Wireless Bandwidth Management for Industrial Field Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
In industrial process facilities, a large number of wireless field devices attempting to connect or transmit data to the same wireless routers or access points simultaneously can lead to network overload, significantly degrading response times.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a bandwidth management method that calculates the bandwidth usage percentage for wireless access points and routers, preventing new devices from connecting if the threshold is exceeded, and allowing connections only if the new bandwidth usage is below a set threshold, ensuring network stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple wireless field devices connect to the same wireless access point simultaneously, then the network coverage and device connectivity are improved, but the network becomes overloaded and response time degrades
Solution Approach 1:
The system calculates the projected bandwidth usage percentage before allowing a new device to connect. By performing this preliminary assessment, the network controller prevents connections that would cause overload, thereby maintaining acceptable response times while still allowing connectivity when capacity permits.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors current bandwidth usage and uses this feedback to make real-time decisions about connection requests. The bandwidth usage percentage is calculated dynamically based on current network conditions, and this feedback loop ensures that connection decisions adapt to changing network load, preventing overload while maximizing device connectivity.
2Reliability
If bandwidth thresholds are enforced to prevent network overload, then network stability is improved, but new device connections are restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The bandwidth threshold system is dynamic rather than static. The controller calculates the projected bandwidth usage percentage for each connection request and compares it against the threshold. This dynamic approach allows the network to adapt to changing conditions, permitting connections when capacity is available while enforcing restrictions when the network is near capacity, thus balancing stability with connectivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of bandwidth allocation based on current network conditions. By calculating the projected bandwidth usage percentage and comparing it to the threshold, the system adjusts whether new connections are permitted. This parameter-based control mechanism maintains network stability by preventing overload while allowing flexibility for new device connections when resources are available.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for bandwidth management in a wireless network having wireless field devices (FDs) wirelessly coupled to a wireless access point associated to a wireless gateway. A first bandwidth usage percentage (BUP) consumed by the wireless access point and wireless router(s) is calculated from summed connected device weights. In response to a new FD or wireless router requesting to be connected to the network, a second BUP is calculated that would be consumed by the wireless access point and the wireless router(s) if the new FD or wireless router were connected to the wireless network. If the second BUP is not less than respective BUP thresholds, the new FD or router is prevented from being connected to the network. Disclosed bandwidth management can also be applied if an already connected FD in the network changes its path from one router or access point to another connected router or access point.