Multi-radio Border Router Synchronization via Channel Offsets
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Solution Overview
Problem
In multi-radio border routers, constant interference between personal area networks (PANs) leads to inefficient communications between smart meters and the border router, limiting network throughput and requiring multiple routers, which complicates network structure.
Innovation Solution
Synchronizing multiple border router radios by designating a master radio and assigning channel offsets to other radios, allowing them to operate on the same PAN and use a shared channel hopping pattern, reducing interference and channel collisions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple independent PANs are used with multiple radios in a border router, then each radio can operate independently, but constant interference occurs between different PANs causing inefficient communications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple independent PANs into a single synchronized PAN where multiple radios operate under a common time reference and shared channel hopping pattern, eliminating inter-PAN interference while maintaining multi-radio capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic channel hopping where radios systematically switch between channels in a synchronized manner, allowing multiple radios to share the same PAN without constant interference by distributing their transmissions across different time periods and channels
2Productivity
If multiple border routers are deployed to handle multi-radio communications, then network capacity increases, but network structure becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple radios into a single border router device, allowing one router to handle communications from multiple endpoints simultaneously through synchronized channel hopping, thereby increasing network capacity without adding more router devices
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes a single border router multi-functional by enabling it to serve multiple endpoints across different channels simultaneously through the synchronized channel hopping mechanism, replacing the need for multiple specialized routers
3Speed
If radios operate on the same channel simultaneously, then communication speed increases, but channel collisions and interference increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses periodic channel hopping where radios transmit on different channels at different time intervals according to a synchronized pattern, allowing high-speed communication without collisions by distributing transmissions across time and frequency dimensions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic channel assignment where radios adaptively switch between channels based on the synchronized hopping pattern, allowing the system to dynamically allocate channel access and avoid collisions while maintaining high communication speeds
Data Source
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AI summary
A multi-radio border router for synchronizing communications of multiple border router radios is provided. For example, the border router includes a border router component connected to each of the plurality of border router radios. The border router component configured for selecting one of the plurality of border router radios as a master radio and assigning channel offset parameters for each of the plurality of border router radios. The master radio is configured for broadcasting synchronization beacons based on which the non-master radios synchronize their respective clocks with that of the master radio. After the synchronization, each of the border router radios communicates with endpoints associated therewith according to a channel hopping pattern modified by applying a channel offset determined based on the channel offset parameters assigned to the respective radio.