WIRELESS VEHICLE MESH NETWORK

Abstract

A wireless multi-node communication network which includes a coordinator, and a plurality of vehicle nodes which are configured to communicate information back and forth with said coordinator. The system may include a plurality of clusters, each of which comprises a plurality of devices such as sensors. One of the devices of each cluster is configured to receive information from the other devices in the cluster, and transmit information to the coordinator. The coordinator not only receives information about the network, but may also be configured to route the information to other networks. The network could be disposed on a tractor-trailer, wherein the devices comprise different sensors, such as pressure sensors, temperature sensors, voltage sensors and switch controls, all of which are located in areas relatively close to each other.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The organization and manner of the structure and operation of the invention, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals identify like elements in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates the different layers of a vehicle network which is in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a mesh network architecture which is in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates beacon network communication;

FIG. 4 illustrates non-beacon network communication;

FIG. 5 illustrates an example of the mesh network architecture of FIG. 2, implemented on a tractor-trailer;

FIG. 6 illustrates some possible sensors, etc. that may be implemented within the network;

FIG. 7 illustrates protocol stack features;

FIG. 8 illustrates the data frame format;

FIG. 9 illustrates the acknowledgment frame format;

FIG. 10 illustrates the MAC command frame format;

FIG. 11 illustrates the beacon frame format;

FIG. 12 illustrates CAN message content;

FIG. 13 illustrates a possible interaction sequence;

FIG. 14 provides a schematic view of the network, illustrating its reliability;

FIG. 15 illustrates the direct sequence aspect of the communication;

FIG. 16 illustrates a mesh network which is in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 17 illustrates an exemplary block diagram for a sensor application;

FIG. 18 is similar to FIG. 17, but illustrates an implementation using a J1939 interface;

FIG. 19 illustrates three different topology models which can be used in association with the present invention;

FIG. 20 illustrates the joining of one network with another; and

FIG. 21 illustrates a trailer tracking model, which is in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Claims

1. A wireless multi-node communication network comprising: a coordinator; and a plurality of vehicle nodes which are configured to communicate information back and forth with said coordinator.

2. A wireless multi-node communication network as recited in claim 1, wherein each vehicle node comprises a router which is configured to communicate information back and forth with said coordinator.

3. A wireless multi-node communication network as recited in claim 1, wherein each vehicle node comprises a router which is configured to communicate information back and forth with said coordinator, and a plurality of clusters, wherein each cluster is configured to communicate information to said router.

4. A wireless multi-node communication network as recited in claim 1, wherein each vehicle node comprises a router which is configured to communicate information back and forth with said coordinator, and a plurality of clusters, wherein each cluster comprises at least one sensor, and each cluster is configured to communicate information to said router.

5. A wireless multi-node communication network as recited in claim 4, wherein said at least one sensor is configured to periodically awaken.

6. A wireless multi-node communication network as recited in claim 5, wherein said at least one sensor is configured to check parameters and communicate, if necessary, information to said router or coordinator.

7. A wireless multi-node communication network as recited in claim 6, wherein said at least one sensor is configured to go into sleep mode.

8. A wireless multi-node communication network as recited in claim 4, wherein said at least one sensor is configurable to actuate in accordance with at least one of the following data collection models: periodic sampling, event-driven, and on-demand.

9. A wireless multi-node communication network as recited in claim 4, wherein said at least one sensor is configurable to communicate to said router or coordinator in accordance with at least one of the following models: periodic, event-driven, store and forward, polling and on-demand.

10. A wireless multi-node communication network as recited in claim 4, wherein said at least one sensor is configured to activate, compare data to preset, and decide whether to send information to the router or coordinator, and deactivate.

11. A wireless multi-node communication network as recited in claim 4, wherein said at least one sensor is configured to sense an event, send information to the router or coordinator, and then deactivate.

12. A wireless multi-node communication network as recited in claim 4, wherein said at least one sensor is configurable to store information and periodically, or on demand, send information to the router or coordinator.

13. A wireless multi-node communication network as recited in claim 3, wherein the at least one cluster is configured to communicate with the router or coordinator using a standard protocol such as IEEE 802.15.4 packet data protocol.

14. A wireless multi-node communication network as recited in claim 13, wherein communication is along a standard band such as the 2.4 GHz band.

15. A wireless multi-node communication network as recited in claim 4, wherein the at least one sensor is configured to listen for a beacon from said coordinator and upon receiving said beacon, activate, collect and send data, and deactivate.

16. A wireless multi-node communication network as recited in claim 4, wherein the at least one sensor comprises at least one of a pressure sensor, temperature sensor, and voltage sensor, for example.

17. A wireless multi-node communication network as recited in claim 1, further comprising multiple sensors which form clusters to communicate information to the coordinator to extend battery life.

18. A wireless multi-node communication network as recited in claim 4, wherein the at least one sensor is configured to retry communication with the router or coordinator if an acknowledge is not received from said router or coordinator.

19. A wireless multi-node communication network as recited in claim 1, wherein all of the nodes are configured to communicate and receive communication.

20. A wireless multi-node communication network as recited in claim 1, wherein the wireless multi-node communication network is configured such that the formation of a new vehicle network is initiated through a network layer primitive that is restricted to the coordinator.

21. A wireless multi-node communication network as recited in claim 20, wherein the wireless multi-node communication network is configured such that at the beginning of network formation, the coordinator performs an energy detection scan over a specified set of RF channels.

22. A wireless multi-node communication network as recited in claim 21, wherein the wireless multi-node communication network is configured such that after said channel scan, the channels are ordered according to increasing RF energy and channels whose energy levels are deemed too high are discarded.

23. A wireless multi-node communication network as recited in claim 21, wherein the coordinator is configured to perform an active scan on each of the selected RF channels to search for other devices associated with the vehicle.

24. A wireless multi-node communication network as recited in claim 23, wherein based on the results of the scan, the coordinator chooses the best RF channel for a new network, giving preference to any channel on which no existing networks were found.

25. A wireless multi-node communication network as recited in claim 20, wherein the coordinator is configured to choose the logical network identifier that will be applied to all devices that join the network.

26. A wireless multi-node communication network as recited in claim 20, wherein the coordinator is configured to begin to allow devices to join the network.

27. A wireless multi-node communication network as recited in claim 26, wherein the coordinator is configured to permit new devices to join the network through an association process.

28. A wireless multi-node communication network as recited in claim 20, wherein the wireless multi-node communication network is configured such that devices that lose contact with their coordinator can rejoin a network through an orphaning process.

29. A wireless multi-node communication network as recited in claim 20, wherein the wireless multi-node communication network is configured to provide that a vehicle network layer defines mechanisms for joining and leaving a network, routing frames to their proper destinations, and applying security to these frames.

30. A wireless multi-node communication network as recited in claim 20, wherein the wireless multi-node communication network is configured to provide that network layer primitive cover the discovery and maintenance of routes between devices or sensors, the discovery of neighbor devices or sensors that can be reached directly, and the storage of network state information.