High Performance Wireless Network
Patent No. US11368537 (titled "High Performance Wireless Network") was filed by Dynamic Mesh Networks Inc on Sep 21, 2020.
What is this patent about?
’537 is related to the field of wireless networking, specifically addressing the challenge of providing both low latency and high throughput in a mesh network environment. Traditional networks often struggle to balance these conflicting requirements, leading to suboptimal performance for applications with diverse needs, such as voice, video, and data. The patent aims to improve network performance by enabling intelligent, distributed control at the edge of the network.
The underlying idea behind ’537 is to create a self-configuring wireless mesh network where each node ( mesh access point ) dynamically selects its parent node based on criteria set by a central access server. This allows the network to adapt to varying application requirements, optimizing for either low latency or high throughput. The key insight is to distribute the control logic to the individual nodes, enabling them to make intelligent routing decisions based on local conditions and global policies.
The claims of ’537 focus on a wireless mesh network comprising a plurality of Wi-Fi nodes organized in a tree shape, and an access server in data communication with the nodes. Each mesh access point (MAP) node automatically connects to a single associated parent node, selecting it from potential parents within wireless range. The selection is based on criteria defined by the access server, including throughput (signal strength) and latency (number of hops). The MAP node includes unique identifiers and two or more radios for wireless communication.
In practice, each MAP node continuously monitors potential parent nodes, evaluating their signal strength and distance (in hops) to the root access point. The access server provides parameters that weight the importance of latency versus throughput, allowing the network administrator to tune the network's behavior. For example, if low latency is prioritized, nodes will tend to connect to parents closer to the root, even if the signal strength is weaker. Conversely, if high throughput is prioritized, nodes will choose parents with stronger signals, even if it increases the number of hops.
This approach differs from prior solutions that rely on centralized control or static routing configurations. By distributing the decision-making process to the nodes themselves, the network can adapt more quickly to changing conditions, such as node failures or increased traffic loads. The use of multiple radios in each node further enhances flexibility, allowing for simultaneous communication with clients and parent nodes. The network also incorporates mechanisms for loop prevention and health monitoring, ensuring stability and reliability.
How does this patent fit in bigger picture?
Technical landscape at the time
In the early 2000s when ’537 was filed, at a time when wireless networks were increasingly being used for both voice and data, the challenge was to provide low latency for voice and high throughput for data within the same network. Systems commonly relied on centralized control, which adversely affected scalability and redundancy. Building reliable wireless networks was constrained by the cost of associating and disassociating with relay nodes to switch routing paths, and the expense of multiple radios supporting separate voice and data channels.
Novelty and Inventive Step
The examiner approved the application because claim 1 defines an invention that differs from the prior art. Specifically, claim 1 includes "one or more root access point (RAP) nodes having a wired connection to an external network; one or more mesh access point (MAP) nodes; wherein a MAP node is in a data communication with the external network through an associated RAP node; wherein the MAP node is in a direct wireless data communication with a single associated parent node, wherein the associated parent node is either the associated RAP node, or another MAP node in a data communication with the external network through its associated RAP node; wherein the MAP node automatically connects to the associated parent node by selecting the single associated parent node from one or more potential parent nodes that are within a direct wireless communication range of the MAP node and establishing a parent-child relationship with the associated parent node, process for the automatic connection comprising: selecting a parent node from the one or more potential parent nodes based at least in part on one or more parent selection criteria defined by the access server, wherein the parent node so selected is the associated parent node; and establishing a direct wireless data connection between the MAP node and the associated parent node". The examiner stated that this difference would not have been obvious to someone skilled in the art.
Claims
This patent contains 19 claims, with independent claims numbered 1, 17, and 18. The independent claims are directed to a wireless mesh network comprising Wi-Fi nodes organized in a tree shape. The dependent claims generally elaborate on and add detail to the elements and features described in the independent claims, such as network health monitoring, parent node selection criteria, and data routing.
Key Claim Terms New
Definitions of key terms used in the patent claims.
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Date
Description
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US11368537
- Application Number
- US17027381
- Filing Date
- Sep 21, 2020
- Status
- Expired
- Expiry Date
- May 8, 2023
- External Links
- Slate, USPTO, Google Patents