Automated Repeater Placement in Wireless Multi-Hop Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing communication systems for wireless networks require advance information on repeater installation location candidates, which is time-consuming and labor-intensive, especially when considering radio wave propagation characteristics and the need for reselection of locations due to poor communication quality or obstacles.
Innovation Solution
A communication system that includes a network management device capable of determining repeater installation locations based on communication quality information between wireless devices and the gateway, eliminating the need for pre-selected candidates by identifying necessary repeaters and access points within the network.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If multiple installation location candidates are selected in advance for repeaters, then the repeater placement can be determined from predefined options, but the work for selecting candidates and detecting connectable devices at each candidate location becomes time-consuming and labor-intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The system allows wireless devices to autonomously determine their own repeater installation locations by exchanging capability information and calculating optimal positions based on communication quality requirements, eliminating the need for manual candidate selection and on-site detection work
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical work (selecting candidates, installing devices, detecting connectivity) with automated information processing and calculation based on exchanged capability data, using logical computation instead of physical trial-and-error
2Reliability
If installation location candidates are reselected due to no appropriate location or poor communication quality, then the communication quality requirement can be met, but the engineering work is repeated and becomes more time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary calculations of optimal repeater positions by exchanging capability information before actual installation, ensuring communication quality requirements are met from the outset and avoiding repeated reselection and reinstallation work
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates feedback mechanisms where wireless devices exchange capability information and communication quality data to iteratively refine and determine the optimal repeater installation location, ensuring the first placement meets requirements
3Adaptability or versatility
If a large number of candidate points are selected for repeater installation, then the possibility of finding an appropriate location increases, but the detection work involves significant time and labor
Solution Approach 1:
Wireless devices autonomously calculate and identify suitable repeater installation positions by processing exchanged capability information, eliminating the need for manual detection and evaluation of numerous candidate points
Solution Approach 2:
The system extracts only the essential capability information needed for determination from wireless devices and uses this filtered data to directly calculate optimal positions, avoiding the need to evaluate all possible candidate locations
Data Source
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AI summary
An installation location of a repeater can be calculated based on information for managing a wireless network without requiring advance information on installation location candidates of the repeater in a wireless multi-hop network. A network management device that manages a wireless multi-hop network; a network configuration management unit that manages communication quality information between wireless devices and between the wireless devices and the gateway; a repeater necessity determination unit that determines whether or not to add a repeater for each of the wireless devices based on the communication quality information and selects the wireless device that is required to add the repeater based on a determination result; an access point determination unit that determines access points for securing a predetermined communication quality for the wireless device selected by the repeater necessity determination unit based on the communication quality information or positional information of the wireless devices and the gateway to select the access point from the wireless devices or the gateway based on the determination result; and a repeater placement determination unit that determines whether there is a repeater installation location indicating an installation range of the repeater for relaying the wireless device selected by the repeater necessity determination unit and the access point selected by the access point determination unit based on a communication range of the wireless device selected by the repeater necessity determination unit and a communication range of the access point selected by the access point determination unit.