SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING DYNAMIC TRANSMIT POWER IN A MESH NETWORK

• US 20170156118A1
• Filed: 12/01/2015
• Published: 06/01/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rajant Corporation
• Original Assignee: Rajant Corporation
• Inventors: HELLHAKE, Paul, JORDAN, William, ACKER, David
• Granted Patent: US 10,694,473 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/143 Downlink power control
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/241 taking into account channel quality metrics, e.g. SIR, SNR, CIR, Eb/lo
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/286 during data packet transmission, e.g. high speed packet access [HSPA]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/383 power control in peer-to-peer links
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

A system and method for controlling dynamic transmit power in a mesh network are disclosed. Distributed power transmit management methodology that implements transmission power management based on a comparison of signal to noise ratios from received beacon packets is used on a peer-to-peer basis. Embodiments work to keep all nodes accessible, dynamically adaptable to constant changes in the network, maximize frequency reuse, and reduce power requirements to maximize network performance while minimizing interference.

Claims

1. A method for controlling dynamic transmit power in a mesh network, the mesh network comprising a plurality of nodes, the method comprising:

(a) receiving a packet at a receiver of one of the nodes;

(b) determining whether the received packet is a beacon packet;

(c) determining a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the received packet, when the received packet is determined to be a beacon packet;

(d) comparing the SNR to a predetermined range;

(e) determining whether the SNR falls within or outside the predetermined range based on the SNR comparison;

(f) determining a transmit power level adjustment value, when the SNR is determined to fall outside the predetermined range; and

(g) adjusting, at a transmitter of the node, the transmit power level based on the transmit power level adjustment value, wherein the adjusted transmit power level is used by the transmitter for transmitting a non-beacon packet.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a frequency band to be used by the transmitter for transmitting the non-beacon packet, wherein determining the frequency band is based on at least one criteria selected from the group consisting of the adjusted transmit power level, the transmit power level adjustment value, the SNR comparison, and combinations thereof.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of steps (b)-(e) is performed by the receiver.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the transmit power level adjustment value is performed by the receiver.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising sending, via the receiver, the transmit power level adjustment value to the transmitter.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the beacon packet is transmitted at full power.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the SNR is a current SNR and is added to a previous SNR exponential moving average based on a previous SNR to create a current SNR exponential moving average, and wherein the SNR comparison utilizes the current SNR exponential moving average.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising providing an SNR report based on the current SNR to a mesh protocol when the change in SNR (Δ

SNR) from the previous SNR to the current SNR is greater than or equal to a decibel threshold.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the mesh protocol is utilized in determining the transmit power level adjustment value.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the mesh protocol utilizes a low SNR limit, a high SNR limit, and either the ASNR or both the previous SNR and the current SNR.

11. A node that controls dynamic transmit power in a mesh network, the mesh network comprising a plurality of other nodes, the node comprising:

a receiver;

a transmitter;

a processor configured for;

(a) receiving a packet at the receiver;

(b) determining whether the received packet is a beacon packet;

(c) determining a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the received packet, when the received packet is determined to be a beacon packet;

(d) comparing the SNR to a predetermined range;

(e) determining whether the SNR falls within or outside the predetermined range based on the SNR comparison;

(f) determining a transmit power level adjustment value, when the SNR is determined to fall outside the predetermined range; and

(g) adjusting, at the transmitter, the transmit power level based on the transmit power level adjustment value, wherein the adjusted transmit power level is used by the transmitter for transmitting a non-beacon packet.

12. The node of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured for determining a frequency band to be used by the transmitter for transmitting the non-beacon packet, wherein determining the frequency band is based on at least one criteria selected from the group consisting of the adjusted transmit power level, the transmit power level adjustment value, the SNR comparison, and combinations thereof

13. The node of claim 11, wherein at least one of steps (b)-(e) is performed by the receiver.

14. The node of claim 11, wherein determining the transmit power level adjustment value is performed by the receiver.

15. The node of claim 14, wherein the processor is further configured for sending, via the receiver, the transmit power level adjustment value to the transmitter.

16. The node of claim 11, wherein the beacon packet is transmitted at full power.

17. The node of claim 11, wherein the SNR is a current SNR and is added to a previous SNR exponential moving average based on a previous SNR to create a current SNR exponential moving average, and wherein the SNR comparison utilizes the current SNR exponential moving average.

18. The node of claim 17, wherein the processor is further configured for providing an SNR report based on the current SNR to a mesh protocol when the change in SNR (Δ

SNR) from the previous SNR to the current SNR is greater than or equal to a decibel threshold.

19. The node of claim 18, wherein the mesh protocol is utilized in determining the transmit power level adjustment value.

20. The node of claim 19, wherein the mesh protocol utilizes a low SNR limit, a high SNR limit, and either the Δ

SNR or both the previous SNR and the current SNR.