Analysis and address allocation of wireless building networks

Abstract

A network node for a wireless building automation network, such as a lighting network, the node comprising means for measuring the signal quality or signal strength of the wireless connection to all wirelessly connected further nodes, storage means configured to store connection information e.g. based on the signal quality or signal strength together with an identifier for the associated wirelessly connected further node(s), and means for wirelessly forwarding the connection information to another node, wherein the network node is configured to receive at least one test pattern and/or to re-send the test pattern, the test pattern including the network node's identifier, e.g. the MAC address.

1 . A network node for a wireless building automation network, the node comprising:
 means for measuring a physical parameter of the wireless connection to all wirelessly connected further nodes,   storage means configured to store connection information based on the measured physical parameter together with an identifier for the associated wirelessly connected further node(s),   means for wirelessly forwarding the connection information to another node, and   means for sending and/or receiving and/or echoing at least one test pattern, the test pattern including the network node's identifier.   
     
     
         2 . The network node of  claim 1 , wherein the network node stores the measured connection information and node identifiers in a neighbor table. 
     
     
         3 . The network node of  claim 1 , wherein the network node stores connection information to more than one network node. 
     
     
         4 . The network node of  claim 1 , wherein the network node is configured to receive and store neighbor tables of other network nodes and/or combine the received network tables to a graph or sub-graph using a computing means. 
     
     
         5 . The network node of  claim 4 , wherein the means for wirelessly forwarding is configured to wirelessly send the stored neighbor table(s), graph and/or sub-graph. 
     
     
         6 . The network node of  claim 1 , wherein the measured connection information provided by a network node is combined by a network node with measured connection information provided by a second network node. 
     
     
         7 . The network node of  claim 1 , wherein the pattern is sent: at different levels of transmission power, or in different sub-channels, or using different encoding schemes and/or antenna configurations. 
     
     
         8 . The network node of  claim 1 , wherein the pattern is used to measure time of flight. 
     
     
         9 . The network node of  claim 1 , wherein the network node stores the network node's identifier originating the test pattern and derives a channel characteristic for the communication channel the pattern was received on, and wherein, of all received test patterns, the network node composes the neighbor table. 
     
     
         10 . The network node of  claim 1 , wherein the network node is at least one of a sensor, lighting means, control device, operating device for lighting means, actuator and building technology device. 
     
     
         11 . A system having at least two wirelessly communicating nodes, as well as computing means configured for
 building a measured connectivity graph based on the connection information of at least two nodes,   producing a simulated connectivity graph based on a predefined known spatial arrangement of the at least two nodes as well as their building environment, and   associating the identifier of the connection information with a spatial position of each of the at least two nodes by matching the measured connectivity graph and the simulated connectivity graph.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the wirelessly communicating nodes are nodes comprising means for measuring a physical parameter of the wireless connection to all wirelessly connected further nodes,
 storage means configured to store connection information based on the measured physical parameter together with an identifier for the associated wirelessly connected further node(s),   means for wirelessly forwarding the connection information to another node, and   means for sending and/or receiving and/or echoing at least one test pattern, the test pattern including the network node's identifier.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the simulation uses a ray-tracing method to simulate connectivity between the nodes. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the two graphs are at least partially matched. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the measured connection information is provided as a neighbor table. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein measured connection information provided by a network node is combined by a network node with measured connection information provided by a second network node. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the measurement is triggered by a specific command sent to the network nodes, wherein all network nodes activate respective receiving means. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein a test pattern is propagated to the network nodes, wherein all network nodes re-send the pattern, wherein the test pattern includes each sending network node's identifier and wherein the pattern messages are sent: at different levels of transmission power, or in different sub-channels, or using different encoding schemes and/or antenna configurations. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the test pattern is used to measure time of flight. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the network nodes receiving the test pattern store the originating network node's identifier and derive a channel characteristic for the communication channel the pattern was received on, and wherein, of all received test patterns, the network nodes compose the neighbor tables. 
     
     
         21 . A method for automatically assigning spatial positions to network nodes of a building automation network having at least two wirelessly communicating nodes, comprising the steps of
 building a measured connectivity graph based on connection information of at least two nodes,   producing a simulated connectivity graph based on a predefined known spatial arrangement of the at least two nodes as well as their building environment, and   associating an identifier of the connection information with a spatial position of each of the at least two nodes by matching the measured connectivity graph and the simulated connectivity graph.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the wirelessly communicating nodes are nodes comprising means for measuring a physical parameter of the wireless connection to all wirelessly connected further nodes,
 storage means configured to store connection information based on the measured physical parameter together with an identifier for the associated wirelessly connected further node(s),   means for wirelessly forwarding the connection information to another node, and   means for sending and/or receiving and/or echoing at least one test pattern, the test pattern including the network node's identifier.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the simulation uses a ray-tracing method to simulate the communication channels to the nodes. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the two graphs are at least partially matched. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the measured connection information is provided as a neighbor table. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 22  wherein measured connection information provided by a network node is combined by a network node with measured connection information provided by a second network node. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the measurement is triggered by a specific command sent to the network nodes, wherein all network nodes activate respective receiving means. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein a test pattern is propagated to the network nodes, wherein all network nodes re-send the pattern, wherein the test pattern includes each sending network node's identifier and wherein the pattern messages are sent: at different levels of transmission power, or in different sub-channels, or using different encoding schemes and/or antenna configurations. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the network nodes receiving the test pattern store the originating network node's identifier and derive a channel characteristic for the communication channel the pattern was received on, and wherein, of all received test patterns, the network nodes compose the neighbor tables.