Wireless Mesh Routing Table Update via Centralized Switch
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wireless mesh networks face power consumption issues due to the high CPU cycles required for encrypting and decrypting packets, which quickly drain battery-powered nodes and reduce their effectiveness, especially in outdoor deployments.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for data communication in a wireless mesh network that utilizes a network switch to generate and update a routing table, allowing APs to forward packets without encryption/decryption, using a centralized routing approach that reduces power consumption by eliminating the need for encryption/decryption processes at each node.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If each node performs encryption and decryption of packets to identify destinations, then security and routing accuracy are improved, but power consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the encryption and decryption functions from individual nodes and concentrates them at the network switch. The switch performs packet decryption to identify destinations, while nodes only perform lightweight routing table lookups. This extraction eliminates the need for each node to have full encryption/decryption capability, significantly reducing power consumption at battery-powered nodes while maintaining routing accuracy through centralized intelligent processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The network switch acts as an intermediary between the wired network and wireless mesh nodes. It receives encrypted packets from nodes, decrypts them to determine destinations, consults the routing table to find optimal paths, and forwards packets accordingly. This intermediary role allows nodes to operate with minimal processing power while the switch handles the computationally intensive encryption/decryption operations.
2Productivity
If centralized routing control is implemented at the network switch, then routing efficiency and power savings are improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-computing and distributing routing tables to all nodes before actual data transmission begins. The network switch maintains an updated routing table that reflects current network conditions, and nodes simply perform lookups in this pre-prepared table during operation. This eliminates the need for complex real-time routing calculations at each node, achieving high routing efficiency with minimal per-packet processing complexity.
3Reliability
If battery-powered nodes perform full encryption/decryption operations, then security is maintained, but operational duration is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the power-intensive encryption and decryption operations from battery-powered nodes and relocates them to the AC-powered network switch. Nodes only perform minimal processing such as packet encapsulation and routing table lookups. This extraction preserves end-to-end security through centralized cryptographic operations while extending node operational duration by eliminating the primary source of battery drain.
Data Source
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AI summary
Described is a system comprising a first wireless device and a second wireless device. The first device has access to a packet routing table which includes data indicative of a packet transmission path in a wireless mesh communications network. The second wireless device is communicatively coupled to the first device and has access to the routing table. Upon receipt of a packet by the first device which is addressed to the second device, the first device determines, as a function of at least one of (i) the routing table and (ii) a first identifier of the second device, a second identifier of a third wireless device to receive the packet directly from the first device. At least one of the first, second and third devices updates the routing table.