Apparatus and method for setting wireless mesh network and computer-readable recording medium

• US 10,334,590 B2
• Filed: 10/11/2016
• Issued: 06/25/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SK Planet Co., Ltd. (SK Telecom Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: SK Planet Co., Ltd. (SK Telecom Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Kang, Kichon
• Primary Examiner(s): Zhao, Wei
• Application Number:
  US15/289,969
• Publication Number:
  US 20170118754A1
• Time in Patent Office: 987 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0446 Resources in time domain, e.g. slots or frames
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0453 Resources in frequency domain, e.g. a carrier in FDMA
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/52 based on load
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/541 using the level of interference
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for setting a wireless mesh network and a computer-readable recording medium storing a program for carrying out the method, and more particularly, to an apparatus and method for preventing interference between beacon devices by setting different channels for the beacon devices and distributing different time slots to the beacon devices, and a computer-readable recording medium storing a program for carrying out the method.

Claims

1. A first beacon device comprising:

a first communication unit configured to communicate with one or more other first beacon devices in a tree topology;

a second communication unit configured to communicate with one or more second beacon devices, wherein the second beacon devices are designated within a different level in the tree topology from the first beacon devices; and

a controller configured to control transmission of a beacon signal by;

allocating a respective usable frequency as a communication channel for each of the one or more other first beacon devices; and

allocating, within a preset usable frequency that is different from the respective usable frequencies allocated to the one or more other first beacon devices, a time slot to each of the one or more second beacon devices for defining usable times during which a respective second beacon device communicates with the one or more other first beacon devices through the preset usable frequency, wherein the time slot lasts for a predetermined length of time; and

wherein the controller is configured to check usable frequencies for each different first beacon device corresponding to a parent node, a sibling node, and a child node, and allocate the respective usable frequencies to the each different first beacon devices so as not to overlap the usable frequencies of the other first beacon devices.

2. The first beacon device of claim 1, wherein the second communication unit is configured to communicate with the one or more second beacon devices in a star topology.

3. The first beacon device of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to:

check actual locations of the each different first beacon devices;

determine whether the each different first beacon devices are close to other first beacon devices within a certain distance range; and

allocate the respective usable frequency so as not to overlap usable frequencies of the other first beacon devices determined to be within the certain distance range.

4. The first beacon device of claim 1, wherein the first communication unit is configured to communicate with the one or more other first beacon devices using a first wireless communication method, and

the second communication unit is configured to communicate with the one or more second beacon devices using a second communication method different from the first wireless communication method.

5. The first beacon device of claim 1, wherein the usable times comprises a preset whole time slot;

and

wherein the controller is configured to divide the preset whole time slot according to a number of the second beacon devices in communication with the second communication unit, and allocate individual time slots to each of the second beacon devices in communication with the second communication unit.

6. The first beacon device of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to:

set individual time slots for the second beacon devices in communication with the second communication unit in advance; and

allocate all the time slots according to a number of the second beacon devices in communication with the second communication unit.

7. The first beacon device of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to collect traffic information of the connected second beacon devices and allocates individual time slots to each of the second beacon devices based on the traffic information.

8. The first beacon device of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to allocate an idle time slot between individual time slots of the second beacon devices in communication with the second communication unit.

9. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium storing a program for executing a method for setting a wireless mesh network, the program, when executed by a first beacon device, causes the first beacon device to:

communicate with a plurality of first beacon devices in a tree topology;

allocate a respective usable frequency as a communication channel for each of the plurality of first beacon devices;

connect one or more second beacon devices to at least one of the plurality of first beacon devices, wherein the second beacon devices are designated within a different level in the tree topology from the first beacon devices; and

allocate, within a preset usable frequency that is different from the respective usable frequencies allocated to the one or more first beacon devices, a time slot to each of the one or more second beacon devices for defining usable times during which a respective second beacon device communicates with the one or more first beacon devices through the preset usable frequency, wherein the time slot lasts for a predetermined length of time; and

allocate the respective usable frequencies by checking usable frequencies of different first beacon devices corresponding to a parent node, a sibling node, and a child node of each of the first beacon devices, and allocate the respective usable frequencies to the different first beacon devices so as not to overlap the usable frequencies of the first beacon devices.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable recording medium of claim 9, wherein the program, when executed by the first beacon device, causes the first beacon device to allocate the plurality of preset usable frequencies by further:

checking actual locations of the plurality of different first beacon devices;

determining whether the different first beacon devices are close to other first beacon devices within a certain distance range from each first beacon device; and

allocating the respective usable frequency so as not to overlap usable frequencies of the other first beacon devices determined to be within the certain distance range.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable recording medium of claim 9, wherein the program, when executed by the first beacon device, causes the first beacon device to allocate the time slots by dividing a preset whole time slot according to a number of connected second beacon devices, and allocating individual time slots to each of the connected second beacon devices.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable recording medium of claim 9, wherein the program, when executed by the first beacon device, causes the first beacon device to allocate the time slots by setting individual time slots of the connected second beacon devices in advance, and allocating all the time slots according to a number of the connected second beacon devices.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable recording medium of claim 9, wherein the program, when executed by the first beacon device, causes the first beacon device to allocate the time slots by collecting traffic information of the connected second beacon devices, and allocating individual time slots to each of the connected second beacon devices based on the traffic information.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable recording medium of claim 9, wherein the program, when executed by the first beacon device, causes the first beacon device to allocate the time slots by allocating an idle time slot between individual time slots of the connected second beacon devices.

15. A method of setting a wireless mesh network, performed by a first beacon device, the method comprising:

communicating with a plurality of first beacon devices in a tree topology;

allocating a respective usable frequency as a communication channel for each of the plurality of first beacon devices;

connecting one or more second beacon devices to at least one of the plurality of first beacon devices, wherein the second beacon devices are designated within a different level in the tree topology from the first beacon devices; and

allocating, within a preset usable frequency that is different from the respective usable frequencies allocated to the one or more first beacon devices, a time slot to each of the one or more second beacon devices for defining usable times during which a respective second beacon device communicates with the one or more first beacon devices through the preset usable frequency, wherein the time slot lasts for a predetermined length of time; and

wherein the allocating of the respective usable frequencies includes checking usable frequencies of different first beacon devices corresponding to a parent node, a sibling node, and a child node of each of the first beacon devices, and allocating the respective usable frequency to each first beacon device so as not to overlap the usable frequencies of the different first beacon devices.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the allocating of the plurality of preset usable frequencies includes:

checking actual locations of the plurality of different first beacon devices;

determining whether the different first beacon devices are close to other first beacon devices within a certain distance range from each first beacon device; and

allocating a usable frequency so as not to overlap usable frequencies of the other first beacon devices determined to be within the certain distance range.