System: Mesh Network Path Factors

Factors Wirepas Uses to Determine Routing Path in a Mesh

1. Link Quality (RSSI/SNR):
   1. Each node assesses the signal strength and quality (e.g., RSSI, SNR) of its neighbors.
   2. Better quality links are preferred to ensure reliable communication.
2. Hop Count to Gateway:
   1. Nodes prefer paths with fewer hops to minimize latency and conserve energy.
   2. The hop count metric is continuously updated.
3. Congestion / Load Balancing:
   1. Nodes avoid routes through congested neighbors (e.g., those relaying too much traffic).
   2. Load is distributed across the mesh to avoid bottlenecks and maintain throughput.
4. Battery Level:
   1. This helps extend the lifetime of battery-operated devices.
5. Parent Node Availability:
   1. Each node selects a parent (router) that has stable connectivity and minimal latency to the sink.
   2. If the parent fails or becomes unavailable, the node will reroute to a better alternative.
6. Topology Stability / Hysteresis:
   1. To avoid constant switching of routes (flapping), Wirepas applies hysteresis logic.
   2. A new path must be significantly better before a node changes its parent.
7. Frequency / Channel Availability (Interference Avoidance):
   1. Wirepas Mesh dynamically selects frequency channels to avoid interference and optimize performance.
   2. Channel-hopping may be used for robustness.
8. Time Synchronization and Slot Allocation (TSCH principles):
   1. The mesh uses time-synchronized channel hopping for scheduled communication.
   2. Slot availability affects path selection indirectly by influencing communication efficiency.

    

How It Works in Practice

When a new node joins:

• It scans for nearby nodes.

• Evaluates each candidate based on the above criteria.

• Selects the best parent.

• Starts participating in routing, depending on its role.

As conditions change (node added/removed, interference, power loss), the mesh auto-heals:

• Nodes reevaluate neighbors.

• Mesh routes dynamically adjust without central coordination.