Wireless network construction system

• US 8,305,927 B2
• Filed: 01/17/2008
• Issued: 11/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yokogawa Electric Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yokogawa Electric Corporation
• Inventors: Ishii, Yosuke
• Primary Examiner(s): Sheikh, Ayaz
• Assistant Examiner(s): HAMPTON, TARELL A
• Application Number:
  US12/009,171
• Publication Number:
  US 20090116407A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,755 Days
• Field of Search: 370/254, 455/67.11, 455/67.13
• US Class Current: 370/254
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

A wireless network construction system includes: first wireless nodes being previously installed in a wireless network; a wireless node installation support terminal carried in a location capable of conducting wireless communication, the wireless node installation support terminal serving as a wireless node being previously installed in the wireless network; and a second wireless node being newly installed in the wireless network and adjacent to the wireless node installation support terminal. The second wireless node performs a procedure of participation in the wireless network via the wireless node installation support terminal using the wireless communication. The wireless node installation support terminal allocates and distributes a network address to the second wireless node upon performing the procedure of participation in the wireless network. The second wireless node performs a path search and establishes a wireless line between the first wireless nodes and the second wireless node.

Claims

1. A wireless network construction system comprising:

first wireless nodes being previously installed in a wireless network;

a wireless node installation support terminal which is provided in a location capable of conducting wireless communication with the first wireless nodes and which serves as a wireless node that has been previously installed in the wireless network; and

a second wireless node that is to be newly installed in the wireless network, wherein

the second wireless node performs a procedure of participation in the wireless network via the wireless node installation support terminal using wireless communication,

the wireless node installation support terminal allocates and distributes a network address to the second wireless node at a time of performing the procedure of participation of the second wireless node in the wireless network, and after performing the procedure of participation, the wireless node installation support terminal is removed from the location capable of conducting direct wireless communication with the second wireless node,

the second wireless node performs a path search and establishes a wireless line between the first wireless nodes and the second wireless node based on the network address distributed by the wireless node installation support terminal, and

after the wireless line is established, the first wireless nodes and the second wireless node perform wireless communication independent of any further involvement by the wireless node installation support terminal.

2. The wireless network construction system according to claim 1, wherein the wireless node installation support terminal performs distribution of a key for encryption or security authentication processing to the second wireless node.

3. The wireless network construction system according to claim 1, wherein the wireless node installation support terminal synchronizes time of the second wireless node.

4. The wireless network construction system according to claim 1, wherein

the wireless node installation support terminal analyzes a wireless communication state between wireless nodes or a radio wave state of the periphery and then displays analyzed information.

5. The wireless network construction system according to claim 1, wherein the wireless network construction system is applied to a plant control system.

6. The wireless network construction system according to claim 1, wherein the wireless network construction system is applied to a building automation system.

7. The wireless network construction system according to claim 1, wherein the wireless node installation support terminal performs the wireless communication with the second wireless node;

stores network address information;

allocates and distributes the network address to the second wireless node based on stored network address information upon performing the procedure of participation in the wireless network from the second wireless node.

8. The wireless network construction system according to claim 7, wherein the wireless node installation support terminal further performs distribution of a key for encryption stored in a storage or security authentication processing to the second wireless node.

9. The wireless network construction system according to claim 7, wherein the wireless node installation support terminal synchronizes time of the second wireless node.

10. The wireless network construction system according to 7, wherein the wireless node installation support terminal analyzes a wireless communication state between wireless nodes or a radio wave state of the periphery and displays analyzed information on a display device.

11. The wireless network construction system according to claim 7, wherein the wireless network construction system is applied to a plant control system.

12. The wireless network construction system according to claim 7, wherein the wireless network construction system is applied to a building automation system.

13. The wireless network construction system according to claim 7, wherein the wireless node installation support terminal investigates radio wave environment of the first wireless nodes and the wireless node installation support terminal in an installation location of the second wireless node and then determines communication setting information of the second wireless node, which is stored in a storage and suitable for the installation location.

14. The wireless network construction system according to claim 13, wherein the wireless node installation support terminal sends sending output information to the second wireless node based on the communication setting information.

15. The wireless network construction system according to claim 13, wherein the wireless node installation support terminal sends reception sensitivity information to the second wireless node based on the communication setting information.

16. The wireless network construction system according to claim 13, wherein the wireless node installation support terminal sends information about the number of data resendings to the second wireless node based on the communication setting information.

17. The wireless network construction system according to claim 1, wherein the second wireless node performs a path search in order to establish a wireless connection between the first wireless nodes and the second wireless node.