Hexagon pattern layouts of linear sub-mesh networks of a wireless mesh network for broadband connectivity

• US 10,477,411 B1
• Filed: 06/14/2017
• Issued: 11/12/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Inventors: Liu, Jungtao, Gopalakrishnan, Varadarajan
• Primary Examiner(s): Kamara, Mohamed A
• Application Number:
  US15/623,217
• Time in Patent Office: 881 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/024 Co-operative use of antennas of several sites, e.g. in co-ordinated multipoint or co-operative multiple-input multiple-output [MIMO] systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/026 Co-operative diversity, e.g. using fixed or mobile stations as relays
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/18 Network planning tools
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/28 using beam steering
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/30 Special cell shapes, e.g. doughnuts or ring cells
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/047 using dedicated repeater stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements

Abstract

Network hardware devices are organized in a wireless mesh network (WMN) including a base station node (BSN) device connected to a tower in a geographic area and multiple home access node (HAN) relay devices located in a geographic area and separated from one another by a distance. First set, second set, and third set of HAN relay devices are organized in a first hexagon pattern, a second hexagon pattern, and a third hexagon pattern, respectively, forming a base unit of the WMN. The BSN device is communicatively coupled to a first HAN relay device of the first set, a first HAN relay device of the second set, and a first HAN relay device of the third set and the BSN device is positioned within a geographic region defined by an outer perimeter of the base unit.

Claims

1. A wireless mesh network (WMN) comprising:

a first home access node (HAN) relay device comprising;

a first radio to communicate with a base station node (BSN) device;

a second radio to communicate with another HAN relay device in a first linear sub-mesh network;

a third radio to communicate with another HAN relay device in the first linear sub-mesh network; and

a first plurality of radios to communicate with a first set of HAN devices, wherein each HAN device of the first set of HAN devices is an access point that provides Internet connectivity to a client consumption device connected to the respective HAN device, wherein the first HAN relay device and the other HAN relay devices are part of a first hexagon pattern in which a HAN relay device is positioned at each of the six vertices of the first hexagon pattern and a HAN relay device is positioned at a center point of the first hexagon pattern;

a second HAN relay device comprising;

a first radio to communication with the BSN device;

a second radio to communicate with another HAN relay device in a second linear sub-mesh network;

a third radio to communicate with another HAN relay device in the second linear sub-mesh network; and

a second plurality of radios to communicate with a second set of HAN devices, wherein each HAN device of the second set of HAN devices is an access point that provides Internet connectivity to a client consumption device connected to the respective HAN device; and

a third HAN relay device comprising;

a first radio to communication with the BSN device;

a second radio to communicate with another HAN relay device in a third linear sub-mesh network;

a third radio to communicate with another HAN relay device in the third linear sub-mesh network; and

a third plurality of radios to communicate with a third set of HAN devices, wherein each HAN device of the third set of HAN devices is an access point that provides Internet connectivity to a client consumption device connected to the respective HAN device, and wherein;

the first HAN relay device is a closest HAN relay device to the BSN device than the other HAN relay devices in the first linear sub-mesh network,

the second HAN relay device is a closest HAN relay device to the BSN device than the other HAN relay devices in the second linear sub-mesh network, and

the third HAN relay device is a closest HAN relay device to the BSN device than the other HAN relay devices in the third linear sub-mesh network.

2. The WMN of claim 1, wherein the first HAN relay device in the first linear sub-mesh network is positioned at the center point of the first hexagon pattern, wherein the second HAN relay device in the second linear sub-mesh network is positioned at a center point of a second hexagon pattern, wherein the third HAN relay device in the third linear sub-mesh network is positioned at a center point of a third hexagon pattern, and wherein the BSN device is positioned at a center point within a first geographic area bounded by the first HAN relay device, the second HAN relay device, and the third HAN relay device.

3. The WMN of claim 1, wherein the first HAN relay device in the first linear sub-mesh network is positioned at the center point of the first hexagon pattern, wherein the second HAN relay device in the second linear sub-mesh network is positioned at a vertex of a second hexagon pattern, and the third HAN relay device in the third linear sub-mesh network is positioned at a vertex of a third hexagon pattern, wherein the BSN device is positioned within a second geographic area defined by the center point of the first hexagon pattern, a second location of the second HAN relay device, and a third location of the third HAN relay device, and wherein the second geographic area is offset from a first geographic area defined between the first HAN relay device, a HAN relay device positioned at a center point of the second hexagon pattern, and a third HAN relay device positioned at a center point of the third hexagon pattern.

4. The WMN of claim 1, wherein the first HAN relay device in the first linear sub-mesh network is positioned at a vertex of the first hexagon pattern, wherein the second HAN relay device in the second linear sub-mesh network is positioned at a vertex of a second hexagon pattern, and the third HAN relay device in the third linear sub-mesh network is positioned at a vertex of a third hexagon pattern, wherein the BSN device is positioned within a third geographic area defined by a first location of the first hexagon pattern, a second location of the second HAN relay device, and a third location of the third HAN relay device, and wherein the third geographic area is offset from a first geographic area defined a HAN relay device at a center point of the first hexagon pattern, a HAN relay device positioned at a center point of the second hexagon pattern, and a third HAN relay device positioned at a center point of the third hexagon pattern.

5. A wireless mesh network (WMN) for broadband connectivity to broadband Internet infrastructure, the WMN comprising:

a first linear sub-mesh network comprising a first set of home access node (HAN) relay devices organized in a first hexagon pattern;

a second linear sub-mesh network comprising a second set of HAN relay devices organized in a second hexagon pattern, wherein a diagonal of the second hexagon pattern is rotated 60 degrees from a diagonal of the first hexagon pattern in a first direction;

a third linear sub-mesh network comprising a third set of HAN relay devices organized in a third hexagon pattern, wherein a diagonal of the third hexagon pattern is rotated 60 degrees from the diagonal of the first hexagon pattern in a second direction, wherein the first set, the second set, and the third set form a base unit of the WMN; and

a base station node (BSN) device communicatively coupled to a first HAN relay device of the first set, a first HAN relay device of the second set, and a first HAN relay device of the third set, and wherein the BSN device is positioned within a geographic region defined by an outer perimeter of the base unit.

6. The WMN of claim 5, wherein the first HAN relay device of the first set is positioned at a center point of the first hexagon pattern, wherein the first HAN relay device of the second set is positioned at a center point of the second hexagon pattern, wherein the first HAN relay device of the third set is positioned at a center point of the third hexagon pattern, and wherein the BSN device is positioned at a center point of the geographic region.

7. The WMN of claim 5, wherein the first HAN relay device of the first set is positioned at a center point of the first hexagon pattern, wherein the first HAN relay device of the second set is positioned at a vertex of the second hexagon pattern, and the first HAN relay device of the third set is positioned at a vertex of the third hexagon pattern, wherein the BSN device is positioned within a second geographic area defined between a first location of the first HAN relay device of the first set, a second location of the first HAN relay device of the second set, and the first HAN relay device of the third set, and wherein the second geographic area is offset from a first geographic area defined between the first HAN relay device at the center point of the first hexagon pattern, a HAN relay device positioned at a center point of the second hexagon pattern, and a third HAN relay device positioned at a center point of the third hexagon pattern.

8. The WMN of claim 5, wherein the first HAN relay device of the first set is positioned at a center point of the first hexagon pattern, wherein the first HAN relay device of the second set is positioned at a vertex of the second hexagon pattern, and the first HAN relay device of the third set is positioned at a vertex of the third hexagon pattern, wherein the BSN device is positioned within a second geographic area defined between a first location of the first HAN relay device of the first set, a second location of the first HAN relay device of the second set, and the first HAN relay device of the third set, and wherein the second geographic area is adjacent to a first geographic area defined between the first HAN relay device at the center point of the first hexagon pattern, a HAN relay device positioned at a center point of the second hexagon pattern, and a third HAN relay device positioned at a center point of the third hexagon pattern.

9. The WMN of claim 5, wherein the first HAN relay device of the first set is positioned at a vertex of the first hexagon pattern, wherein the first HAN relay device of the second set is positioned at a vertex of the second hexagon pattern, and the first HAN relay device of the third set is positioned at a vertex of the third hexagon pattern, wherein the BSN device is positioned within a third geographic area defined between a first location of the first HAN relay device of the first set, a second location of the first HAN relay device of the second set, and the first HAN relay device of the third set, and wherein the third geographic area is offset from a first geographic area defined between a HAN relay device positioned at a center point of the first hexagon pattern, a HAN relay device positioned at a center point of the second hexagon pattern, and a third HAN relay device positioned at a center point of the third hexagon pattern.

10. The WMN of claim 5, wherein the first HAN relay device of the first set is positioned at a vertex of the first hexagon pattern, wherein the first HAN relay device of the second set is positioned at a vertex of the second hexagon pattern, and the first HAN relay device of the third set is positioned at a vertex of the third hexagon pattern, wherein the BSN device is positioned within a third geographic area defined between a first location of the first HAN relay device of the first set, a second location of the first HAN relay device of the second set, and the first HAN relay device of the third set, and wherein the third geographic area is not adjacent to a first geographic area defined between a HAN relay device positioned at a center point of the first hexagon pattern, a HAN relay device positioned at a center point of the second hexagon pattern, and a third HAN relay device positioned at a center point of the third hexagon pattern.

11. The WMN of claim 5, wherein the first linear sub-mesh network comprises seven HAN relay devices organized in the first hexagon pattern with six of the seven HAN relay devices each disposed at a vertex of the first hexagon pattern and one of the seven HAN relay devices disposed at a center point of the first hexagon pattern, wherein the second linear sub-mesh network comprises seven HAN relay devices organized in the second hexagon pattern with six of the seven HAN relay devices each disposed at a vertex of the second hexagon pattern and one of the seven HAN relay devices disposed at a center point of the second hexagon pattern, and wherein the third linear sub-mesh network comprises seven HAN relay devices organized in the third hexagon pattern with six of the seven HAN relay devices each disposed at a vertex of the first hexagon pattern and one of the seven HAN relay devices disposed at a center point of the third hexagon pattern.

12. The WMN of claim 5, wherein the first HAN relay device comprises:

a first radio to communicate with the BSN device;

a second radio to communicate with another HAN relay device in the first linear sub-mesh network;

a third radio to communicate with another HAN relay device in the first linear sub-mesh network; and

a first plurality of radios to communicate with a first set of HAN devices, wherein each HAN device of the first set of HAN devices is an access point that provides Internet connectivity to a client consumption device connected to the respective HAN device, and wherein the first HAN relay device and the other HAN relay devices are part of a first hexagon pattern in which a HAN relay device is positioned at each of the six vertices of the first hexagon pattern and a HAN relay device is positioned at a center point of the first hexagon pattern.

13. The WMN of claim 12, wherein the first plurality of radios comprises:

a fourth radio to communicate with a HAN device located in a first sector within the first hexagon pattern, the first sector being a geographic area that spans 120 degrees of the first hexagon pattern;

a fifth radio to communicate with a HAN device located in a second sector within the first hexagon pattern, the second sector being a geographic area that spans another 120 degrees of the first hexagon pattern; and

a sixth radio to communicate with a HAN device located in a third sector within the first hexagon pattern, the third sector being a geographic area that spans another 120 degrees of the first hexagon pattern.

14. The WMN of claim 5, wherein the first linear sub-mesh network comprises:

a first frequency-division duplex (FDD) link over which the first HAN relay device and a second HAN relay device of the first set communicate;

a second FDD link over which the second HAN relay device and a third HAN relay device of the first set communicate;

a third FDD link over which the third HAN relay device and a fourth HAN relay device of the first set communicate;

a fourth FDD link over which the fourth HAN relay device and a fifth HAN relay device of the first set communicate;

a fifth FDD link over which the fifth HAN relay device and a sixth HAN relay device of the first set communicate; and

a sixth FDD link over which the sixth HAN relay device and a seventh HAN relay device of the first set communicate.

15. The WMN of claim 5, wherein the first linear sub-mesh network further comprises seven HAN relay devices of the first hexagon pattern and five additional HAN relay devices organized in a fourth hexagon pattern, and wherein the fourth hexagon pattern comprises seven HAN relay devices, two of which are common to the seven HAN relay devices of the first hexagon pattern.

16. The WMN of claim 5, wherein the first hexagon pattern, the second hexagon pattern, and the third hexagon pattern are part of a first tier of the WMN in which at least one HAN relay device of each of the first linear sub-mesh network, the second linear sub-mesh network, and the third linear sub-mesh network is communicatively coupled to the BSN device over a direct link, and wherein the WMN comprises a second tier of additional HAN relay devices in which none of the additional HAN relay devices is communicatively coupled to the BSN device over a direct link.

17. A wireless mesh network comprising:

a base station node (BSN) device; and

a plurality of home access node (HAN) relay devices located in a geographic area and separated from one another by a distance, wherein the plurality of HAN relay devices comprises;

a first set of HAN relay devices that is organized in a first linear sub-mesh network with a first deployment layout;

a second set of HAN relay devices that is organized in a second linear sub-mesh network with a second deployment layout; and

a third set of HAN relay devices that is organized in a third linear sub-mesh network with a third deployment layout, and wherein at least one of the plurality of HAN relay devices is common to the first set, the second set, and the third set as a merged HAN relay device, wherein the first set of HAN relay devices is organized in a first hexagon pattern for the first deployment layout, the second set of HAN relay devices is organized in a second hexagon pattern for the second deployment layout, and the third set of HAN relay devices is organized in a third hexagon pattern for the third deployment layout.

18. The wireless mesh network of claim 17, wherein each of the first set of HAN relay devices establishes a frequency-division duplex (FDD) link between itself and at least one other HAN relay device of the first set, and wherein at least one of the first set of HAN relay devices establishes a time-division duplex (TDD) link over which the at least one of the plurality of HAN relay devices communicates with the BSN device.

19. The wireless mesh network of claim 17, wherein the first deployment layout has a first S or inverse-S shape, wherein the second deployment layout has a second S or inverse-S shape that is rotated 60 degrees from the first S or inverse-S shape, and wherein the third deployment layout has a third S or inverse-S shape that is rotated 60 degrees from the second S or inverse-S shape.

20. The wireless mesh network of claim 17, wherein a diagonal of the second hexagon pattern is rotated 60 degrees from a diagonal of the first hexagon pattern in a first direction, wherein a diagonal of the third hexagon pattern is rotated 60 degrees from the diagonal of the first hexagon pattern in a second direction, and wherein the BSN device is communicatively coupled to:

a first HAN relay device of the first set being positioned at a center point of the first hexagon pattern;

a first HAN relay device of the second set being positioned at a center point of the second hexagon pattern; and

a first HAN relay device of the third set being positioned at a center point of the third hexagon pattern, and wherein the BSN device is positioned within a geographic region defined by a first HAN relay device of the first set, a second location of the first HAN relay device of the second set, and a third location of the first HAN relay device.

21. The wireless mesh network of claim 17, wherein the first set of HAN relay devices is organized in a first hexagon pattern, the second set of HAN relay devices is organized in a second hexagon pattern, and the third set of HAN relay devices is organized in a third hexagon pattern, wherein a diagonal of the second hexagon pattern is rotated 60 degrees from a diagonal of the first hexagon pattern in a first direction, wherein a diagonal of the third hexagon pattern is rotated 60 degrees from the diagonal of the first hexagon pattern in a second direction, and wherein the BSN device is communicatively coupled to:

a first HAN relay device of the first set being positioned at a center point of the first hexagon pattern;

a first HAN relay device of the second set being positioned at a vertex of the second hexagon pattern; and

a first HAN relay device of the third set being positioned at a vertex of the third hexagon pattern, wherein the BSN device is positioned within a geographic region defined by a first HAN relay device of the first set, a second location of the first HAN relay device of the second set, and a third location of the first HAN relay device.

22. The wireless mesh network of claim 17, wherein the first set of HAN relay devices is organized in a first hexagon pattern, the second set of HAN relay devices is organized in a second hexagon pattern, and the third set of HAN relay devices is organized in a third hexagon pattern, wherein a diagonal of the second hexagon pattern is rotated 60 degrees from a diagonal of the first hexagon pattern in a first direction, wherein a diagonal of the third hexagon pattern is rotated 60 degrees from the diagonal of the first hexagon pattern in a second direction, and wherein the BSN device is communicatively coupled to:

a first HAN relay device of the first set being positioned at a vertex of the first hexagon pattern;

a first HAN relay device of the second set being positioned at a vertex of the second hexagon pattern; and

a first HAN relay device of the third set being positioned at a vertex of the third hexagon pattern, wherein the BSN device is positioned within a geographic region defined by a first HAN relay device of the first set, a second location of the first HAN relay device of the second set, and a third location of the first HAN relay device.