Mobile Node Multicast Communication for Wireless Network Synchronization
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Maintaining synchronization and uninterrupted data communications in mobile network nodes within dynamic ad hoc wireless networks is challenging, especially when nodes move and change range, as existing methods require reinitiation of network connections and scanning for parent nodes, leading to potential communication breakdowns.
Innovation Solution
A mobile network node communicates with stationary nodes via a multicast address, using a mobile node communications manager to assign predetermined network time slots for uplink and downlink data, and a coordinator node manages acknowledgment orders to ensure continuous communication and synchronization, even as the mobile node moves between stationary nodes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a mobile node uses traditional unicast communication with a single parent node, then communication is simple to manage, but communication reliability deteriorates when the mobile node moves out of range of the parent node
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple parent nodes into a multicast group, where the mobile node communicates with all parent nodes simultaneously using a single multicast address. This merging of multiple communication paths improves reliability without requiring the mobile node to individually manage multiple unicast connections, thus maintaining simplicity while enhancing reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The multicast address serves multiple functions: it acts as a single destination address for uplink communication, automatically routes to multiple parent nodes, and provides redundancy. This multi-functionality allows the system to achieve reliable communication through a single address rather than managing multiple unicast addresses.
2Duration of action of moving object
If the mobile node frequently scans for parent nodes to maintain connection, then communication continuity is maintained, but network overhead and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by establishing multicast group membership in advance before the mobile node moves out of range. By pre-configuring multiple parent nodes in the multicast group, the system ensures communication continuity without requiring frequent scanning or reactive reconnection actions, thus reducing energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The multicast communication maintains continuous useful action by keeping the mobile node connected to multiple parent nodes simultaneously. This continuous connection eliminates the need for intermittent scanning and reconnection actions, maintaining communication continuity while reducing the energy expenditure associated with frequent network scanning.
3Reliability
If the mobile node establishes individual unicast connections with multiple parent nodes, then communication reliability improves, but device complexity and signaling overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple unicast addresses into a single multicast address for uplink communication. The mobile node uses this single multicast address to communicate with multiple parent nodes, eliminating the complexity of managing multiple unicast addresses while maintaining the reliability benefits of multiple communication paths.
Solution Approach 2:
The multicast group acts as an intermediary between the mobile node and multiple parent nodes. Instead of the mobile node directly managing individual unicast connections to each parent node, the multicast group mediates the communication, simplifying address management while maintaining reliable multi-path communication.
4Productivity
If acknowledgment packets are sent simultaneously by all parent nodes, then communication efficiency is high, but network traffic congestion increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic action by scheduling acknowledgment transmissions at different times for different parent nodes. The coordinator node assigns specific time slots or sequences for acknowledgments, creating a periodic pattern that maintains communication efficiency while distributing traffic over time to avoid congestion.
Solution Approach 2:
The coordinator node performs preliminary action by pre-assigning acknowledgment transmission orders to parent nodes before data transmission occurs. This preliminary scheduling prevents simultaneous acknowledgment transmissions, reducing network traffic volume while maintaining efficient acknowledgment coverage.
Data Source
AI summary
A network includes a mobile network node (MNN) that includes a mobile node communications manager (MNCM) to facilitate wireless communications to a plurality of stationary network nodes (SNNs) in a wireless network via a wireless network protocol. The MNCM utilizes a multicast address received over the wireless network. The multicast address is assigned to a predetermined network time slot to communicate uplink data from the MNN to the SNNs. The MNN receives downlink data via a separate predetermined network address and time slot assigned to a given SNN.