Method and apparatus for reliable communications in underground and hazardous areas
First Claim
1. A system for the creation of a reliable wireless ad hoc mesh network architecture and protocol to support normal and emergency operation of voice, data and location communication for underground, industrial and other hazardous environments using a single wideband platform, the system comprising:
- a network architecture based on localized clusters of intrinsically safe autonomous nodes capable of ad hoc interconnection with nearby nodes and connection to gateway nodes resulting in an ad hoc wireless mesh network (WMN) topology where each gateway node, fixed mesh node (FMN) and mobile node contains an ad hoc mesh network protocol for automatic formation of a network topology, power control, and maintenance of reliable link connections within a network;
a reliable and secure radio frequency (RF) physical layer with an ad-hoc networking data link layer that is self-configuring, energy efficient, and scaleable to variable size networks capable of providing reliable communications for a wireless voice and data network;
wherein the ad hoc wireless mesh network (WMN) topology comprises fixed mesh nodes with approximately 50% coverage overlap between nodes to provide a reliable communication network where each cluster of nodes transfers digital voice and data either directly or through multi-hop transactions for mobile nodes carried by personnel and intrinsically safe sensor mesh nodes (SMNs) that are fixed or mobile;
location of stationary nodes are optimized based on signal strength of radio frequency (RF) links and a traffic profile in a manner that if a nearest neighbor node becomes incapacitated, there is sufficient transmit power and receive sensitivity to connect with a next nearest neighbor; and
wherein there are numerous paths in the wireless mesh network, including multiple paths to ultimately connect to decision-making authorities to ensure critical communications are achieved;
wherein the ad hoc wireless mesh network (WMN) includes protocol for dispatch operation, emergency operation, remote supervision, tracking of personnel, remote status, asset control, machine state of health and operational management is capable of being managed by way of a Gateway node connected to an operations center by way of a wide area network; and
wherein tracking of personnel carrying mobile mesh radios (MMR) and mobile nodes is determined by way of triangulation methods based on signal strength and/or time of arrival measurements relative to nearest active fixed mesh nodes in order for surface personnel to determine location of any person underground.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for reliable wireless voice, data and location communication for deployment in underground, industrial and other hazardous environments using a wireless mesh network. The network includes protocol for dispatch operation, emergency operation, remote supervision, remote status, asset control, machine state of health and operational management. The architecture is based on localized clusters of autonomous nodes capable of ad hoc interconnection with nearby nodes and connection to gateway nodes. The resulting network is an ad hoc mesh topology comprised of fixed mesh nodes with approximately 50% coverage overlap between nodes. This provides a reliable communication network for mobile nodes carried by personnel and sensor nodes that are fixed or mobile that supports voice, data and tracking/situation awareness. Each cluster of nodes transfers digital voice and data to gateway nodes either directly or through multi-hop transactions.
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Citations
7 Claims
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1. A system for the creation of a reliable wireless ad hoc mesh network architecture and protocol to support normal and emergency operation of voice, data and location communication for underground, industrial and other hazardous environments using a single wideband platform, the system comprising:
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a network architecture based on localized clusters of intrinsically safe autonomous nodes capable of ad hoc interconnection with nearby nodes and connection to gateway nodes resulting in an ad hoc wireless mesh network (WMN) topology where each gateway node, fixed mesh node (FMN) and mobile node contains an ad hoc mesh network protocol for automatic formation of a network topology, power control, and maintenance of reliable link connections within a network; a reliable and secure radio frequency (RF) physical layer with an ad-hoc networking data link layer that is self-configuring, energy efficient, and scaleable to variable size networks capable of providing reliable communications for a wireless voice and data network; wherein the ad hoc wireless mesh network (WMN) topology comprises fixed mesh nodes with approximately 50% coverage overlap between nodes to provide a reliable communication network where each cluster of nodes transfers digital voice and data either directly or through multi-hop transactions for mobile nodes carried by personnel and intrinsically safe sensor mesh nodes (SMNs) that are fixed or mobile;
location of stationary nodes are optimized based on signal strength of radio frequency (RF) links and a traffic profile in a manner that if a nearest neighbor node becomes incapacitated, there is sufficient transmit power and receive sensitivity to connect with a next nearest neighbor; and
wherein there are numerous paths in the wireless mesh network, including multiple paths to ultimately connect to decision-making authorities to ensure critical communications are achieved;wherein the ad hoc wireless mesh network (WMN) includes protocol for dispatch operation, emergency operation, remote supervision, tracking of personnel, remote status, asset control, machine state of health and operational management is capable of being managed by way of a Gateway node connected to an operations center by way of a wide area network; and wherein tracking of personnel carrying mobile mesh radios (MMR) and mobile nodes is determined by way of triangulation methods based on signal strength and/or time of arrival measurements relative to nearest active fixed mesh nodes in order for surface personnel to determine location of any person underground. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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Specification