Wireless Mesh Network Configuration with Integrated Wired Interface
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wireless mesh networks experience throughput degradation due to the exponential increase in overhead as the number of daisy chained hops increases, limiting the number of usable hops based on bandwidth requirements.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a high-gain directional link on the first hop from the root access point and an integrated wired interface between the first hop access point and an adjacent access point, allowing subsequent daisy chained nodes to incur only a single hop to the integrated access point, thereby extending the reach without excessive mesh hops and maintaining acceptable performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the number of daisy chained hops is increased to extend wireless reach, then the coverage area is improved, but the throughput degrades exponentially due to increased overhead
Solution Approach 1:
The mesh network is segmented into integrated access point pairs that function as single logical units. Each pair is connected via wired interface, dividing the network into segments that avoid multiple wireless hops while extending coverage area through strategic placement of these integrated units.
Solution Approach 2:
A wired interface is introduced as an intermediary between integrated access point pairs, replacing wireless links for inter-pair communication. This mediator eliminates the throughput degradation associated with multiple wireless hops while maintaining network connectivity and extending coverage.
2Length of stationary object
If conventional wireless mesh networks use multiple daisy chained hops to extend reach, then the wireless coverage is improved, but the bandwidth is halved at each hop limiting usable hops
Solution Approach 1:
The network is divided into integrated access point pairs connected by wired interfaces, creating segments that maintain high bandwidth. Each segment extends wireless reach while the wired backbone preserves bandwidth by avoiding the halving effect of sequential wireless hops.
Solution Approach 2:
A wired interface serves as an intermediary that preserves bandwidth between access point pairs. This intermediary eliminates the bandwidth loss inherent in wireless mesh hopping, allowing extended reach without the exponential bandwidth degradation of conventional approaches.
3Area of stationary object
If the number of intermediate access points is increased to extend coverage, then the wireless reach is improved, but the overhead increases and throughput drops exponentially
Solution Approach 1:
Two access points are merged into an integrated pair connected by wired interface, functioning as a single logical unit. This merging reduces the number of independent nodes in the wireless mesh, thereby reducing overhead while maintaining extended coverage through the paired configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The wired interface acts as an intermediary that eliminates the need for multiple wireless communication steps between pairs. This reduces protocol overhead and processing delays while still enabling extended coverage through the distributed pair architecture.
Data Source
AI summary
A wireless mesh network employs an integrated interface between a plurality of access points for mitigating throughput degradation of multiple consecutive “daisy chain,” or mesh, links. The mesh network employs a plurality of access points, each linked back to a root access point by a series of “hops” through other access points. The wireless mesh network, therefore, employs a plurality of access points operable for wireless links to subscriber, or user, devices, including cellular phones, smart phones, tablet and laptop computing devices, or any suitable portable or handheld computing device. Access points establish an integrated interface with an adjacent access point for direct coupling of the access points for message traffic. The resulting integrated access point establishes a wireless link to a root access point connected to a backhaul network from which media services emanate.