Satellite Mesh Network Routing with Multi-Precision Status
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Solution Overview
Problem
In dynamic satellite mesh networks and similar mobile ad-hoc networks, maintaining accurate and timely network status information for packet routing is challenging due to rapid node movements and frequent link changes, leading to high computational costs and latency in propagating network event notifications.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method where network nodes maintain different levels of precision for network status information across various network zones, allowing for active inhibition or delay of status updates to certain nodes, thereby reducing communication overhead and improving routing accuracy by limiting frequent updates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If network status updates are propagated to all nodes with high precision, then routing accuracy is improved, but communication overhead and resource consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating the precision level of network status information maintained at different nodes. Instead of uniformly high precision across all nodes, the system maintains high precision information locally at relevant nodes while allowing other nodes to operate with lower precision information. This resolves the contradiction by optimizing routing accuracy only where needed while reducing overall communication overhead.
2Measurement precision
If network status updates are propagated frequently to all nodes, then routing precision is improved, but resource consumption and computation costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements partial action by having only certain nodes receive and process high-precision network status updates, rather than all nodes. Nodes that are not immediately affected by topology changes can operate with less frequent, lower-precision information. This reduces overall resource consumption while maintaining sufficient routing precision for nodes that require it.
3Measurement precision
If network status information is maintained with high precision for all network portions, then packet forwarding accuracy is improved, but computation intensity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the network into different zones or regions, each with its own precision level for status information maintenance. The network is divided such that critical portions require high precision while less critical portions can tolerate lower precision. This segmentation reduces overall computation intensity by avoiding the need to maintain high-precision information across the entire network.
4Speed
If network event notifications are propagated rapidly throughout the network, then network awareness is improved, but resource usage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces intermediary nodes that selectively forward or filter network status updates. These intermediaries determine which nodes should receive high-precision information based on their relevance to the network change. This mediator approach maintains rapid network awareness for affected nodes while preventing unnecessary resource consumption from propagating updates to all nodes.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for routing packets in a network, such as a satellite mesh network. Network nodes maintain network status information (e.g. link availability information) for the entire network. However, the information is maintained to a higher level of precision for some network regions than for others. For example, the network node can be informed of network events in some regions with lower latency than in other regions. Routing information is generated based on the network status information. Multiple different mechanisms can be used to provide network status updates at different levels of precisions. Nodes which generate or relay network status updates can inhibit (e.g. block or delay) passing the updates toward a target node in order to reduce the level of precision of network status information at that target node.