Mesh Network Topology Reconfiguration via Spectral Performance Scoring
Solution Overview
Problem
Current mesh network communication systems face complexity in selecting neighboring nodes due to frequency agility, leading to inefficient topology reconfiguration and slow data transfer, especially in dense networks with numerous potential neighbors.
Innovation Solution
A communications system comprising mobile nodes with a controller that transmits and receives spectral performance data to identify potential topologies, generates performance scores, and switches to a new topology based on these scores, using metrics like Eb/N0, fragmented nodes, and data rate to optimize network configuration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the network operates with frequency agility and evaluates all potential neighboring nodes across different frequencies, then the network can find an optimum topology, but the search space grows significantly and the complexity of selecting neighboring nodes increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the frequency spectrum into multiple frequency bands and divides the neighbor selection process into separate evaluations for each band. Nodes are evaluated and selected independently within each frequency band, then combined to form the final neighbor set. This segmentation reduces the computational complexity by breaking down the overwhelming search space into manageable segments, allowing the network to maintain frequency agility while avoiding exhaustive search across all frequencies simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the evaluation parameters by introducing performance scores that combine multiple metrics (signal strength, data rate, topology stability) into a single composite measure. This parameter transformation allows nodes to be ranked and selected based on overall performance rather than evaluating each metric separately across all frequency bands, significantly reducing the complexity of neighbor selection while maintaining network optimization.
2Reliability
If the network evaluates all potential topologies to find an optimum configuration, then the best topology can be selected, but the time required for topology reconfiguration increases and data transfer becomes slow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements partial evaluation by selecting a limited number of candidate neighbors (e.g., top K nodes based on performance scores) rather than evaluating all potential neighbors. This partial action approach finds a sufficiently good topology configuration without exhaustively searching all possibilities, thereby reducing reconfiguration time while maintaining acceptable network performance. The system accepts that not all optimal configurations are found, but achieves practical optimization within time constraints.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary neighbor evaluation and performance scoring during idle periods or before topology changes are triggered. By pre-computing performance metrics and ranking potential neighbors in advance, the system reduces the time required for actual topology reconfiguration. When a topology change is needed, the pre-evaluated neighbor lists can be quickly consulted and applied, significantly reducing the loss of time during critical reconfiguration events.
3Reliability
If the network uses multiple metrics with different weights to evaluate topologies, then the evaluation can be comprehensive, but the data processing requirements at different nodes increase and the system becomes inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple evaluation metrics (signal strength, data rate, topology stability, energy consumption) into a single performance score for each potential neighbor. Each node computes its performance score relative to others and shares this consolidated metric with neighboring nodes. This merging approach maintains comprehensive evaluation accuracy while dramatically reducing data processing requirements, as nodes exchange single performance values rather than multiple detailed metrics, thereby improving data transfer efficiency and reducing computational overhead.
Data Source
AI summary
A communications system may include mobile communications nodes operating according to a current topology and reconfigurable to a new topology. Each mobile communications node may include a wireless transceiver, and a controller configured to transmit spectral performance data to adjacent nodes and receive spectral performance data from the adjacent nodes. The controller may identify potential topologies for the adjacent nodes based on the spectral performance data, select a subset of potential topologies from among the potential topologies, generate a respective performance score for each potential topology of the subset of potential topologies, and switch to a new topology from among the subset of potential topologies based upon the performance scores.