Wireless Mesh Portal Role Segmentation for Loop Prevention
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Wireless mesh networks with multiple portals face issues such as loop creation, traffic bottlenecks, and inefficient bandwidth usage due to existing approaches that either flood traffic to all portals or block all but one portal, limiting communication paths and load balancing.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a root portal to reduce flooding while maintaining secondary portals for efficient communication paths and load balancing, allowing direct paths between mesh points and destinations, and using portal roles like backup-to-root and backup-to-disconnected portals to distribute traffic and increase bandwidth.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If multiple portals are enabled in a wireless mesh network, then bandwidth and communication paths are improved, but network loops are created causing traffic to circulate indefinitely
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the portal functionality into different roles: root portals that forward traffic to destinations and backup portals that provide redundancy. This segmentation allows multiple portals to operate without creating loops, as each portal type has defined behavior constraints. The root portal segments traffic handling from backup portal functions, preventing circular routing while maintaining multiple active paths.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portals are assigned different qualities or roles within the network. Root portals have the quality of forwarding traffic to external destinations, while backup portals have the quality of providing redundant paths. This differentiation in local quality ensures that traffic flows through appropriate portals without creating loops, as each portal type is optimized for specific traffic patterns.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If a single portal is elected as active, then network loops are prevented, but traffic flow is bottlenecked and reliability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic portal role assignment where portals can transition between active and backup states based on network conditions. The system dynamically determines which portals should be root portals and which should be backup portals, allowing flexible traffic distribution. This dynamic behavior enables multiple portals to handle traffic simultaneously without creating loops, as roles are assigned and adjusted based on current network state.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of portal availability from binary (single active or all active) to a spectrum where portals can be configured with different activation states. By changing the availability parameter of individual portals, the system can optimize traffic flow while preventing loops. Root portals are fully active for forwarding, while backup portals are selectively activated based on load and network conditions.
3Productivity
If all portals are enabled for traffic forwarding, then load balancing is improved, but traffic flooding occurs causing inefficient bandwidth usage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces intermediary mechanisms at the portal level that mediate traffic forwarding decisions. Root portals act as intermediaries that receive traffic and selectively forward it to appropriate backup portals or external destinations. This intermediary behavior prevents direct flooding between all portals, as traffic passes through controlled forwarding points that make intelligent routing decisions based on destination and current network state.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where portals monitor traffic patterns, bandwidth usage, and network conditions. Based on this feedback, portals dynamically adjust their forwarding behavior to optimize load distribution. Backup portals provide feedback about available capacity and routing options, allowing root portals to make informed decisions about traffic distribution that prevent flooding while maintaining load balancing.
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment, two portals lie between a wireless mesh network and a LAN. Each portal provides a communication path between the mesh network and the LAN. The second portal is configured to forward data frames with unknown destinations to the first portal across an intramesh path between the two portals.