Packet Forwarding Relay for Wireless Subnet Bridging
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Solution Overview
Problem
The wireless communication standard ISA100.11a does not define a structure for forwarding packets between wireless sub-networks with different subnet IDs, preventing packet forwarding between target and provisioning networks, and requiring significant modifications to the routing table and communication protocol.
Innovation Solution
A packet forwarding device with relay networks and processing units that use specific routing information to connect and route packets between wireless communication networks with different subnet IDs, allowing packet forwarding without modifying the existing wireless communication standard.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If packet forwarding between wireless sub-networks with different subnet IDs is implemented, then Over The Air provisioning can be realized, but the routing table structure and communication protocol must be significantly modified
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a relay router as an intermediary device between the target network and provisioning network. This relay router receives packets from one network, processes them according to predefined routing rules, and forwards them to the other network. By using this intermediary, the system achieves inter-network packet forwarding without requiring modifications to the routing tables of individual nodes or changes to the communication protocol, thus resolving the contradiction between enabling provisioning and maintaining system simplicity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If packet forwarding between wireless sub-networks with different subnet IDs is implemented, then Over The Air provisioning can be realized, but the communication protocol must be modified
Solution Approach 1:
The relay router serves as a protocol-agnostic intermediary that handles packet forwarding between networks with different subnet IDs without requiring protocol modifications. The relay router uses predefined routing information stored in its memory to determine how to forward packets, eliminating the need to modify the communication protocol while still enabling Over The Air provisioning functionality.
3Productivity
If wireless communication networks are divided into multiple sub-networks with different subnet IDs, then communication resource distribution is improved, but packet forwarding between these sub-networks becomes impossible under the current standard
Solution Approach 1:
The relay router acts as a mediator that enables communication between wireless sub-networks with different subnet IDs while preserving the benefits of network segmentation. Each sub-network maintains its own unique subnet ID for proper resource distribution, and the relay router provides the necessary connectivity between them using stored routing information, thus simultaneously achieving good communication resource distribution and inter-network adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary action by storing routing information in the relay router's memory before actual packet forwarding is needed. This pre-configured routing information allows the relay router to immediately forward packets between sub-networks with different subnet IDs when communication is required, enabling inter-network communication without requiring real-time protocol modifications or dynamic reconfiguration.
Data Source
AI summary
A packet forwarding device performs forwarding of a packet between first and second wireless communication networks to which different identifiers are attached, and includes: a relay network that is interposed between the first and second wireless communication networks; a first processing unit that is connected to the first wireless communication network and performs first routing control by using first routing information in which the first wireless communication network and the relay network are defined as outgoing interfaces; and a second processing unit that is connected to the second wireless communication network and performs second route control by using second routing information in which the second wireless communication network and the relay network are defined as outgoing interfaces.