Systems and methods for enhanced mesh networking

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10652816-B2
Application number	US-201816105849-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 20, 2018
Priority date	Nov 7, 2016
Publication date	May 12, 2020
Grant date	May 12, 2020

Abstract

A method for enhanced mesh networking, preferably including performing network analysis, configuring router link parameters, and managing routing paths. A metric for routing path assessment, preferably including a throughput metric and a channel utilization metric. A Segment Table Announced Mesh Protocol, preferably including determining network segments and designating forwarding devices for communication between the network segments.

First claim

We claim:

1. A method for network device communication, the method comprising:
in a network comprising a first segment and a second segment, designating a first node as a forwarding device for communication between the first segment and the second segment, wherein:
the first segment comprises a first plurality of devices connected by links of a first physical data link type, the first plurality of devices comprising the first node and a second node; and
the second segment comprises a second plurality of devices connected by links of a second physical data link type different from the first physical data link type, the second plurality of devices comprising the first node and the second node;

based on designating the first node as the forwarding device, determining a plurality of communication paths from a first device of the network to a second device of the network, each path of the plurality of communication paths comprising the first node;
determining, for each path of the plurality of communication paths, a respective path cost of the path based on a throughput metric;
based on the path costs, selecting a first path from the plurality of communication paths for communication from the first device to the second device, wherein the first path has a lowest path cost of the plurality of communication paths; and
transmitting first data from the first device to the second device via the first path;
determining a second plurality of communication paths from the second device to the first device, each path of the second plurality of communication paths comprising the first node;
determining, for each path of the second plurality of communication paths, a respective path cost of the path based on the throughput metric;
based on the path costs, selecting a second path from the second plurality of communication paths for communication from the second device to the first device, wherein the first path does not comprise a reverse path node of the second path; and
transmitting second data from the second device to the first device via second path.

2. A method comprising:
determining, by a first access point (AP) device of a local area network (LAN), a first communication path from the first AP device to a gateway of the LAN, wherein the first communication path comprises a first set of wireless links via one or more forwarding devices between the first AP device and the gateway, wherein the first communication path comprises at least one wired link between two respective forwarding devices in the first communication path;
determining, by the first AP device, a second communication path from the first AP device to the gateway, wherein the second communication path comprises a second set of wireless links via one or more forwarding devices between the first AP device and the gateway;
determining, by the first AP device, a first throughput metric of a first wireless link between the first AP device and a first forwarding device in the first set;
determining, by the first AP device, a first channel utilization metric of the first wireless link;
determining, by the first AP device, a first link metric using the first throughput metric and the first channel utilization metric;
determining, by the first AP device, a first path cost of the first communication path as a first cumulative sum of the first link metric, a link metric of each of the other wireless links in the first communication path, and a link metric of the at least one wired link in the first communication path;
determining, by the first AP device, a second path cost of the second communication path;
receiving, by the first AP device, data from a client device;
determining, by the first AP device, that the first path cost is less than the second path cost; and
sending, by the first AP device, the data to the gateway via the first communication path.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
determining, by the first AP device, a second throughput metric of a second wireless link between the first AP device and a first forwarding device in the second set;
determining, by the first AP device, a second channel utilization metric of the second wireless link;
determining, by the first AP device, a second link metric of the second wireless link using the second throughput metric and the second channel utilization metric; and
determining the second path cost of the second communication path as a second cumulative sum of the second link metric and a link metric of each of the other wireless links in the second communication path.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the link metric of the at least one wired link in the first communication path is set to zero.

5. The method of claim 2 , wherein determining the first link metric of the first wireless link using the first throughput metric and the first channel utilization metric comprises:
determining, by the first AP device, a first difference between i) a first duration of time that a wireless channel associated with the first wireless link is in use and ii) a second duration of time that the first AP device is transmitting;
determining, by the first AP device, a fraction of the first difference divided by iii) a third duration of time that the first AP device is active on the wireless channel associated with the first wireless link;
determining, by the first AP device, the first channel utilization metric by subtracting the fraction from one; and
determining, by the first AP device, the first link metric by dividing a scalar value by a product of the first channel utilization metric and the first throughput metric.

6. The method of claim 2 , wherein the first throughput metric of the first wireless link is an exponentially weighted moving average of a physical layer transmission throughput of the first AP device in the first set.

7. The method of claim 2 , wherein determining the first link metric of the first wireless link comprises determining the first link metric using the first throughput metric, the first channel utilization metric, and a thermal throttling factor associated with a radio of the first AP device.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein determining the first link metric of the first wireless link using the first throughput metric, the first channel utilization metric, and the thermal throttling factor comprises:
determining, by the first AP device, a first difference between i) a first duration of time that a wireless channel associated with the first wireless link is in use and ii) a second duration of time that the first AP device is transmitting;
determining, by the first AP device, a fraction of a sum of the first difference and the thermal throttling factor, the sum being divided by iii) a third duration of time that the first AP device is active on the wireless channel associated with the first wireless link;
determining, by the first AP device, the first channel utilization metric by subtracting the fraction from one; and
determining, by the first AP device, the first link metric by dividing a scalar value by a product of the first channel utilization metric and the first throughput metric.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein determining the first link metric of the first wireless link using the first throughput metric, the first channel utilization metric, and the thermal throttling factor comprises:
determining, by the first AP device, a first difference between i) a first duration of time that a wireless channel associated with the first wireless link is in use and ii) a second duration of time that the first AP device is transmitting;
determining, by the first AP device, a fraction of the first difference divided by iii) a third duration of time that the first AP device is active

Assignees

• A9 Com Inc

Inventors

• Strong Jasmine
• Rodoper Mete
• Thompson Ryan

Classifications

• H04W48/20 Primary

  Selecting an access point · CPC title

• H04W84/18

  Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks · CPC title

• H04W40/02

  Communication route or path selection, e.g. power-based or shortest path routing · CPC title

• H04W24/02

  Arrangements for optimising operational condition · CPC title

• H04L45/00

  Routing or path finding of packets in data switching networks (routing or path finding in wireless networks H04W40/00) · CPC title