Neighbor Location Discovery Protocol for Mesh Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current multi-hop wireless mesh networks with single radio frequency transceivers do not scale well and lack the range necessary for community networks, and existing neighbor discovery protocols are inefficient and do not effectively enable longer-range communication using directional antennas.
Innovation Solution
The Neighbor Location Discovery Protocol (NLDP) uses at least two RF transceivers, one for an omni-directional control channel and one for a directional data channel, to efficiently determine the location of neighboring nodes in a mesh network, allowing both sender and receiver to point their antennas correctly for communication, even when engaged with other nodes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of stationary object
If multiple transceivers and directional antennas are attached to each mesh router, then the range and capacity of the mesh network improve, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the communication function into two separate transceivers: one dedicated to omni-directional control channel communication for neighbor discovery, and another dedicated to directional data channel communication for high-speed data transmission. This segmentation allows each transceiver to be optimized for its specific function, improving overall system performance while managing complexity through functional separation.
2Length of stationary object
If directional antennas are used for longer-range communication, then the communication range improves, but the difficulty of detecting and measuring neighbor locations increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary omni-directional control channel that mediates between nodes equipped with directional antennas. This control channel enables nodes to discover and locate each other without requiring the directional antennas to be perfectly aligned, thus facilitating neighbor discovery while maintaining the benefits of directional communication for data transmission.
3Productivity
If nodes use directional antennas for communication, then the communication range and capacity improve, but the ease of operation decreases due to the need for precise antenna alignment
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary neighbor discovery and location determination actions before establishing directional data communication. Nodes use the omni-directional control channel to identify neighboring nodes and their locations in advance, storing this information for later use. This preliminary action eliminates the need for real-time antenna alignment during data transmission, simplifying operation while maintaining high network capacity.
4Adaptability or versatility
If existing neighbor discovery protocols are used with directional antennas, then neighbor discovery is enabled, but the productivity decreases due to inefficiency and inability to support longer-range communication
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different communication qualities to different channels: the control channel uses omni-directional transmission with higher redundancy and error tolerance for reliable neighbor discovery, while the data channel uses directional transmission with higher speed and capacity for efficient data communication. This local quality differentiation optimizes each channel for its specific purpose, improving both adaptability and productivity.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a Neighbor Location Discovery Protocol (NLDP) that determines the relative locations of the nodes in a mesh network. In one embodiment, NLDP can be implemented for an ad-hoc wireless network where the nodes are equipped with directional antennas and are not able to use GPS. While NLDP relies on nodes having at least two RF transceivers, it offers significant advantages over previously proposed protocols that employ only one RF transceiver. In NLDP antenna hardware is simple, easy to implement, and readily available. Further, NLDP exploits the host node's ability to operate simultaneously over non-overlapping channels to quickly converge on the neighbor's location. NLDP is limited by the range of the control channel, which operates in a omni-directional fashion. However, by choosing a low frequency band, high power, and low data rate, the range of the control channel can be increased to match the range on the data channel.