APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR IMPROVING THE RELIABILITY OF INDUSTRIAL WIRELESS NETWORKS THAT EXPERIENCE OUTAGES IN BACKBONE CONNECTIVITY

• US 20120051211A1
• Filed: 08/26/2010
• Published: 03/01/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Budampati, Ramakrishna S., Kolavennu, Soumitri N., Mahasenan, Arun V.
• Granted Patent: US 8,498,201 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/217
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0659 by isolating or reconfiguring faulty entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0661 by reconfiguring faulty entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/22 Alternate routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/26 Route discovery packet
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/22 using selective relaying for reaching a BTS [Base Transceiver Station] or an access point
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A method includes wirelessly receiving first data at a first backbone router and routing the first data from the first backbone router to a backbone network using a backbone connection of the first backbone router when the backbone connection is operational. The method also includes detecting a failure of the backbone connection after routing of the first data and automatically reconfiguring the first backbone router to function as a field router that does not route data using the backbone connection. The method further includes wirelessly receiving second data at the first backbone router and wirelessly routing the second data along an alternate path from the first backbone router to a second backbone router without using the backbone connection. The method could also include establishing the alternate path between the first backbone router and the second backbone router based on whether the first and second backbone routers are within wireless range.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

wirelessly receiving first data at a first backbone router in a wireless network;

routing the first data from the first backbone router to a backbone network using a backbone connection of the first backbone router when the backbone connection is operational;

detecting a failure of the backbone connection after routing of the first data;

automatically reconfiguring the first backbone router to function as a field router that does not route data using the backbone connection;

wirelessly receiving second data at the first backbone router; and

wirelessly routing the second data along an alternate path from the first backbone router to a second backbone router without using the backbone connection.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

establishing the alternate path between the first backbone router and the second backbone router, the alternate path based on whether the first backbone router is in wireless range of the second backbone router.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein establishing the alternate path comprises, when the first backbone router is within wireless range of the second backbone router:

assigning the second backbone router as a data link layer neighbor of the first backbone router; and

assigning to the first backbone router transmit and receive links that occur in specified time slots, the transmit and receive links known to the second backbone router.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein establishing the alternate path comprises, when the first backbone router is not within wireless range of the second backbone router:

if a neighboring field router in wireless range of the first backbone router is line powered, assigning to the first backbone router a first transmit link and a receive link that occur in specified time slots, the first transmit link and the receive link known to the neighboring field router; and

if the neighboring field router in wireless range of the first backbone router is locally powered, assigning a second transmit link to the first backbone router, the second transmit link known to the neighboring field router;

wherein the second data is wirelessly routed to the neighboring field router using one of the first and second transmit links for delivery to the second backbone router having an operational alternate backbone connection.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein wirelessly routing the second data along the alternate path comprises:

using source routing at a data link layer of the first backbone router such that a source route is included in the second data routed over the alternate path from the first backbone router.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting a message identifying the failed backbone connection from the first backbone router over the alternate path.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting restoration of the backbone connection; and

reconfiguring the first backbone router to route additional data to the backbone network over the restored backbone connection.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the first backbone router comprises a wireless physical layer, data link layer, and network layer and a backbone physical layer, data link layer, network layer, and transport layer;

routing the first data from the first backbone router to the backbone network comprises routing the first data from the wireless network layer through the backbone transport, network, data link, and physical layers; and

automatically reconfiguring the first backbone router and wirelessly routing the second data along the alternate path comprise causing the first backbone router to route the second data through the wireless data link and physical layers for wireless transmission over the alternate path.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

adjusting at least one of a quality of service parameter and a communication path in the wireless network at the first backbone router after the first backbone router has been reconfigured as the field router.

10. An apparatus comprising:

at least one wireless transceiver configured to communicate over a wireless network;

at least one network interface configured to communicate over a backbone connection; and

a controller configured to;

when the backbone connection is operational, route first data over the backbone connection using the at least one network interface, the first data received wirelessly by the at least one wireless transceiver; and

when the backbone connection is non-operational, (i) automatically reconfigure the apparatus to function as a field router that does not route data using the backbone connection and (ii) wirelessly route second data along an alternate path to a backbone router with an alternate backbone connection using the at least one wireless transceiver, the second data received wirelessly by the at least one wireless transceiver.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the controller is further configured to establish the alternate path, the alternate path based on whether the apparatus is in wireless range of the backbone router.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein, when the apparatus is within wireless range of the backbone router, the controller is configured to establish the alternate path by:

assigning the backbone router as a data link layer neighbor of the apparatus; and

assigning to the apparatus transmit and receive links that occur in specified time slots, the transmit and receive links known to the backbone router.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein, when the apparatus is not within wireless range of the backbone router, the controller is configured to establish the alternate path by:

if a neighboring field router in wireless range of the apparatus is line powered, assigning to the apparatus a first transmit link and a receive link that occur in specified time slots, the first transmit link and the receive link known to the neighboring field router; and

if the neighboring field router in wireless range of the apparatus is locally powered, assigning a second transmit link to the apparatus, the second transmit link known to the neighboring field router;

wherein the apparatus is configured to wirelessly route the second data to the neighboring field router using one of the first and second transmit links for delivery to the backbone router.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the controller is configured to wirelessly route the second data along the alternate path using source routing at a data link layer such that a source route is included in the second data routed over the alternate path.

15. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the controller is further configured to transmit a message identifying the failed backbone connection over the alternate path.

16. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the controller is further configured to:

detect restoration of the backbone connection; and

reconfigure the apparatus to route additional data over the restored backbone connection.

17. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein:

the apparatus comprises a wireless physical layer, data link layer, and network layer and a backbone physical layer, data link layer, network layer, and transport layer;

the controller is configured to route the first data over the backbone connection by routing the first data from the wireless network layer through the backbone transport, network, data link, and physical layers; and

the controller is configured to wirelessly route the second data along the alternate path by routing the second data through the wireless data link and physical layers for wireless transmission over the alternate path.

18. A computer readable medium embodying a computer program, the computer program comprising computer readable program code for:

receiving first data transmitted wirelessly to a first backbone router in a wireless network;

routing the first data from the first backbone router to a backbone network using a backbone connection of the first backbone router when the backbone connection is operational;

detecting a failure of the backbone connection after routing of the first data;

automatically reconfiguring the first backbone router to function as a field router that does not route data using the backbone connection;

receiving second data transmitted wirelessly to the first backbone router; and

wirelessly routing the second data along an alternate path from the first backbone router to a second backbone router without using the backbone connection.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 18, further comprising computer readable program code for establishing the alternate path by:

assigning the second backbone router as a data link layer neighbor of the first backbone router; and

assigning to the first backbone router transmit and receive links that occur in specified time slots, the transmit and receive links known to the second backbone router.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 18, further comprising computer readable program code for establishing the alternate path by:

if a neighboring field router in wireless range of the first backbone router is line powered, assigning to the first backbone router a first transmit link and a receive link that occur in specified time slots, the first transmit link and the receive link known to the neighboring field router; and

if the neighboring field router in wireless range of the first backbone router is locally powered, assigning a second transmit link to the first backbone router, the second transmit link known to the neighboring field router;

wherein the computer readable program code for wirelessly routing the second data along the alternate path comprises computer readable program code for wirelessly routing the second data to the neighboring field router using one of the first and second transmit links for delivery to the second backbone router having an operational alternate backbone connection.