WO2016087909A1

WO2016087909A1 - Wlan provided by a lamp

Info

Publication number: WO2016087909A1
Application number: PCT/IB2014/066666
Authority: WO
Inventors: Seyed Mohammad Hosein KAZEMI; Seyed Mohammad Mehdi KAZEMI
Original assignee: Kazemi Seyed Mohammad Hosein; Kazemi Seyed Mohammad Mehdi
Priority date: 2014-12-06
Filing date: 2014-12-06
Publication date: 2016-06-09
Also published as: ZA201701971B

Abstract

According to Jakob Nielsen's law of internet bandwidth, "A high-end user's connection speed grows by 50 percent per year" wireless systems are deployed more rapidly every day. Wireless network provision solutions can be categorized in short ranged and broadband solution. Each of these solutions has advantages and disadvantages. Short range wireless network provision solutions such as home Wi-Fi networks or DSS networks provide excellent service in their range of service. Most of the times this range is not enough for end users. Broadband solutions such as EDGE, 3G, LTE and WiMAX provide large coverage but have several issues such as expensive devices and technologies. Using these technologies forces high costs of deployment and maintenance on service providers. These costs will increase service prices for end users. Also these solutions force end users to use several technologies which are not always available on all of smart devices. This invention is about a new wireless data network provision solution by embedding network hardware and software inside lamps. This solution eliminates layout and electricity infrastructure costs of network deployment. On the other hands using existing infrastructure delivers efficient use of space and resources allocated to domestic and urban lighting. By using lamps as main object for network provision users will experience ease of network installation and hiding network devices in domestic and urban environment. Lamps are usually mounted at heights and there is no obstacles in their line of sights. By considering this feature adding wireless capability allows better service and higher quality. Plug & Play installation also provided by using lamp as main network node. Adding few electrical components, lets these lamps provide smart home features. From service provider aspect as lamp is a daily use for everyone, providing a wireless network solution merged with lamp will share deployment and maintenance costs between service provider and service users. Providing grid computing infrastructure over lamps in a local network or city-wide which will be a great opportunity for scientific activities all over the world.

Description

WLAN PROVIDED BY A LAMP

Description

Field of Invention

This invention relates generally to combination of smart home, networks, network nodes, and more particularly to wireless mesh network, network nodes.

Background of Invention

Costumer's appetite for access to information keeps on growing along with growth of the Internet. Corresponding to such growth, new information is added to the Internet constantly. With respect to multimedia content in particular, much of this information comes at a significant cost in bandwidth. Accordingly, wireless connectivity is on the rise. Wireless systems may be deployed more rapidly with less cost than their wired counterparts. Systems using cellular phone technologies are directed at providing mobile wireless Internet connectivity such as EDGE, 3G, LTE which require additional modules on end-user devices to provide network services are too expensive to deploy and forces high costs on service providers.

Alternatives to cellular telephone technologies are cellular architectures providing high speed, data only services such as WiMAX require additional modules on end-user devices to provide network services which are not so popular. Also these technologies are too expensive to deploy and forces high costs on service providers.

What is needed is a fixed wireless solution with bandwidth comparable to DSL and cable technologies that is less complex to install and less costly. A mesh architecture and protocol serves these needs but mesh network itself has several issues which makes it hard to scale and hard to maintain and also still forces so high costs on service providers. On the other hand, it's still hard to setup for an end-user.

An aspect of the present invention is positioning network nodes in a place which omits cost of preparing power-provisioning-infrastructure of a broadband wireless network by using Lamps as network nodes.

Another aspect of the present invention is providing smart home functionalities by using the network installed at home. From the service provider perspective, these home networks form a larger network in a city-wide which empowers the provider to offer large-scale features such as smart grid, advanced metering infrastructure, data and multimedia service provisioning. Another aspect of the present invention is adding scalability, management and monitoring abilities to mesh network while developing newLamp which makes newLamp node connections different than mesh-networks.

Another aspect of the present invention is proposing a new data communication architecture using a special multi-hop routing algorithm which always central module(s)¹ is aware of communications of nodes or its one of the hops no matter where or how this data is being transferred.

Another aspect of the present invention is providing a large scale computing grid² in city-wide by using newLamp nodes processors. This great processing capacity can be used for many processing needs and can be provided as a service.

Another aspect of the present invention is proposing a new approach for local networks troubleshooting by newLamp cloud support service which is available right after connecting local network to internet. In this approach users can request any network support or service over contact points and help-desk agents can connect directly to user network and provide required services.

Related Work

newLamp is a wireless data network provision solution. Below is a categorized list of similar solutions: Broadband wireless networks WiMAX/GSM/3G/LTE newLamp should be considered different from GSM, 3G and LTE because a cellular network or mobile network is a wireless network distributed over land areas called cells, each served by at least one fixed-location transceiver which each cell uses a different set of frequencies from neighboring cells, to avoid interference and provide guaranteed bandwidth within each cell but in newLamp a single channel of Wi-Fi standard frequency is used to provide wireless computer network. Another major difference is popularity of Wi-Fi module in end-user-devices comparing to WiMAX, 3G and LTE enabled devices.

Short-range wireless networks

Wi-Fi

¹ AKA 'A' module which is explained in Definition section.

2 Grid computing is the collection of computer resources from multiple locations to reach a common goal IEEE 802.11 is a set of media access control and physical layer specifications for implementing wireless local area networks, common standards in order to provide to public, includes 802.11b, 802. llg, 802.11η, 802.11ac, which are available for commercial use.

Tablel - 802.11 standards

Ad-hoc newLamp should be considered different from ad-hoc, because a wireless ad hoc network (WANET) is a decentralized type of wireless network. The network is ad hoc because it does not rely on a pre-existing infrastructure, such as routers in wired networks or access points in managed (infrastructure) wireless networks. Instead, each node participates in routing by forwarding data for other nodes. But newLamp uses a fixed structure and doesn't rely on client nodes to serve other clients.

Access Point newLamp should be considered different from AP because an access point device has strict limitations on number of clients and wireless service range. But newLamp has improved these wireless network service limitations using its heterogeneous mesh network algorithm and multiple synchronized access points.

BSS/ESS newLamp should be considered different from BSS and ESS because in ESS and BSS solutions network uses a wired technology and requires expertise in both wireless and wired networking but to setup a newLamp network, users require no expertise and it has a completely different architecture than a ESS or BSS network. Wi-Fi Range Extender newLamp should be considered different from Wi-Fi Range Extenders because in Wi-Fi range extenders, user must manually manage each node but newLamp automatically manages all nodes and maintenance. Also wireless range extender nodes has no idea about other nodes and their job, but in newLamp network all nodes are working together to provide a great service.

Mesh Networks newLamp should be considered different from Mesh networks because mesh networks require experts to configure them and they use distributed architecture to provide services, so there will be problems with monitoring and central management. Also mesh networks are not designed to provide hierarchical networks. newLamp automatically configures all nodes, network and it's smart home features with no expertise required. newLamp is designed to provide hierarchical network in local and public. newLamp provides great monitoring and management features for service providers and SME clients.

Industrial Application

The present invention is defined by the following claims, and nothing in this section should be taken as a limitation on those claims. newLamp at home newLamp is designed for better life. Using newLamp, any user can setup a network with smart home features no matter how expert the user is. newLamp can provide a delightful wireless network in a local area regardless of its extent. newLamp network is transparent and connected and users won't feel any disconnection in network area. newLamp provides some smart home features right out of the box, so the user can manage lights and other devices connected to newLamp network using web or mobile applications from anywhere. newLamp provides safe configuration management so users can access their previous configuration backups on newLamp cloud servers. newLamp has an special troubleshooting mechanism in which users can request instant access to their network for further help. newLamp has a new approach in node recovery so users can copy and paste configuration to network nodes in using remote control. newLamp has an special fault tolerance mechanism in which nodes will stay connected by updating routes and recovering damaged nodes automatically. newLamp as a public network newLamp is designed to scale in horizontal and vertical aspects. Auto-heal and scaling features combined with management, monitoring and AMI³ makes newLamp one of the best candidates to provide public network services. From financial aspect newLamp network maintenance and deployment costs are shared between service provider and clients. Expanding newLamp network nodes will provide a rich processing capacity for computing grid and can have great feature work for companies' and individuals' processing requirements. newLamp public network is an easy-to-setup and low-cost solution. From user's aspect newLamp uses backward compatible Wi-Fi technology to provide wireless service, so most of devices can connect and use this technology. newLamp public network can be used as an alternative to local network internet service providers, so users can use this network as an on demand solution for their internet connection at home or make it their primary service provider.

Definitions

1- Definitions

a. Module A

1. This module contains a processing component to handle its processing jobs.

2. This module has a power supply component.

3. This module has wireless communication component.

4. This module has a mass storage component.

5. This module has a wired communication component.

6. This module contains a firmware which controls every functionality of this module.

7. Using this firmware, 'A' manages whole network and connected smart home or city devices.

advanced metering infrastructure b. Module b

1. This module contains a processing component to handle node 'b' duties.

2. This module has a power supply component.

3. Mentioned power supply component supplies an external device required power such as a lamp or any other device using a relay or dimmer.

4. This module has wireless communication component.

5. This module has a mass storage component.

7. Module b can support Ethernet and USB gateways on demand.

c. Client c

'C is a client of newLamp network. d. newLamp

1. newLamp device contains one or more b modules.

2. newLamp has every common functionalities of a lamp.

3. newLamp power supply interface is compatible with lamp socket.

4. newLamp can be controlled and monitored using A module.

5. newLamp light can be turned off using A web interface or API's.

6. newLamp light can be turned on and off using a customized remote for newLamp-smart home-set.

Send on/off commands to newLamp nodes to manage lamps or any attached devices.

Copy network configurations from Ά'.

Paste configuration to lost nodes to recover network nodes in case of occurring any configuration problems.

Reconfiguration of damaged nodes. 5. Changing network status to scanning mode for user to add new network

nodes.

6. A remote is dedicated to its network and won't work on anyone else.

7. Network has 5 touch buttons.

8. Wireless connection with all newLamp nodes in the network.

9. Working with two Duracell batteries.

10. Remote control uses an internal memory to save network configuration

permanently.

f. AMN

g. newLamp is a multi-hop wireless network with fixed nodes which all nodes must be accessible, so a suitable routing algorithm is required to service newLamp requirements. AMN⁴ is developed as a kernel module for embedded system considering high performance and addressing mentioned needs.

1. Data hand-over between newLamp nodes.

2. Setup best route for data transfer automatically

3. Update best route for data transfer dynamically

4. Smart resistance to errors and failures in newLamp network using specially designed state machine pairs on 'A' modules and 'b' nodes

5. Ease of network scalability b

6. Multiple gateway design

7. Nodes connection authorization

8. Automated node recovery

9. Self-management

Figure 1-AMN flowchart h. ACM

ACM is a software designed for newLamp network and smart home using C programming language. ACM includes web, client and server parts. Some of ACM features are listed below: Aftab Heterogeneous Mesh Network 1- Create twin state machines in both 'A' and 'b' nodes.

2- Asynchronous data and file transfer mechanism.

3- Heartbeat mechanism in all nodes and gateways.

4- Guaranties synced configurations on all nodes.

5- Ease of providing a transparent network.

6- Network monitoring abilities.

7- Network management in all levels.

8- Providing smart home and AMI features. - Home Network

a. Network configuration

1. Connect all newLamp devices to lamp sockets in home.

2. Power on 'A' module.

3. Connect any external network or service such as internet services to 'A'

module.

4. newLamp network devices automatically connect to each other and setup a network, ready to use immediately after plugging them in.

5. Network always keeps trying to make better performance using best routes according to network topology and network usage over time.

6. Clients can connect to wireless network using right credentials.

7. If any new newLamp comes around, using a smart and secure method

newLamp network will join it to network and in moment it will be discoverable by Ά'.

8. If new node by mistake or user fault connected to another newLamp network, its owner can recover and connect it to right network using a feature called 'copy and paste configuration' built-in newLamp-smart-home remote control. b. Mobility in newLamp network

1. Network features

1 Seamless network

2 Transparent switching

3 Connectivity 2 Only a 'b' node can serve a client.

3 In every connection 'A' is informed or it's a hop in the route.

4. Client positioning in newLamp network

Network optimization

A module and every b node keep measuring service quality and network connectivity and node health and optimize service parameters like network route and transmit power to provide a great network quality.

Connection to public network

1. Every newLamp network broadcast packets to show its presence.

2. Client 'c' can access services provided in public network even when it's

connected to own private network.

3. Private networks including A and 'b' modules, can act like a 'b' for a higher level network (in newLamp network hierarchy).

Maintenance in newLamp network

1. If any 'b' node malfunctions or goes down for any reason, newLamp network sends an alert to 'A' module. 'A' module detects and adapts network nodes parameters like routing and transmit power automatically to cover occurred error.

2. 'A' module can be replaced using right credentials.

3. 'A' module automatically and asynchronously update every node's

configuration and firmware in cases like update or fault.

Smart home

1. 'A' module can monitor and manage power supply of devices connected to 'b' nodes.

2. 'A' module logs every details about power consumption behavior of every device connected to newLamp network.

3. 'A' module learns user behavior in using smart home devices and makes suggestions to do automatic actions instead of user.

4. Smart home remote control 1. newLamp smart home has a remote control. This remote can copy an 'A' module configuration wirelessly by touching its 'copy configuration' area once and becomes a remote of this newLamp network forever.

2. This remote control can control defined actions on any newLamp- network-connected-device.

3. If by any chance a 'b' node couldn't join newLamp network or joined a wrong newLamp network, by touching 'paste configuration' area of remote control near that 'b' node (A must be in scanning mode), it automatically joins your network.

4. newLamp network can go into scanning mode which causes network to search for new newLamp nodes. This mode can be accessed by touching 'scanning mode' area of remote control.

- Public Network

a. Definitions

1. 'A' module: it has the role of 'A' in home networks but may have much more processing power on demand.

2. 'B': a local newLamp network including an 'A' module and some 'b' nodes.

3. 'b': this is like home network nodes, 'b' nodes can be used in all layers in newLamp network hierarchy.

4. "A' ": does the 'A' module job in a higher level of newLamp hierarchy.

5. 'c': 'c' is a client of newLamp network.

b. Public network configuration

1. Place 'A' modules in suggested positions in the city.

2. After installing newLamp nodes in the city, automatically newLamp network will be created and ready to use. (no expert or experience required)

3. This can be repeated in a higher level of newLamp hierarchy. c. Mobility in newLamp network

1. Client join newLamp public network.

2. Using newLamp hand-over feature, client 'c' can walk all over the network and b-node switching will be transparent to client 'c'.

3. By knowing each node position and using positioning methods, any client 'c' can be located. d. Public network maintenance

1. 'A' monitors and manages every 'b' node in its network, so 'A' knows which b- node needs what kind of treatment and where it is located.

2. If any 'b' node had errors, it will try to connect to network by any means. After connecting to the network, 'A' module which is keeping a state machine for each node, recovers 'b' node to its last state.

3. If any 'b' node had errors and couldn't connect to network, newLamp network reconfigures itself to assess the fault.

4. If an 'A' node faces any problem, all 'b' node in its network find another way out using neighbors 'A' modules. This is called multi-gateway.

5. New firmware can propagate asynchronously through all newLamp network.

4- Interaction with Other standard networks

newLamp network can communicate with all other networks using standard protocols.

Summary Description

The present invention is defined by the following claims, and nothing in this section should be taken as a limitation on those claims. newLamp invention is a novel and inventive process with industrial applications to provide a transparent, integrated, scalable, plug & play network with shared cost between users and network providers.

By connecting newLamp nodes and gateways to power supply, 'A' tries to scan area to find discoverable nodes. On the other hand all nodes start to find each other and setup a mesh and find a route to Ά'. By the time network is setup, its ready to use by users.

By connecting an internet/service enabled J45 cable to Ά', network will be ready to provide internet or other service all over the area. Also at this time any remote troubleshooting request can be served from newLamp helpdesk agents.

Remote control can control newLamp nodes and turn their attached devices on and off. First of all user must put batteries in remote control and press copy configuration button near 'A' to setup new remote control for current newLamp network. newLamp periodically searches for newLamp public network in the area and informs user if its available. newLamp is a self-management network and tries to minimize or omit user interference in network management. newLamp has web and mobile versions to manage home network and smart-home-features from anywhere. What is done can be summarized but not limited to followings:

• Embedding network hardware and software in lamp sockets all over the network area as an innovative step bring following features:

o Elimination of costs related to layout and electricity infrastructure for installing network nodes.

o Ease of network installation and hiding network devices in domestic and urban environment.

o Keep away from obstacles on the ground, allowing better service and higher quality, o Efficient use of space and resources allocated to domestic and urban lighting.

• Adding scale up and scale out ability to wireless network, providing home computer network and serving newLamp public network.

• Providing a plug & play home network and smart home features right out of the box with no expertise required.

• Sharing deployment and maintenance costs between service provider and service users.

• Integration of wireless computer network and smart home infrastructure.

• Ease of deployment and configuration of wireless computer network and smart home. newLamp setup requires no knowledge about computers and smart homes.

• Completely automatic configuration of network and network nodes right after connecting them to power supply and providing following features:

o Remote troubleshooting feature right after connecting network to internet, o Automatic configuration back in newLamp cloud storage for user on demand reuse, o Periodical search for newLamp public presence in local network range and informing users to connect.

• Asynchronous configuration update on all nodes using flooding approach.

• Providing a computing grid over newLamp nodes in a local network or city-wide.

Claims

1- A lamp comprising:

a. A lamp socket part.

b. A power management part comprising:

i. Converting AC power to standard power required by processing, wireless communication and sensing parts.

ii. Providing AC power required by lighting part.

iii. Dimming and controlling electricity provided for lighting part.

c. A processing part which does all computational tasks.

d. A wireless communications part.

i. Wireless communications with remote control.

ii. Wireless communications with other lamps.

iii. Wireless service provision for network users.

e. An optional sensing part comprising:

i. Humidity sensor

ii. Temperature sensor

iii. Light sensor

iv. Microphone

v. Vibration sensor

vi. camera

2- A central node comprising:

a. A wired communications part.

b. A wireless communications part comprising:

i. Wireless communications with remote control.

ii. Wireless communications with lamps.

iii. Wireless communications with external networks.

c. A power supply part.

d. An internal storage part.

3- The lamp of claim 1, wherein automatically setups a mesh network with other lamps in the same network. 4- The lamp of claim 1, wherein transfers data to other lamps using Wi-Fi technology¹.

5- The lamp of claim 1, wherein receives data from other lamps using Wi-Fi technology.

6- The lamp of claim 1, wherein provides Wi-Fi network for end users.

7- The lamp of claim 1, wherein communicates with other lamps providing transparent and integrated Wi-Fi network from user aspect in service area.

8- The lamp of claim 1, wherein provides internal or external services to all users anywhere in service area.

9- The lamp of claim 1, wherein allow user roaming from other lamps.

10- The lamp of claim 1, wherein periodically sends network and home data samples to central node of claim 2.

11- The lamp of claim 1, wherein updates its configurations using configurations provided by central node of claim 2.

12- The central node of claim2, wherein provides configuration updates for lamps of claiml and gets feedback.

13- The central node of claim 2, wherein connects to external public networks using its wired or wireless communication part and provides their services in domestic network.

14- The provided network using the lamps of claim 1 can use multiple central nodes of claim 2.

15- A remote control comprising:

a. Energy supply part.

b. Wireless communications transceiver.

c. Internal storage.

d. Touchpad keys comprising:

i. Turn lamps on

ii. Turn lamps off

iii. Switch network status to scanning mode.

iv. Copy configurations.

v. Paste configurations.

vi. Optional keys based on network or services provided

16- The remote control of claim 15, wherein copies network's latest configurations from one of the lamps of claim 1 or central node of claim 2.

IEEE 802.11 standard. 17- The remote control of claim 15, wherein pastes network's configurations from internal storage to one the lamps of claim 1.

18- The remote control of claim 15, where in by pressing "Switch network status to scanning mode" button, for a short time network registers new lamps of claim l,which are recently connected to power supply and are not member of any network.

19- Providing a computing grid over lamps of claim 1 in a local network or city wide.