Mobile Mesh Packet Forwarding for Off-Network Communication
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Solution Overview
Problem
In situations where cellular, satellite, and Internet connections are unavailable, existing systems fail to provide reliable wireless communication between devices, leading to a need for alternative methods to enable communication between unattached mobile devices.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a local mesh network that allows unattached mobile devices to communicate by forwarding packets through a mesh of interconnected devices, using a messaging module and connectivity module to establish wireless connections and manage packet forwarding, even without a network connection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a local mesh network is implemented to enable communication between unattached devices, then connectivity reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a local mesh network where intermediate mobile devices act as relay nodes to forward packets between unattached devices. Each device in the mesh network serves as an intermediary that receives, processes, and forwards data packets, enabling communication without traditional network infrastructure. This resolves the contradiction by providing reliable connectivity through multiple intermediate nodes while distributing the complexity across all participating devices rather than concentrating it in a single system.
2Length of stationary object
If packet forwarding through multiple devices is implemented, then communication range is extended, but loss of information increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements acknowledgment mechanisms where receiving devices send feedback packets to confirm successful packet reception. Each intermediate device in the mesh network tracks packet delivery status and can request retransmission if packets are lost during forwarding. This feedback system maintains information integrity across extended communication ranges by detecting and correcting packet loss through automated retransmission requests.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates error detection and correction codes in packet structures to prevent information loss before it occurs. Checksum fields and redundancy data are added to packets beforehand, allowing intermediate devices to detect corrupted data and trigger retransmission without losing the original information. This cushioning approach protects against packet loss during multi-hop forwarding through the mesh network.
3Adaptability or versatility
If mesh network routing is implemented without centralized control, then system adaptability is improved, but difficulty of detecting and measuring increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements distributed routing algorithms where each mobile device in the mesh network independently determines optimal packet forwarding paths based on local network conditions. Devices autonomously discover neighboring nodes, evaluate link quality, and make routing decisions without centralized control. This self-service approach provides high adaptability to dynamic network conditions while managing complexity through localized decision-making rather than global optimization.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems are presented in this disclosure that enable mobile devices without access to an active network connection (e.g. cellular, satellite or Internet network) to communicate between each other by sending and receiving data packets (e.g. text, location, or image) through a mesh of connected devices. A mobile device receives a request to send a packet having an identifier of a recipient device. Based on the identifier, the mobile device determines whether the recipient device is in a list of mobile devices within a wireless range of the mobile device. Based on the determination, the mobile device includes the packet into an outgoing queue having packets for forwarding. The mobile device establishes one or more connections with one or more mobile devices in the list, and forwards one or more packets from the outgoing queue to the one or more mobile devices using the one or more connections.