Multi-Radio Bridge Route Selection for Changing Backhaul Links
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional network devices fail to effectively manage LAN communications for wireless stations with multiple connection routes, leading to inefficiencies and increased costs due to hardware changes when backhaul technology is updated.
Innovation Solution
A reconfigurable multi-radio bridge that dynamically selects and manages network routes based on metrics such as traffic, load, and delay, using a multi-radio bridge controller to optimize communication paths and adapt to changing network conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional network devices are used with fixed hardware configurations, then device simplicity is maintained, but adaptability to changing backhaul technology and multiple connection routes deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The network bridge implements dynamic route selection by continuously evaluating metrics (traffic load, delay, error rates) for multiple available routes and automatically switching between them based on current network conditions, allowing the system to adapt to changing backhaul technology without hardware modifications
Solution Approach 2:
The bridge is designed to support multiple backhaul connection types and routes simultaneously, enabling it to function with different backhaul technologies (wired, wireless, cellular) without requiring hardware changes, thus achieving universality across varying technological environments
2Reliability
If multiple connection routes are available for wireless stations, then network reliability is improved, but route management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bridge continuously monitors network conditions including traffic load, delay, and error rates on each route, using this feedback to dynamically select the optimal route for each packet, thereby maintaining high reliability while automating route management to prevent complexity escalation
Solution Approach 2:
The route selection and management is performed automatically by the bridge itself based on pre-established metrics and algorithms, eliminating the need for manual intervention or complex external control systems, thus achieving self-service route management that maintains reliability without proportionally increasing complexity
3Productivity
If dynamic route selection based on metrics is implemented, then LAN performance is improved, but processing requirements and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The bridge evaluates multiple routes based on changing parameters (traffic load, delay, error rates) and selects the optimal route dynamically, improving LAN performance by adapting to current network conditions while using standardized metric evaluation methods to control system complexity
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems describe herein relate to a reconfigurable multi-radio bridge that may connect a local area network (LAN) with an access point (AP) or other WAP to the backhaul and may dynamically change and/or select transmission methods. An example implementation of a reconfigurable multi-radio bridge performs a method including discovering a topology of a network that includes one or more wireless stations (STAs), evaluating a metric for each of at least two routes discovered in the topology, receiving a packet that identifies a first STA of the one or more STAs as an intended destination of the packet, selecting a route of the at least two routes over which to send the packet based on the metric, and sending the packet from a reconfigurable multi-radio bridge over the selected route toward the first STA.