Mesh Network Provisioning via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi Direct
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current Wi-Fi provisioning methods for intelligent devices, such as SoftAP and Sniffer modes, suffer from poor user experience, insecurity, and low speed, especially when provisioning hundreds of devices, due to complex network environments and the need for manual intervention and cleartext password transmission.
Innovation Solution
A mesh network provisioning method using Bluetooth to scan and connect mesh devices within a preset range, sending mesh network configuration information, including SSID, password, and SoftAP settings, to enable simultaneous provisioning of multiple devices with improved speed and security.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If SoftAP-based provisioning mode is used, then configuration success is ensured, but user experience deteriorates due to requiring mobile phone to disconnect from router and reconnect
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a Wi-Fi direct connection as an intermediary channel between the mobile terminal and mesh device for configuration purposes. This allows the mobile phone to maintain its connection to the router while simultaneously establishing a separate Wi-Fi direct link for provisioning, thus avoiding the need to disconnect and reconnect, resolving the contradiction between reliability and ease of operation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the network communication into two independent channels: the main router connection for internet access and a separate Wi-Fi direct connection for configuration. This segmentation allows both functions to operate simultaneously without interfering with each other, improving user experience while maintaining configuration success rate
2Ease of operation
If intelligent configuration with cleartext password transmission is used, then convenience is improved, but security deteriorates due to easy interception of cleartext passwords
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the transmission parameter of the password from cleartext to encrypted form. The mobile terminal encrypts the Wi-Fi password before transmitting it through the Wi-Fi direct connection, and the mesh device decrypts it to obtain the configuration information. This parameter change maintains configuration convenience while eliminating security risks associated with cleartext transmission
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the insecure cleartext transmission mechanism with an encrypted communication mechanism. By substituting the transmission method from plain text to encrypted data, the system maintains operational convenience while protecting against interception and security threats
3Reliability
If conventional Wi-Fi mesh technologies are used for provisioning hundreds of devices, then individual device provisioning is achieved, but productivity deteriorates due to sequential provisioning taking dozens of minutes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple provisioning operations into a single batch operation. The mobile terminal can simultaneously establish Wi-Fi direct connections with multiple mesh devices and transmit configuration information to all of them at once, rather than provisioning devices one by one. This combining approach maintains reliable provisioning completion while dramatically improving productivity when deploying hundreds of devices
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary connection establishment with multiple devices before actual configuration transmission. The mobile terminal first sets up Wi-Fi direct links with all target mesh devices, then proceeds with bulk configuration delivery. This preliminary action enables efficient batch provisioning, resolving the contradiction between reliable provisioning and fast deployment speed
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed in the present invention is a method for provisioning a mesh network, the provisioning method comprising: a mobile terminal scans one or more mesh devices within a preset distance range thereof; the mobile terminal communicatively connects with the one or more mesh devices and sends mesh network configuration information to the one or more mesh devices, and the one or more mesh devices completes the provisioning. In the present invention, the mobile terminal can directly input mesh network configuration information and implement mesh provisioning for a plurality of mesh devices or all the mesh devices in the communication range thereof through Bluetooth; the speed is high, operation is simple, and efficiency is high.