SACM Mesh Network Dynamic Gateway Selection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current mesh network solutions for smart metering are economically inefficient due to the high cost of dedicated gateway concentrators and require extensive site surveys, leading to increased deployment costs and risks, especially in large-scale deployments across distributed geographies.
Innovation Solution
A smart architecture cell mesh (SACM) network that dynamically selects and reassigns gateway nodes based on cellular RF criteria, allowing mesh nodes to act as both access points and gateways, eliminating the need for fixed, expensive concentrators and enabling self-healing and load balancing through micro-mesh partitioning and fail-over mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If dedicated gateway concentrators are deployed to support mesh nodes, then network connectivity is provided, but deployment costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
Each mesh node is equipped with both mesh networking capability and gateway functionality (cellular modem), allowing nodes to serve dual purposes: maintaining the mesh network and providing WAN connectivity. This eliminates the need for separate dedicated gateway concentrators, reducing deployment costs while maintaining network connectivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The gateway functionality is extracted from the centralized concentrator and distributed to individual mesh nodes. Each node independently possesses gateway capabilities through integrated cellular modems, removing the dependency on expensive centralized gateway infrastructure.
2Reliability
If dedicated gateway concentrators are deployed, then network connectivity is established, but extensive site surveys are required
Solution Approach 1:
Mesh nodes autonomously perform site selection and network formation without requiring extensive manual site surveys. Nodes independently evaluate their cellular signal quality and automatically determine their optimal role in the network, enabling self-configuration and reducing deployment complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The network topology and gateway assignments are dynamic rather than static. Nodes can change their roles and connections based on real-time conditions, allowing the network to adapt automatically without requiring careful pre-planning and fixed infrastructure placement.
3Area of stationary object
If gateway concentrators are deployed across distributed geographies, then coverage is provided, but deployment risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The network is segmented into autonomous mesh nodes rather than relying on a few centralized gateway concentrators. This distribution of functionality across many independent nodes reduces the risk associated with deploying infrastructure across difficult-to-access distributed geographies, as each node operates independently and the network can function even if individual nodes fail.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure provides a method of establishing a SACM network is disclosed. The method comprises deploying a plurality of mesh nodes, wherein each of mesh nodes having a mesh node capability to communicate with the other mesh nodes as well as a gateway capability to provide an access to a service network, wherein the service network provides a wireless communication service; establishing a plurality of links between the mesh nodes, each of the links connecting two of the mesh nodes; searching and selecting a plurality of dynamic gateway nodes from the plurality of the mesh nodes and establishing a plurality of connections between the dynamic gateway nodes and the service network and performing routing and path optimization to find optimal route paths for all the mesh nodes to access the service network.