Multi-media multi-modulation and multi-data rate mesh network
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method comprising:
- determining a strength of received signals on communication links from neighbor nodes in a mesh network, the received signals including multiple different communication technologies, wherein the multiple different communication technologies include multiple different radio frequency (RF) communication technologies having different RF modulation schemes;
selecting a subset of the communication links based in part on the strength of the received signals;
exercising the subset of the communication links by sending data and receiving response data via each of the subset of the communication links;
analyzing the response data;
evaluating a link quality as a function of an available data rate of each of the subset of the communication links based in part on the analyzing;
determining a figure of merit (FOM) based at least in part on a combination of the link quality and the available data rate for each link in the subset of the communication links;
employing a routing protocol to select a communication link from the subset of the communication links for routing a data packet to a neighbor node based in part on the FOM associated with the selected communication link and an identified communications technology; and
transmitting the data packet to the neighbor node using the identified communication technology and the available data rate of the selected communication link.
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Abstract
A node having a multiple protocol receiver may listen to multiple links in parallel and determine a quality of links having multiple communication technologies between the node and multiple neighbor nodes. The multiple communication technologies may include radio frequency (RF) communication technologies and one or more power line communication (PLC) communication technologies. The node determines a link quality metric for each link associated with an optimum communication technology and data rate, and maintains availability information of neighbor nodes. The node may then route communications to neighbor nodes using the link quality metric and the availability information.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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determining a strength of received signals on communication links from neighbor nodes in a mesh network, the received signals including multiple different communication technologies, wherein the multiple different communication technologies include multiple different radio frequency (RF) communication technologies having different RF modulation schemes; selecting a subset of the communication links based in part on the strength of the received signals; exercising the subset of the communication links by sending data and receiving response data via each of the subset of the communication links; analyzing the response data; evaluating a link quality as a function of an available data rate of each of the subset of the communication links based in part on the analyzing; determining a figure of merit (FOM) based at least in part on a combination of the link quality and the available data rate for each link in the subset of the communication links; employing a routing protocol to select a communication link from the subset of the communication links for routing a data packet to a neighbor node based in part on the FOM associated with the selected communication link and an identified communications technology; and transmitting the data packet to the neighbor node using the identified communication technology and the available data rate of the selected communication link. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a node, configure the node to perform acts comprising:
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determining, via a multi-protocol receiver of the node, a strength of received signals on communication links from neighbor nodes in a mesh network, the received signals including signals having multiple different radio frequency (RF) communication technologies and one or more power line communication (PLC) communication technologies; selecting a subset of the communication links based in part on the strength of the received signals; exercising the subset of the communication links by communicating data at available data rates of each of the subset of the communication links; evaluating a link quality as a function of the available data rates for each of the subset of the communication links based in part on the communicating data; determining a figure of merit (FOM) based in part on a combination of the link quality and the available data rate for each link in the subset of the communication links; and routing a data packet to a neighbor node based in part on the FOM associated with each link in the subset of the communication links. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A node of a mesh network, the node comprising:
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one or more processors; memory communicatively coupled to the one or more processors; a radio with a multiple protocol receiver configured to listen in parallel to radio frequency (RF) communication links to neighbor nodes of the mesh network, the RF communication links to include different RF communication technologies; a power line communications (PLC) transceiver configured to communicate with one or more of the neighbor nodes over PLC communication links via a PLC communication technology; and one or more modules stored in the memory and executable on the one or more processors to; determine a strength of received signals on communication links to include the RF communication links and the PLC communication links; select a subset of the communication links based in part on the strength of the received signals; exercise the subset of the communication links by communicating data at available data rates over each of the subset of the communication links; determine a combination of a communication link successfulness and an available data rate for each of the subset of the communication links; maintain information identifying an available data rate and a corresponding RF or PLC communication technology associated with the cross product of each of the subset of the communication links; select a communication link from among the subset of the communication links to route a data packet to a neighbor node based in part on the information maintained regarding cross product associated with the selected communication link; and direct transmission of the data packet to the neighbor node via the selected communication link.
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Specification