Mesh Routing Node Election Using Suitability Scores
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional mobile communication devices rely solely on direct connections with cellular base stations or wireless access points, which are limiting in areas without consistent base station coverage and can be disabled by outages or adverse conditions, reducing network performance.
Innovation Solution
Implementing ad hoc mesh networks where mobile devices communicate directly with each other, utilizing a routing scheme that dynamically assigns routing participants based on suitability scores, maintaining participant tables, and adjusting responsibilities to ensure network connectivity without external management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If mobile devices communicate directly with base stations or access points, then network connectivity is established, but network functionality is limited in areas without consistent base station coverage and performance deteriorates during outages
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the network into ad hoc mesh sub-networks that can operate independently from the cellular base station infrastructure. Each mobile device acts as an autonomous node that can form direct peer-to-peer connections, creating localized network segments that maintain functionality even when the central base station is unavailable or overloaded.
Solution Approach 2:
The routing scheme dynamically adapts network topology based on real-time conditions. When base stations are unavailable, the system automatically reconfigures connections to use ad hoc mesh paths. The routing participants continuously monitor network status and adjust routes accordingly, enabling the network to transition from infrastructure-dependent to infrastructure-independent operation mode.
2Adaptability or versatility
If ad hoc mesh networks are implemented with dynamic routing, then network versatility and resilience improve, but device complexity and routing overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The routing participants autonomously perform routing decisions without external management. Each participant independently calculates routes based on available topology information and suitability scores. The system uses self-organized mesh formation where devices automatically discover neighbors and establish connections without manual configuration or centralized control, reducing the complexity burden on individual devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces suitability scores as a key parameter that simplifies routing decisions. Instead of complex multi-criteria optimization, the system uses a single composite score that aggregates multiple factors (signal strength, device capability, traffic load) into one metric for route selection. This parameter transformation reduces routing algorithm complexity while maintaining optimal path selection.
3Productivity
If routing participants maintain extensive network information, then routing optimization improves, but information processing requirements and computational resources increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements partial information maintenance where routing participants store only the information necessary for their routing decisions rather than complete network topology. Each participant maintains routing tables with essential neighbor information and suitability scores, avoiding the need to process and store all network metadata. This partial action approach reduces computational load while maintaining sufficient routing intelligence.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback mechanisms where routing participants periodically exchange routing information and suitability scores with neighbors. This feedback loop enables continuous optimization of routing paths based on changing network conditions without requiring participants to maintain static comprehensive databases. The feedback-driven updates are incremental and targeted, reducing overall information processing requirements compared to full topology maintenance.
Data Source
AI summary
A facility for operating a first node in a mesh network having other nodes is described. The first node directly receives signals each encoding an identifier of one of the other nodes, at least a portion of the signals also encoding an indication that the node having the identifier has appointed itself a routing node. The facility determines a first value equal to the number of unique node identifiers encoded in signals received during a first period of time, and a second value equal to the number of unique node identifiers encoded by signals received during the first period of time that also encode the indication. The facility determines a routing score for the first node based at least upon the first value and the second value that reflects the first node's suitability as a routing node in the mesh network.