Wireless Mesh Network Visualization Overlaying Nodes on Physical Space Images
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tools for analyzing and designing wireless mesh networks fail to account for the physical space occupied by the network, making it difficult to recognize how the environment affects network performance and functionality.
Innovation Solution
A visualization tool that displays devices within a self-organizing mesh network with respect to the physical space, allowing users to import images of the space, assign scale and density levels, and place device locations, thereby validating the network's layout and performance based on physical environment factors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If mesh network organization is displayed using traditional diagrams with nodes and connecting lines, then network topology and communication paths can be visualized, but the physical space orientation and environmental context are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a visual copy of the physical environment by overlaying mesh network nodes onto images of the actual physical space. This copying approach preserves the spatial context and environmental features while representing network topology, allowing users to see both the physical layout and network connections simultaneously without requiring complex 3D rendering or multiple separate diagrams.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the mesh network topology visualization with the physical environment image into a single integrated display. By combining the network diagram elements (nodes, connecting lines) with the physical space image, the system eliminates the need for separate visualizations and provides a unified view that preserves both network structure and physical context without increasing overall system complexity.
2Reliability
If network design is performed manually or with basic computer tools, then flexibility in design is maintained, but the ability to analyze network function in specific physical environments is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates feedback mechanisms that allow designers to input physical environment characteristics and receive automated analysis of how these factors will affect network performance. The system provides feedback on potential issues such as signal interference, optimal node placement, and communication path reliability, enabling designers to adjust their layouts based on predicted performance without requiring complex manual calculations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary analysis tool that bridges the gap between basic design flexibility and sophisticated performance analysis. This intermediary system processes physical environment data and network topology information to generate predictions about network behavior, serving as a mediator that enhances reliability without requiring the designer to perform complex manual analysis.
3Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If traditional network analysis tools are used without physical space reference, then network topology can be analyzed, but the impact of physical environment on network performance cannot be diagnosed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adds another dimension to network visualization by incorporating the physical space dimension into the topology display. Instead of viewing network nodes in an abstract 2D plane, the system overlays nodes onto images of the actual physical environment, creating a third dimension that preserves spatial relationships and allows detection of physical factors affecting network performance such as obstacles, signal interference, and geographic layout.
Data Source
AI summary
A visualization tool for displays devices included within a self-organizing mesh network with respect to the physical space occupied by the network. The visualization tool receives an image representing the physical space occupied by the wireless mesh network, scale information defining the scale of the received image, and location information defining the location of each device within the physical space occupied by the network. Based on these inputs, the visualization tool displays the layout of the wireless mesh network with respect to the physical space occupied by the wireless mesh network.