Mesh Network Routing Table Management via Hop Count Limits
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Solution Overview
Problem
In wireless sensor networks, maintaining accurate and dynamic routing information is challenging due to devices entering or leaving the network, which can disrupt communication paths and require frequent re-routing, especially in resource-constrained devices with limited processing power and memory.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a mesh network apparatus with processing devices and memory that store and update routing tables by receiving routing packets, incrementing route count values, and transmitting packets within a maximum hop count, while deleting entries that exceed an expire count to maintain efficient routing pathways.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If routing tables are frequently updated to maintain accurate routing information in dynamic networks, then routing reliability is improved, but device complexity and processing overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic routing table updates using routing packets that traverse the network at defined intervals. Each device periodically receives routing packets from neighbors and updates its routing table based on these packets, rather than continuously monitoring network changes. This periodic mechanism maintains routing reliability while reducing processing overhead compared to continuous updates.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs feedback mechanisms where routing packets carry information about network topology changes and device status. Each device uses this feedback information to dynamically update its routing table, adjusting routes based on current network conditions. The feedback loop ensures routing reliability by continuously adapting to network changes without requiring complex centralized control.
2Measurement precision
If routing packets are transmitted with high frequency to detect network changes, then routing information accuracy is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transmits routing packets periodically rather than continuously, reducing energy consumption while maintaining routing information accuracy. Each device sends routing packets at defined intervals and updates its routing table based on received packets, achieving a balance between measurement precision and energy usage in resource-constrained wireless sensor networks.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transmits routing packets only when necessary to maintain routing accuracy, rather than continuously. The system uses partial action by sending packets at intervals sufficient to detect network changes while avoiding excessive transmission that would waste energy. This selective transmission maintains routing information accuracy without unnecessary energy expenditure.
3Area of stationary object
If maximum hop count is increased to extend routing range, then network coverage is improved, but routing packet delivery reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent dynamically adjusts routing decisions based on the hop count metric. Each device monitors the hop count in received routing packets and uses this dynamic information to make routing decisions. The system can adaptively select routes with appropriate hop counts, extending network coverage while maintaining reliability by avoiding excessively long paths that would compromise packet delivery success.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses the maximum hop count as a controllable parameter to balance network coverage and packet delivery reliability. By adjusting the maximum hop count parameter, the system can extend routing range to improve coverage while maintaining a threshold that ensures sufficient signal strength and delivery reliability. This parameter-based approach allows flexible optimization of the trade-off between coverage area and delivery success rate.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for use in a mesh network is described and includes memory storing instructions, one or more routing tables, and processing devices to execute the instructions to perform operations including receiving a routing packet including routing information and a route count value. Incrementing the route count value to produce an incremented count and transmitting the routing packet over the mesh network if the incremented count does not exceed a maximum count corresponding to a maximum number of hops for the routing packet.