other
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a protocol translation mechanism that acts as an intermediary between nodes using different communication protocols. This translator enables heterogeneous nodes (continuously-powered and battery-powered) to communicate while maintaining their respective power optimization strategies, thus resolving the contradiction between node compatibility and power consumption optimization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically adjusts communication protocol parameters based on node power characteristics. Battery-powered nodes use power-saving protocol modes, while continuously-powered nodes use high-performance modes, with automatic parameter adaptation at protocol boundaries to ensure compatibility without sacrificing power optimization.
2Use of energy by moving object
If a single homogeneous communication protocol is used across all nodes, then heterogeneous nodes can communicate, but power-consuming nodes cannot optimize their power usage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the communication protocol into multiple layers and modes, allowing battery-powered nodes to operate in power-optimized modes while continuously-powered nodes use full-performance modes. The protocol stack is divided such that lower layers handle power management differently for each node type, while upper layers maintain universal compatibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic protocol adaptation where communication parameters are adjusted in real-time based on node power status. Battery-powered nodes dynamically switch to low-power modes when needed, while continuously-powered nodes maintain high-performance operation, with automatic negotiation and adaptation between different node types.
3Loss of energy
If battery-powered nodes use power-saving protocols, then they conserve energy, but they cannot communicate with continuously-powered nodes using different protocols
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces protocol translators and gateway nodes that mediate between battery-powered nodes using power-saving protocols and continuously-powered nodes using standard protocols. These intermediaries translate messages between different protocol formats, enabling energy conservation at the battery node level while maintaining full communication capability across the heterogeneous network.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates protocol abstraction layers that copy and adapt communication patterns between different protocol types. Power-saving protocol messages from battery nodes are copied and transformed into equivalent standard protocol messages for continuously-powered nodes, preserving the energy-saving intent while ensuring broad communication compatibility.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A wireless mesh network includes heterogeneous types of nodes, including continuously-powered nodes and battery-powered nodes. The battery-powered nodes may reside in a sleeping state most of the time to conserve power. The various nodes in the network may communicate with one another by transmitting and receiving at scheduled times and on scheduled frequencies. The battery-powered nodes may become active during the scheduled transmit and receive times. Network management nodes may facilitate network formation by transmitting information that reflects the scheduled transmit and receive times across the network. Based on this data, the continuously-powered nodes and battery-powered nodes may establish communication links with one another.