Rotating Mesh Coordinators for Large-Area Device Commissioning
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mesh networks face challenges in efficiently adding new communication devices, particularly when the network extends over a large physical area or includes a large number of devices, as existing solutions like subdividing the network or physically relocating devices to be near the coordinator role are inefficient and introduce latency or reduce maintenance efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The mesh network is configured to rotate the coordinator role among multiple communication devices, allowing new devices to be detected and joined within the network's vicinity, regardless of the coordinator's position, thereby enabling large-area networks with up to 10,000-20,000 devices without the drawbacks of previous methods.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the network is subdivided into subareas with multiple coordinators, then new devices can be added more easily in large networks, but communication latency increases and devices must route through remote servers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the coordinator functionality into regular network devices that rotate this role temporarily. Instead of having separate coordinator devices or subarea partitions, any device can become a temporary coordinator to commission new devices, eliminating the need for remote server routing and reducing communication latency while maintaining ease of device addition.
Solution Approach 2:
The coordinator role is made dynamic rather than static. Devices dynamically assume the coordinator role temporarily when needed for commissioning new devices, then return to regular network participation. This dynamic role assignment allows the network to adapt to commissioning needs without creating permanent subarea divisions or coordinator bottlenecks.
2Ease of operation
If new devices are physically brought near the coordinator for installation, then commissioning is simplified, but maintenance efficiency decreases significantly in large areas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces temporary intermediary coordinator devices distributed throughout the network area. When a new device needs commissioning, a nearby device becomes a temporary coordinator intermediary, allowing commissioning to occur locally without physically moving the new device to the main coordinator location, thus maintaining ease of commissioning while improving maintenance efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The network is segmented into multiple zones where any device can serve as a temporary coordinator for its local area. This segmentation allows commissioning to occur independently in different network regions simultaneously, eliminating the need for centralized physical coordination and significantly improving maintenance efficiency in large-area deployments.
3Reliability
If a single coordinator governs the entire network, then network security and commissioning control are maintained, but new devices cannot join if they are outside the coordinator's direct range
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having network devices pre-configured with the capability to assume coordinator roles. When commissioning is needed, nearby devices are already prepared to become temporary coordinators, allowing new devices to join securely through local commissioning without requiring the new device to be within range of the permanent network coordinator from the outset.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback mechanisms where devices monitor network commissioning needs and automatically assume coordinator roles when new devices are detected in their vicinity. This feedback-driven dynamic role assignment maintains security through controlled commissioning procedures while enabling versatile device addition across large network areas without requiring new devices to be pre-positioned near the main coordinator.
Data Source
AI summary
Example embodiments relate to rotating coordinators in mesh networks. One example mesh network includes multiple communication devices adapted to communicate in the mesh network according to a predetermined protocol. A single one of the multiple communication devices adopts a coordinator role in the mesh network for governing a commissioning procedure in the mesh network. The mesh network is configured to rotate the coordinator role among at least a selected number of the multiple communication devices so that a new communication device is detectable in the vicinity of the device adopting the coordinator role.