Directional Mesh Node Discovery via Intermediary Assistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless systems and protocols lack efficient mechanisms for mesh discovery in millimeter wave (mmWave) directional wireless networks, particularly due to challenges like knowledge of surrounding nodes, best transmission patterns, channel access issues, and channel impairments such as blockage and reflections, which hinder effective neighborhood discovery and network integration.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution involves a method for directional mesh network protocols that assist new nodes in discovering neighboring nodes by utilizing existing mesh networks, allowing them to request assistance from discovered mesh nodes, which then coordinate with other nodes in the geographical discovery set to provide faster access and beamforming training, reducing the need for extensive scanning and improving signal quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional scanning methods are used for node discovery in mmWave networks, then all channels must be scanned for a specific period to detect neighboring nodes, but this process is time-consuming and inefficient due to directional transmissions and channel impairments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having mesh nodes pre-collect and store information about neighboring nodes in their geographical discovery sets before new nodes need to discover them. When a new node joins, it can quickly obtain neighbor information from existing mesh nodes without performing exhaustive scanning, thus resolving the contradiction between discovery speed and scanning time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses existing mesh nodes as intermediaries to facilitate the discovery process. Instead of new nodes directly scanning all channels to find neighbors, they request assistance from mesh nodes that act as mediators, providing pre-collected neighbor information. This intermediary approach dramatically reduces the time required for node discovery while maintaining high productivity.
2Loss of information
If new nodes perform exhaustive scanning to discover all neighboring nodes and collect sufficient information for PHY configuration, then complete network knowledge is achieved, but the process becomes complex and challenging due to directional transmissions and channel access issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by enabling mesh nodes to automatically maintain and update their geographical discovery sets with neighboring node information. When new nodes join, they can request and receive this pre-collected information without manually performing complex scanning procedures. This self-service mechanism ensures complete neighbor information is obtained while significantly reducing the complexity of the discovery process.
Solution Approach 2:
Existing mesh nodes serve as intermediaries that provide centralized neighbor information to new nodes. This intermediary approach replaces the complex distributed scanning process with a simplified information request-response mechanism, maintaining information completeness while reducing process complexity.
3Reliability
If directional antennas are used in mmWave networks, then high-gain electronically steerable directional antennas can provide sufficient array gain to overcome path loss, but this creates challenges for mesh discovery due to directional transmissions requiring knowledge of best transmission patterns
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having mesh nodes pre-determine and store their best transmission patterns and beamforming information in their geographical discovery sets. When new nodes need to communicate with neighbors, they can directly use this pre-established beamforming information without performing complex real-time beamforming training, thus maintaining high signal quality while reducing discovery complexity.
4Measurement precision
If new nodes scan all channels for a specific period to discover neighboring nodes, then comprehensive neighbor detection is achieved, but the process is inefficient due to channel impairments like blockage and reflections in mmWave bands
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses existing mesh nodes as intermediaries that have already performed the difficult task of detecting and verifying neighboring nodes despite channel impairments. New nodes request and receive this verified neighbor information, achieving the same detection accuracy without repeating the inefficient scanning process affected by blockage and reflections.
Data Source
AI summary
Wireless mesh networking protocols are taught that provide neighbor node discovery in a network utilizing directional transmissions. The established mesh network is utilized to trigger stations in the mesh network to assist in neighbor discovery. The new node joining the network then does not need to wait for beacons from other mesh nodes in starting the process to join the mesh network. In this way the discovery of available nodes is accelerated. Numerous variations and scenarios of the apparatus and method are described.