Mesh Network Station Synchronization via Discovery and Management Windows
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Mesh networks face increased power consumption and latency due to the linear growth of power usage with new stations, along with congestion and contention issues from unsynchronized sleep modes and simultaneous communication attempts.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a sleep mode and awake mode configuration for stations during discovery and mesh management windows, synchronized by beacons, to manage mesh awake windows and quality of service, ensuring all stations are awake during specific periods to transmit hybrid wireless mesh protocol frames and manage congestion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If stations broadcast mesh beacons periodically to track neighboring peers, then network awareness and peer detection are improved, but power consumption increases linearly with network expansion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic awake windows (discovery window DW and mesh management window MMW) where stations wake up to perform mesh management tasks including beacon reception and HWMP frame transmission, then return to sleep mode. This periodic activation pattern reduces power consumption compared to continuous operation while maintaining network awareness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple mesh management functions (peer discovery, path selection, network synchronization) into specific time windows where stations are awake. By merging these functions into coordinated DW and MMW periods, the system reduces the total time stations need to remain active, thereby reducing power consumption while maintaining all necessary network functions.
2Use of energy by moving object
If stations enter sleep mode in an unsynchronized manner to save power, then power efficiency is improved, but latency increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent establishes periodic awake windows (DW and MMW) that occur at regular intervals, allowing stations to synchronize their wake-up times. This periodic structure ensures that all stations are awake simultaneously during these windows, enabling timely communication while still allowing stations to sleep during non-critical periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs critical mesh management actions (beacon reception, path selection via HWMP frames) during predetermined awake windows before they are actually needed for data transmission. This preliminary action ensures that network topology information is fresh and paths are established before data traffic arrives, reducing latency without requiring stations to remain continuously awake.
3Productivity
If multiple stations communicate simultaneously on the same network resources, then network utilization is improved, but congestion and contention increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments network communication into distinct time windows: discovery window (DW) for peer discovery and synchronization beacon reception, and mesh management window (MMW) for HWMP frame exchange. By segmenting these management functions into specific time slots, the system reduces random access conflicts and congestion compared to unsynchronized simultaneous transmissions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs path selection and network management actions in advance during the MMW, establishing routes and synchronizing stations before actual data transmission begins. This preliminary setup reduces contention during data transfer phases, as stations already know which paths to use and when to transmit, minimizing collisions and retransmissions.
Data Source
Figure 1a~2
Figure 3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
An arrangement of a mesh network comprising a first station, a second station and one or more intermediate stations is disclosed. The first, second and one or more intermediate stations are configured to comprise a sleep mode wherein the first, second and one or more intermediate stations are idle, and an awake mode wherein the first, second and one or more intermediate stations are awake. The first, second and one or more intermediate stations are further configured to be in the awake mode during a duration of a discovery window - DW - and a mesh management window - MMW - and wherein first, second and one or more intermediate stations are configured to listen for a synchronization beacon during the DW and to transmit and/or listen for zero or more mesh path hybrid wireless mesh protocol - HWMP - frames during the MMW. A method of the arrangement, as well as a first station, an intermediate station, a second station, a method for a first station, a method for an intermediate station and a method for a second station is also disclosed.