MIMO Link Metric Computation for Wireless Mesh Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional link metric computation in wireless mesh networks does not account for dynamic factors such as bandwidth, number of spatial streams, and guard interval, which are crucial in MIMO-based networks like IEEE 802.11n, leading to suboptimal routing decisions.
Innovation Solution
A method for determining link metrics that incorporates bandwidth, number of spatial streams, and guard interval usage, allowing nodes to calculate scaling factors and compute an estimated transmission time for each communication link, enabling more accurate path selection in MIMO-enabled wireless mesh networks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional link metric computation is used, then routing decisions are simple to make, but routing efficiency and data throughput are suboptimal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameters used in link metric computation from traditional simple metrics to comprehensive metrics that include bandwidth, number of spatial streams, and guard interval. This allows the routing system to consider dynamic link properties and MIMO-specific characteristics, thereby improving routing efficiency and data throughput without excessive complexity increase
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic link metrics that adapt to changing network conditions by incorporating real-time parameters such as bandwidth variations, spatial stream configurations, and guard interval settings. This dynamic approach enables the routing protocol to respond to topology changes and optimize path selection continuously, improving productivity while managing complexity through standardized computation procedures
2Measurement precision
If dynamic link properties are considered, then path selection accuracy is improved, but computation overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary computations of link metrics by having nodes pre-calculate and cache metric values based on current link properties including bandwidth, spatial streams, and guard interval. This preliminary action reduces the need for frequent real-time computations during routing decisions, thereby improving path selection accuracy while managing computation overhead through efficient caching mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
Each node in the network independently computes its own link metrics based on local observations of bandwidth, spatial stream configurations, and guard interval settings. This self-service approach distributes the computation burden across all nodes rather than centralizing it, improving measurement precision through localized accurate measurements while reducing overall system computation overhead through parallel distributed processing
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are provided for determining a link metric for a communication link along a path between a source node to a destination node is provided. A node can generate a link metric (LM) for the communication link between the particular node and next-hop node towards the destination node in the path based on a plurality of variables. The node can determine the LM for the communication link based on a plurality of variables including: bandwidth on the communication link, a number of spatial streams used to transmit over the communication link, and a guard interval used used to transmit over the communication link.