CN116801392A - Band switching device in mesh network system and method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

A method for switching frequency bands of a mesh network, wherein the mesh network comprises a plurality of access points. The method for switching frequency bands of the mesh network comprises the steps of closing one of two communication ports when an idle node is in a networking stage and two communication ports of a second subsequent network station of the idle node are opened, so that the idle node is connected with a first subsequent network station of one of the access points in a communication way through the communication ports which are opened, and the mesh network is added. The two communication ports operate in different frequency bands, respectively. The access points are communicatively coupled to one another to form a mesh structure of the mesh network. A first advanced network station of each access point is used for communication connection of at least one user terminal. A second advanced network station of the idle node is configured to provide communication connection for at least one client after the idle node joins the mesh network.

Description

Band switching device in mesh network system and method thereof

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a network technology, and more particularly, to a device and method for switching frequency bands of a mesh network.

Background

Many wireless or wired networking devices are now in existence, and there is an increasing demand for multiple devices to be interconnected to form a regional network (Local Area Network, LAN). A typical networking device may support multiple frequency band communication connections. For example, the multiple frequency bands may include 2.4GHz (gigahertz), 5GHz, and the like. The networking device can only make a communication connection in one of the frequency bands at a time, otherwise a network loop (network loop) may be caused. The networking device supporting multiple frequency bands can improve the stability of communication connection and the stability of network service. For example, when the received signal strength indicator (Received Signal Strength Indication, RSSI) of one frequency band of the communication connection between two networking devices becomes weak, the user may set the two networking devices so that the two networking devices are in communication connection with the other frequency band.

However, when the user sets two networking devices, the two networking devices may be re-networked, so that the switching between the multiple frequency bands cannot be quickly connected, and thus the network services provided by the two networking devices to the user are affected. For example, two networking devices may exhibit a broken network state because of the inability of a handoff between bands to quickly join.

Disclosure of Invention

In view of the foregoing, the present invention provides a band switching apparatus of a mesh network and a method thereof. The band switching device of the mesh network comprises a plurality of access points and a band switching device. The access points are communicatively coupled to one another to form a mesh structure of the mesh network. Each access point includes a first forward network station and a first backward network station. The first advanced network station of each access point is used for communication connection of at least one user terminal. The band switching device comprises a second advanced network station, a second subsequent network station and a processing circuit. The second advanced network station is used for at least one user terminal to be in communication connection after the band switching device joins the mesh network. The second subsequent network station comprises two communication ports. The two communication ports include a first communication port and a second communication port. The first communication port is used for operating in a first frequency band, and the second communication port is used for operating in a second frequency band different from the first frequency band. The processing circuit is used for closing one of the two communication ports when the two communication ports are opened in a networking stage, so that the band switching device can be connected with a first subsequent network station of one of the access points in a communication way through the communication ports which are opened to join the mesh network.

The band switching method of the mesh network is suitable for the mesh network comprising a plurality of access points. The method for switching the frequency band of the mesh network comprises the step of closing one of two communication ports when a frequency band switching device is in a networking stage and two communication ports of a second subsequent network station of the frequency band switching device are opened, so that the frequency band switching device is connected with a first subsequent network station of one of the access points in a communication way through the communication ports which are opened, and the mesh network is added. The two communication ports include a first communication port and a second communication port. The first communication port is used for operating in a first frequency band, and the second communication port is used for operating in a second frequency band different from the first frequency band. The access points are communicatively coupled to one another to form a mesh structure of the mesh network. A first advanced network station of each access point is used for communication connection of at least one user terminal. A second advanced network station of the band switching device is used for at least one user terminal to be in communication connection after the idle node joins the mesh network.

In summary, according to some embodiments, the present invention can quickly connect the handover between frequency bands without re-networking. In some embodiments, the present invention may accurately select a frequency band used when a networking device (e.g., a node) intends to join a regional network (e.g., a mesh network) during a networking phase.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a mesh network architecture according to some embodiments of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a method for switching frequency bands of a mesh network in a networking stage according to some embodiments of the present invention.

Fig. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method for switching frequency bands of a mesh network in a networking stage according to some embodiments of the present invention.

Fig. 4 is a flow chart illustrating a method for switching frequency bands of a mesh network in a networking stage according to some embodiments of the present invention.

Fig. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a method for switching frequency bands of a mesh network in a networking stage according to some embodiments of the present invention.

Detailed Description

Referring to fig. 1, a schematic diagram of a mesh network according to some embodiments of the invention is shown. The mesh network is composed of a plurality of access points 10A-10C, and the access points 10A-10C are communicatively connected to each other to form a mesh structure of the mesh network and are connected to an external network EN through a network topology of the mesh structure. Although three aps 10A-10C are shown in fig. 1, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the number of aps may be less than three or more than three according to the needs of the user. The mesh network is, for example, a wireless hotspot easy mesh (Wi-Fi easy mesh). The access points 10A to 10C are devices having a packet forwarding function and a packet receiving function, such as routers and gateways. The external network EN is, for example, a wide area network (Wide Area Network, WAN) and the mesh network may be a regional network. The communication connection between the access points 10A-10C may be a wired communication connection or a wireless communication connection. The wireless communication connection is, for example, a Wi-Fi communication connection.

The band switching device of the present invention that has not yet become an access point in a mesh network will be referred to herein as an "idle node" (e.g., idle node 20 shown in fig. 1). Herein, the term "networking" will be described to refer to the process of an idle node joining a mesh network. Herein, the term "networked" will be described to refer to an idle node that has joined the mesh network. In some embodiments, the idle nodes have a similar structure as the access points 10A-10C.

Each ap 10A-10C may also be communicatively coupled to at least one client 30. After the idle node 20 joins the mesh network, at least one client 30 may be communicatively connected. The client 30 is, for example, a notebook computer, a desktop computer, a tablet computer, a personal mobile device, etc. Although four clients 30 are shown in fig. 1, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the number of clients may be less than four or more than four according to the needs of the user. The communication connection between the access points 10A-10C (or idle node 20) and the client 30 may be a wired communication connection or a wireless communication connection. The wireless communication connection is, for example, a Wi-Fi communication connection or a bluetooth communication connection.

Each access point 10A-10C includes a first forward network station (Fronthaul station) 11A-11C and a first backward network station (Backhaul station) 13A-13C. The first advanced network stations 11A-11C of each ap 10A-10C are configured for communication connection with at least one ue 30. The first subsequent network stations 13A-13C are configured for communication connection with the access points 10A-10C and the idle node 20. In some embodiments, the first precursor network stations 11A-11C and the first subsequent network stations 13A-13C provide wireless communication connectivity. For example, each access point 10A-10C has at least one antenna through which the first former network station 11A-11C and the first latter network station 13A-13C are connected for wireless communication. In some embodiments, the first precursor network stations 11A-11C and the first subsequent network stations 13A-13C may each be implemented by a wireless communication interface. In some embodiments, the first precursor network stations 11A-11C and the first subsequent network stations 13A-13C may be integrated together and implemented by a single wireless communication interface.

The idle node 20 includes a second advanced network station 21, a second subsequent network station 23, and a processing circuit 25. The processing circuit 25 is electrically connected to the second advanced network station 21 and the second subsequent network station 23. The second successor network station 23 is configured for communication connection with the access points 10A-10C. The second advanced network station 21 is configured for communication connection with the ue 30 after the idle node 20 joins the mesh network. In some embodiments, the second former network station 21 and the second latter network station 23 provide wireless communication connection functions similar to the access points 10A-10C. For example, idle node 20 has at least one antenna through which second forward network station 21 and second backward network station 23 are connected for wireless communication. In some embodiments, the second former network station 21 and the second latter network station 23 may each be implemented by a wireless communication interface. In some embodiments, the second advanced network station 21 and the second subsequent network station 23 may be integrated together and implemented by a single wireless communication interface. In some embodiments, processing circuitry 25 may be implemented by an arithmetic circuit such as a central processing unit, a microprocessor, an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), or the like.

The second subsequent network station 23 comprises two communication ports. The two communication ports include a first communication port 231 and a second communication port 233. The first communication port 231 is configured to operate in a first frequency band. The second communication port 233 is configured to operate in a second frequency band different from the first frequency band. For example, the first frequency band is 5GHz and the second frequency band is 2.4GHz. In some embodiments, the first frequency band is greater than the second frequency band. In some embodiments, the two communication ports are electrically connected to the antenna of the idle node 20, and at any time during the networking phase and the networking phase, the idle node 20 is communicatively connected to the access points 10A-10C through one of the two communication ports (i.e., one of the first communication port 231 and the second communication port 233) and the antenna. Thus, the occurrence of network loops can be avoided.

In some embodiments, idle node 20 further includes a network port 27. The network port 27 is electrically connected to the processing circuit 25. The network port 27 is used for communication connection of the access points 10A to 10C. In some embodiments, the network port 27 is provided with a wired communication connection function. For example, the network port 27 is connected by a wired communication through a network cable. In some embodiments, the network port 27 may be implemented by a wired communication interface.

Fig. 2 is a flow chart illustrating a method for switching frequency bands of a mesh network in a networking stage according to some embodiments of the invention. The band switching method is suitable for being performed by the processing circuit 25. First, idle node 20 is powered on and enters an initial phase. In the initial phase, the processing circuit 25 turns on both communication ports of the second subsequent network station 23 (step S200). In some embodiments, processing circuitry 25 includes a resident program (daemon) module. In the initial phase, the resident program module wakes up and opens both communication ports of the second subsequent network station 23. After both communication ports are opened, idle node 20 enters a networking phase.

When the idle node 20 is in the networking stage and both communication ports are open, the processing circuit 25 closes one of the two communication ports, so that the idle node 20 joins the mesh network through the communication port in the open state to communicatively connect the first subsequent network station 13A-13C of one of the access points 10A-10C (step S201). That is, at any point in the networking phase, one of the two communication ports is turned off and the other is turned on. For example, as shown in fig. 1, the processing circuit 25 closes the first communication port 231 to allow the idle node 20 to join the mesh network by communicatively connecting the first subsequent network station 13A of the access point 10A via the second communication port 233 that is in the open state. Thus, the idle node 20 can automatically select a communication port suitable for communication connection with the access points 10A to 10C during the networking stage without the need for the user to set the second subsequent network station 23 of the idle node 20 and the first subsequent network stations 13A to 13C of the access points 10A to 10C in the same frequency band in advance, so as to avoid occurrence of network loops.

Fig. 3 is a flow chart illustrating a method for switching frequency bands of a mesh network in a networking stage according to some embodiments of the invention. Here, since step S300 is the same as step S200, the description will not be repeated. In some embodiments, idle node 20 has a first mode and a second mode. In some embodiments, the idle node 20 has a setting interface for a user to set the idle node 20 to the first mode or the second mode. The setting interface is, for example, a web management interface (with a web server for the user to operate by connecting with a web browser) or a management application (the management interface is displayed for the user to operate through a screen, a keyboard, etc. which are provided or externally connected to the idle node 20 itself). The setting interface is electrically connected to the processing circuit 25. In the initial stage, the user inputs a setting command to the processing circuit 25 through the setting interface. The processing circuit 25 is in the first mode or the second mode in response to the setting instruction, and opens two communication ports of the second subsequent network station 23 to enter the networking stage. The setting interface is used as a web page management interface to describe, and the web page management interface (i.e. the setting interface) detects the item selected by the user on the web page management interface (for example, selecting the first mode or selecting the second mode). The web page management interface generates a setting instruction in response to the selected item, and inputs the setting instruction to the processing circuit 25.

In some embodiments, the processing circuit 25 also accumulates a start-up time (step S301) during the start-up phase. For example, the processing circuit 25 accumulates the start-up time by a timer. Next, in the case where the two communication ports of the second subsequent network station 23 are opened, the processing circuit 25 determines whether the start-up time is greater than a first time threshold (step S302). When the start time is greater than the first time threshold, the idle node 20 enters the networking stage and performs step S303 and the following steps. When the start-up time is not greater than the first time threshold, the processing circuit 25 returns to execute step S301 to continue accumulating the start-up time. Thus, the resident program module is ensured to be normally awakened, so that the subsequent process (for example, steps S303 to S316) can be ensured to normally operate. In some embodiments, the first time threshold may be pre-stored in the processing circuit 25. In some embodiments, the first time threshold may be 10 seconds.

After the idle node 20 enters the networking stage, the processing circuit 25 executes steps S304 to S312 when it is determined to be in the first mode (step S303), and executes steps S314 to S316 when it is determined to be in the second mode (step S303). Specifically, during the networking phase and with both communication ports on, when the idle node 20 is in the first mode, the processing circuit 25 executes steps S304-S312. During the networking phase and with both communication ports on, when the idle node 20 is in the second mode, the processing circuit 25 performs steps S314 to S316.

In step S304, the processing circuit 25 blocks one of the two communication ports according to a spanning tree protocol (Spanning Tree Protocol, STP). For example, the processing circuit 25 defines one of the two communication ports as a root port (root port) and the other as a designated port (designated port) according to the spanning tree protocol and the path cost of each communication port to the root bridge. The processing circuit 25 blocks the communication port as the designated port to ensure that the network loop is disconnected. For example, if the second communication port 233 is defined as a designated port, the processing circuit 25 blocks the second communication port 233. The root bridge is the access point in the mesh network closest to the external network EN or the access point in direct communication with the external network EN. For example, as shown in fig. 1, the root bridge is an access point 10A. In some embodiments, the processing circuit 25 may classify different transmission speeds into different path costs according to the spanning tree protocol. That is, the path cost is determined according to the transmission speed of the communication port, for example, if the transmission speed of the first communication port 231 is 6.77Gbps (gigabit per second), the path cost is 2, and if the transmission speed of the second communication port 233 is 600Mbps (megabits per second), the path cost is 19. The higher the transmission speed, the lower the path cost, the lower the transmission speed and the higher the path cost. In other words, a lower path cost represents a better communication connection provided by the communication port, and a higher path cost represents a worse communication connection provided by the communication port. In some embodiments, the lower the frequency band the communication ports have a higher path cost, the higher the frequency band the communication ports have a lower path cost, e.g., the first frequency band of the first communication port 231 is higher than the second frequency band of the second communication port 233, so the first communication port 231 has a lower path cost and the second communication port 233 has a higher path cost. In some embodiments, processing circuitry 25 defines the one of the two communication ports having the lowest path cost as the root port specified by the spanning tree protocol and the other as the designated port specified by the spanning tree protocol.

In some embodiments, the access points 10A-10C and idle node 20 have profiles. The profile is used to define the node type of the access points 10A-10C and the idle node 20. The profile may be a network topology setting of the access points 10A-10C and the idle node 20. The node types include a control node type and a controlled node type. For example, the mesh network is illustrated as a wireless hotspot simple mesh network. In the specification of the wireless hotspot simple mesh network, the access points 10A-10C and the idle node 20 can be classified into control nodes (i.e., the access points 10A-10C and the idle node 20 defined as the control node type) and controlled nodes (agent nodes) (i.e., the access points 10A-10C and the idle node 20 defined as the controlled node type). The control node is used for accessing the controlled node into the wireless hot spot simple mesh network and managing the operation of the controlled node. For example, the control node manages the operating channels of the controlled nodes, the data flow topology, and the roaming (roaming) of users between network nodes. In some embodiments, the mesh network may have only one control node and a plurality of controlled nodes, and the control nodes are communicatively connected to the external network EN. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the control node is an access point 10A, and the controlled nodes are access points 10B-10C and idle node 20. In some embodiments, the control node is used as a root bridge.

In step S306, the processing circuit 25 closes the blocked communication port so that the idle node 20 attempts to join the mesh network by communicatively connecting the first subsequent network station 13A-13C of one of the access points 10A-10C via the communication port that is not blocked. For example, assuming that the second communication port 233 is defined as the designated port, the second communication port 233 is the communication port blocked in step S304, and the first communication port 231 is the communication port not blocked. Since the blocked communication port can still send or receive some small amount of data, by closing the blocked communication port, it can be ensured that the unblocked communication port is not affected by the blocked communication port when trying to make a network and trying to join the mesh network.

In step S308, the processing circuit 25 accumulates a blocking number of the blocked communication ports in the networking phase. For example, in the networking phase, the processing circuit 25 performs a plurality of handshaking procedures (e.g., auto configuration (Autoconfig) procedure, configuration button (Config Push Button) procedure), and the processing circuit 25 re-blocks the blocked communication ports, re-closes the blocked communication ports, and re-attempts to join the mesh network through the unblocked communication ports in each handshaking procedure. That is, in the networking stage, the steps S304 and S306 are performed multiple times, and the number of blocking times accumulated by the processing circuit 25 corresponds to the number of times performed in the step S304 or the step S306. In some embodiments, the processing circuit 25 accumulates the blocking times of the blocked communication ports through a counter.

In step S310, when the idle node 20 does not join the mesh network successfully, the processing circuit 25 determines whether the blocking number is greater than a blocking threshold. If the lockout number is greater than the lockout threshold, it indicates that processing circuitry 25 has attempted to join the mesh network with an unblocked communication port and has not yet successfully joined the mesh network. At this time, the processing circuit 25 opens the blocked communication port and closes the unblocked communication port, so that the idle node 20 is communicatively connected to the first subsequent network station 13A-13C of one of the access points 10A-10C through the blocked communication port to join the mesh network (step S312). In other words, the processing circuit 25 joins the mesh network with the blocked communication port. If the blocking number is not greater than the blocking threshold, the processing circuit 25 returns to step S304 and the following steps to continue to attempt to join the mesh network with the communication port that is not blocked. Thus, in the networking stage, the communication port of the idle node 20 suitable for communication connection with the access points 10A to 10C can be selected through the mechanism of the spanning tree protocol. In some embodiments, the lockout threshold may be pre-stored in processing circuitry 25. In some embodiments, the lockout threshold may be 5 times.

In some embodiments, after processing circuitry 25 joins the mesh network with the blocked communication port, processing circuitry 25 unblocks the blocked communication port and blocks unblocked communication ports instead. In this way, the disconnection of the network loop is continued to be maintained.

In some embodiments of step S304, when the communication ports (i.e., the first communication port 231 and the second communication port 233) have the same path cost, the processing circuit 25 compares the port identities of the two communication ports and blocks the communication port having the lowest priority of the two communication ports. For example, when the idle node 20 is located in an environment with poor signals, the transmission speeds of the two communication ports may be poor and have the same high path cost. That is, in the present embodiment, the communication port to be blocked may not be determined by comparing the path costs of the two communication ports. Thus, the processing circuit 25 can further determine the communication port to be blocked by comparing the port identities of the two communication ports. The port identities may be assigned to two communication ports by the processing circuitry 25 and different port identities are distinguished by different codes. The port identity code is determined according to the network type of each communication port. In other words, ports of different network types have different encodings of port identities. Wherein different network types may be distinguished by different frequency bands in which the communication ports operate. That is, the port identity is related to the frequency band in which the two communication ports operate. In some embodiments, the coding of the port identity is smaller when the frequency band is higher; when the frequency band is lower, the code of the port identity is larger, and the smaller the code of the port identity is, the higher the priority value of the port is represented; the greater the encoding of the port identity, the lower the priority value of the port. For example, the first frequency band of the first communication port 231 is 5GHz and the second frequency band of the second communication port 233 is 2.4GHz, so the encoding of the port identity of the first communication port 231 may be "0", the encoding of the port identity of the second communication port 233 may be "1", and the second communication port 233 is of lower priority than the first communication port 231.

In step S314, the processing circuit 25 compares the port identities of the two communication ports (i.e., the first communication port 231 and the second communication port 233). The port identity is related to the frequency band in which the two communication ports operate. Since the port identity in step S314 is the same as the port identity in step S304, the description will not be repeated. In step S316, the processing circuit 25 closes the communication port having the lowest priority of the two communication ports, so that the idle node 20 joins the mesh network via the communication port in the open state to communicatively connect the first subsequent network station 13A-13C of one of the access points 10A-10C. Since the priority of the communication port in step S316 is the same as the priority of the communication port in step S304, the description will not be repeated. Compared with steps S304 and S306 (i.e., the first mode), the mechanism of the spanning tree protocol and the action of blocking the communication ports are omitted in steps S314 and S316 (i.e., the second mode), and the communication port with the lowest priority of the two communication ports is directly closed, and the communication port which is not closed is added into the mesh network. Thus, the processing circuit 25 can save the operation resources and shorten the networking period.

In some embodiments, similar to step S308, the processing circuit 25 accumulates a closing number (hereinafter referred to as a first closing number) of the communication ports with the lowest priority among the two communication ports in the networking phase. For example, in the networking phase, the processing circuit 25 performs a plurality of handshaking procedures, and the processing circuit 25 re-closes the communication port having the lowest priority of the two communication ports in each handshaking procedure, and re-tries to join the mesh network through the communication port that is not closed. That is, in the networking stage, the step S316 is performed multiple times, and the first closing number accumulated by the processing circuit 25 corresponds to the number of times the step S316 is performed. In some embodiments, the processing circuit 25 counts the first closing times by a counter.

In some embodiments, similar to steps S310 and S312, when the idle node 20 does not successfully join the mesh network, the processing circuit 25 determines whether the first shutdown number is greater than a shutdown threshold. If the first number of turns off is greater than the turn off threshold, it indicates that the processing circuitry 25 has attempted to join the mesh network with the communication port not turned off and has not yet successfully joined the mesh network. At this point, the processing circuit 25 joins the mesh network instead of another communication port (i.e., the communication port that is currently turned off). That is, the processing circuit 25 turns on the communication port that is currently turned off, turns off the communication port that is not currently turned off, and joins the mesh network instead of the communication port that is turned on after the update. If the first closing number is not greater than the closing threshold, the processing circuit 25 re-executes step S316 to continue to attempt to join the mesh network with the communication port that was previously opened updated. In this way, in the networking phase, a communication port of the idle node 20 suitable for communication connection with the access points 10A to 10C can be selected. In some embodiments, the shutdown threshold may be pre-stored in the processing circuitry 25. In some embodiments, the shutdown threshold may be the same as or different from the lockout threshold.

Fig. 4 is a flow chart illustrating a method for switching frequency bands of a mesh network in a networking stage according to some embodiments of the present invention. In some embodiments, similar to the networking phase, at any point in the networking phase, one of the two communication ports is turned off and the other is turned on. In some embodiments, the processing circuit 25 obtains a communication signal quality of the communication port under power after the idle node 20 successfully joins the mesh network (i.e., the networking stage) (step S400). In other words, the processing circuit 25 obtains the communication signal quality of the communication connection between the idle node 20 and the access points 10A to 10C. For example, assuming that the idle node 20 successfully joins the mesh network with the first communication port 231 in step S306, the processing circuit 25 obtains the communication signal quality of the first communication port 231; assuming that in step S312, the idle node 20 successfully joins the mesh network with the second communication port 233, the processing circuit 25 obtains the communication signal quality of the second communication port 233; and assuming that the idle node 20 successfully joins the mesh network with the first communication port 231 in step S316, the processing circuit 25 obtains the communication signal quality of the first communication port 231. In some embodiments, the communication signal quality may be achieved by a received signal strength indicator.

Then, when the communication signal quality satisfies a condition, the processing circuit 25 executes a band switching procedure to replace the communication port of the idle node 20 communicatively connected to one of the access points 10A-10C (step S402). The band switching procedure includes closing the communication port in the open state and opening the communication port in the closed state. For example, if the idle node 20 joins the mesh network with the first communication port 231 when the communication signal quality has not satisfied the condition, the idle node 20 closes the first communication port 231, opens the second communication port 233, and joins the mesh network with the second communication port 233 when the communication signal quality of the first communication port 231 satisfies the condition. Thus, when the quality of the communication signal meets the condition, the frequency band of the operation (for example, the first frequency band is switched to the second frequency band) is switched without re-performing the handshake procedure (i.e., without re-networking), so as to ensure that the communication connection between the idle node 20 and the access points 10A-10C can be maintained in a good state.

In some embodiments, the aforementioned conditions include the communication signal quality being less than or equal to a first communication quality threshold when the communication port being turned on is the first communication port 231. In some situations (e.g., noise interference in the environment), poor communication signal quality of the communication ports of the idle node 20 currently joining the mesh network may result. Specifically, when the communication signal quality is equal to or less than the first communication quality threshold, it indicates that the communication signal quality is poor. It is assumed that the communication port currently joining the mesh network (i.e., the communication port that is in the on state) is of a higher frequency band than the communication port that is in the off state. For example, the communication port currently joining the mesh network is the first communication port 231, the communication port currently in the closed state is the second communication port 233, the first frequency band of the first communication port 231 is larger than the second frequency band of the second communication port 233, and the transmission speed of the first communication port 231 is higher than the second communication port 233. When the communication signal quality is equal to or less than the first communication quality threshold, the processing circuit 25 may switch to re-connect the communication port (e.g., the second communication port 233) of the lower frequency band to the first subsequent network station 13A-13C of one of the access points 10A-10C. In other words, the communication connection between the idle node 20 and the access points 10A to 10C is maintained in a good state by reducing the transmission speed between the idle node 20 and the access points 10A to 10C.

In some embodiments, the aforementioned conditions further include that when the communication port under activation is the first communication port 231, a first duration of time that the communication signal quality is less than or equal to the first communication quality threshold reaches a second time threshold. In some cases, the quality of the communication signal may fluctuate, resulting in false triggering of the band switch procedure. By determining whether the first duration reaches the second time threshold, it is further determined that the quality of the communication signal is in a poor state, thereby avoiding false triggering of the band switching procedure. In some embodiments, the second time threshold may be pre-stored in the processing circuit 25. In some embodiments, the processing circuit 25 may accumulate the first duration through a timer. In some embodiments, the first duration may be 40 seconds.

In some embodiments, the aforementioned conditions include that the communication signal quality is greater than or equal to a second communication quality threshold when the communication port under opening is the second communication port 233. If the communication port currently joining the mesh network (i.e., the communication port in the on state) has a lower frequency band than the communication port in the off state, the processing circuit 25 may switch to the first subsequent network station 13A-13C that is re-communicatively connected to one of the access points 10A-10C with the communication port in the higher frequency band when the communication signal quality between the idle node 20 and the access points 10A-10C is very good. Thus, the transmission speed between the idle node 20 and the access points 10A to 10C can be increased while maintaining the communication connection between the idle node 20 and the access points 10A to 10C in a good state. In some embodiments, the second communication quality threshold is greater than the first communication quality threshold.

For example, the communication port currently joining the mesh network is the second communication port 233, the communication port currently in the closed state is the first communication port 231, the second frequency band of the second communication port 233 is smaller than the first frequency band of the first communication port 231, and the transmission speed of the second communication port 233 is lower than the first communication port 231. When the communication signal quality is equal to or higher than the second communication quality threshold, the processing circuit 25 may switch to re-connect to the first subsequent network station 13A-13C of one of the access points 10A-10C with the first communication port 231.

In some embodiments, the foregoing conditions further include that when the communication port under opening is the second communication port 233, a second duration of time that the communication signal quality is greater than or equal to the second communication quality threshold reaches a third time threshold. In some cases, the quality of the communication signal may fluctuate, resulting in false triggering of the band switch procedure. By determining whether the second duration reaches the third time threshold, it can be further determined that the communication signal quality is in a very good state, thereby avoiding false triggering of the band switching procedure. In some embodiments, the third time threshold may be pre-stored in the processing circuit 25. In some embodiments, the processing circuit 25 may accumulate the second duration through a timer. In some embodiments, the third time threshold may be the same as or different from the second time threshold.

As shown in fig. 4, when the band switching procedure is executed, the processing circuit 25 accumulates a closing number (hereinafter referred to as a second closing number) of the communication ports under opening (step S404). When the band switching procedure is performed, the processing circuit 25 performs a plurality of network configuration procedures, and the processing circuit 25 repeatedly closes the same communication port in each network configuration procedure. That is, the processing circuit 25 repeatedly turns off the communication port that was turned on when the band switching program was not executed, when the band switching program was executed. For example, if the idle node 20 joins the mesh network with the first communication port 231 when the quality of the communication signal has not met the condition (i.e. the band switch procedure has not been performed), the processing circuit 25 repeatedly closes the first communication port 231 when the band switch procedure is performed. In other words, when the band switching procedure is executed, the step S402 is executed a plurality of times, and the second closing number accumulated by the processing circuit 25 corresponds to the number of times the step S402 is executed. In some embodiments, the processing circuit 25 counts the second closing times through a counter.

Next, in the band switching procedure, when the idle node 20 does not successfully join the mesh network with the replaced communication port, the processing circuit 25 determines whether the second shutdown count is greater than a shutdown count threshold (step S406). If the second shutdown number is greater than the shutdown number threshold, it indicates that the processing circuit 25 has attempted to join the mesh network with the replaced communication port multiple times and has not yet successfully joined the mesh network. At this time, the processing circuit 25 joins the mesh network by communicating with the first subsequent network station 13A to 13C connected to one of the access points 10A to 10C through the communication port before replacement (step S408). If the second closing number is not greater than the closing number threshold, the processing circuit 25 returns to step S402 and the following steps thereof to continue to attempt to join the mesh network with the replaced communication port. Since in some cases the access points 10A-10C support communication connections in only a single frequency band, communication connections with the access points 10A-10C via other frequency bands are not possible. Through steps S406 and S408, the frequency band of operation is not switched when the quality of the communication signal satisfies the condition, so as to ensure that the communication connection between the idle node 20 and the access points 10A-10C is continuous. In some embodiments, the threshold number of times of shutdown may be pre-stored in the processing circuit 25. In some embodiments, the closure count threshold may be the same as or different from the lockout threshold, and the closure count threshold may be the same as or different from the closure threshold.

For example, if the idle node 20 joins the mesh network with the first communication port 231 when the communication signal quality has not satisfied the condition (i.e. the band switch procedure has not been performed), the idle node 20 repeatedly closes the first communication port 231, repeatedly opens the second communication port 233, and tries to join the mesh network with the second communication port 233 when the communication signal quality of the first communication port 231 satisfies the condition. If the idle node 20 has not successfully joined the mesh network with the second communication port 233 when the second shutdown number is greater than the shutdown number threshold, the processing circuit 25 resumes joining the mesh network with the first communication port 231.

Fig. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a method for switching frequency bands of a mesh network in a networking stage according to some embodiments of the present invention. Here, since step S500 is the same as step S200, the description will not be repeated. In some embodiments, during the initial phase, the processing circuit 25 detects whether the network port 27 is communicatively connected to one of the access points 10A-10C (step S502). Upon detecting that the network port 27 is communicatively connected to one of the access points 10A-10C, the processing circuit 25 closes both communication ports (i.e., the first communication port 231 and the second communication port 233) so that the idle node 20 joins the mesh network through the network port 27 (step S504). Upon detecting that the network port 27 is not communicatively connected to one of the access points 10A-10C, the processing circuit 25 performs step S303 and the following steps. Since the signal stability of the wired communication is higher than that of the wireless communication. Therefore, through steps S502 and S504, when the network port 27 is used, the network port 27 is preferentially used to connect the access points 10A to 10C in communication, so as to improve the signal stability between the idle node 20 and the access points 10A to 10C and avoid interference of wireless communication during wired communication. That is, wired communication connections may be used preferentially over wireless communication connections.

In summary, according to some embodiments, the present invention can quickly connect the handover between frequency bands without re-networking. In some embodiments, the present invention may accurately select a frequency band used when a networking device (e.g., a node) intends to join a regional network (e.g., a mesh network) during a networking phase.

[ symbolic description ]

10A-10C Access Point

11A-11C first-pass network station

13A-13C first successor network station

20 Idle node

Second-pass network station 21

23 second subsequent network station

231 first communication port

233 second communication port

25 processing circuit

27 network port

30 user terminal

EN external network

S200-S201 steps

S300-S316 steps

S400-S408 steps

S500-S504 steps

Claims (15)

1. A band switching device for a mesh network, the mesh network including a plurality of access points communicatively coupled to each other to form a mesh structure of the mesh network, wherein each of the access points includes a first advanced network station and a first subsequent network station, the first advanced network station of each of the access points being configured for at least one client communication connection, the band switching device comprising:

a second forward network station for the communication connection of the at least one ue after the band switching device joins the mesh network;

A second subsequent network station comprising two communication ports, the two communication ports comprising a first communication port and a second communication port, wherein the first communication port is configured to operate in a first frequency band, and the second communication port is configured to operate in a second frequency band different from the first frequency band; a kind of electronic device with high-pressure air-conditioning system

And the processing circuit is used for closing one of the two communication ports when the two communication ports are opened in a networking stage, so that the band switching device is connected with the first subsequent network station of one of the access points in a communication way through the communication port which is opened to join the mesh network.

2. The band switching device of claim 1, wherein the band switching device has a first mode, and the processing circuit is configured to, during the networking phase and with the two communication ports on, when the band switching device is in the first mode:

blocking one of the two communication ports according to a spanning tree protocol;

closing the blocked communication port to enable the band switching device to join the mesh network through the communication port not blocked to communicatively connect with the first subsequent network station of one of the access points;

Accumulating a blocking frequency of the blocked communication port in the networking stage; a kind of electronic device with high-pressure air-conditioning system

When the blocking number is greater than a blocking threshold and the band switching device does not join the mesh network, the blocked communication port is opened and the unblocked communication port is closed, so that the band switching device joins the mesh network by communicatively connecting the blocked communication port to the first subsequent network station of one of the access points.

3. The apparatus for switching frequency bands of a mesh network as claimed in claim 2, wherein the step of blocking one of the two communication ports according to the spanning tree protocol is that the processing circuit compares port identities of the two communication ports and blocks the communication port having a lowest priority among the two communication ports when the two communication ports have the same path cost, wherein the port identities are related to frequency bands in which the two communication ports operate.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus has a second mode, the processing circuit accumulates a start-up time during a start-up period, and enters the networking period when the start-up time is greater than a first time threshold, and the processing circuit is configured to:

Comparing a port identity of the two communication ports; a kind of electronic device with high-pressure air-conditioning system

The communication port having a lowest priority of the two communication ports is closed so that the band switching device joins the mesh network through the communication port in the open state communicatively connecting the first successor network station of one of the access points, wherein the port identity is associated with the band in which the two communication ports operate.

5. The band switching device of claim 1, wherein after the band switching device joins the mesh network, the processing circuit obtains a communication signal quality of the communication port that is turned on, and when the communication signal quality satisfies a condition, the processing circuit executes a band switching procedure to replace the communication port to which the band switching device is communicatively connected to one of the access points, wherein the band switching procedure includes turning off the communication port that is turned on and turning on the communication port that is turned off.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the condition includes the communication signal quality being less than or equal to a first communication quality threshold when the communication port being turned on is the first communication port.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the condition further comprises the communication signal quality being less than or equal to a first duration of the first communication quality threshold reaching a second time threshold.

8. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the condition includes the communication signal quality being greater than or equal to a second communication quality threshold when the communication port being turned on is the second communication port.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the condition further comprises the communication signal quality being greater than or equal to a second duration of the second communication quality threshold reaching a third time threshold.

10. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the processing circuit accumulates a number of times the communication port under switch is turned off when the band switching procedure is performed, and when the number of times the communication port under switch is greater than a threshold number of times the communication port is turned off, the processing circuit communicatively connects to the first subsequent network station of one of the access points with the communication port before the replacement.

11. The band switching device of claim 1, wherein the band switching device further comprises a network port, the processing circuit detecting whether the network port is communicatively coupled to one of the access points, the processing circuit closing both communication ports upon detecting that the network port is communicatively coupled to one of the access points, such that the band switching device joins the mesh network through the network port.

12. A method for band switching of a mesh network, wherein the mesh network comprises a plurality of access points, the method comprising:

when a band switching device is in a networking stage and two communication ports of a second subsequent network station of the band switching device are in an open state, one of the two communication ports is closed, so that the band switching device is connected with a first subsequent network station of one of the access points in a communication way through the communication port in the open state to join the mesh network, wherein the two communication ports comprise a first communication port and a second communication port, the first communication port is used for operating in a first frequency band, and the second communication port is used for operating in a second frequency band different from the first frequency band;

the access points are in communication connection with each other to form a mesh structure of the mesh network, a first advanced network station of each access point is used for communication connection of at least one user terminal, and a second advanced network station of the band switching device is used for communication connection of the at least one user terminal after the band switching device joins the mesh network.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the band switching device has a first mode, and the step of the band switching device in the networking phase is:

when the band switching device is in the first mode, one of the two communication ports is blocked according to a spanning tree protocol;

closing the blocked communication port to enable the band switching device to join the mesh network through the communication port not blocked to communicatively connect with the first subsequent network station of one of the access points;

accumulating a blocking frequency of the blocked communication port in the networking stage; a kind of electronic device with high-pressure air-conditioning system

When the blocking number is greater than a blocking threshold and the band switching device does not join the mesh network, the blocked communication port is opened and the unblocked communication port is closed, so that the band switching device joins the mesh network by communicatively connecting the blocked communication port to the first subsequent network station of one of the access points.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein blocking one of the two communication ports according to the spanning tree protocol is to compare port identities of the two communication ports when the two communication ports have the same path cost and block the communication port having a lowest priority among the two communication ports, wherein the port identities are related to frequency bands in which the two communication ports operate.

15. The method of band switching in a mesh network of claim 12, wherein the band switching device has a second mode, the method further comprising: accumulating a starting time in a starting stage, and entering the networking stage when the starting time is greater than a first time threshold; the steps of the band switching device in the networking stage are as follows:

comparing the port identities of the two communication ports when the band switching device is in the second mode in the networking stage and the two communication ports are opened; a kind of electronic device with high-pressure air-conditioning system

The communication port having a lowest priority of the two communication ports is closed so that the band switching device joins the mesh network through the communication port in the open state communicatively connecting the first successor network station of one of the access points, wherein the port identity is associated with the band in which the two communication ports operate.