Network system, wireless network extender, and network provider

The disclosure discloses a network system, a wireless network extender, and a network provider. The network system includes a network provider, a wireless network router, and a wireless network extender. The wireless network extender includes a communication unit and an extension unit. The wireless network extender connects to the wireless network router through a first communication channel provided by the communication unit and communicates with the network provider through the wireless network router, or communicates with the network provider through a second communication channel provided by the extension unit. When the first communication channel is unavailable, the wireless network extender connects to the network provider through the second communication channel. The first communication channel and the second communication channel use different communication protocols. The disclosure can provide a mesh network with a redundancy mechanism for diagnosis/management using different communication protocols.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the priority benefit of Chinese Application Serial No. 201811375418.5, filed on Nov. 19, 2018. The entirety of the above-mentioned patent application is hereby incorporated by reference herein and made a part of the specification.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The disclosure relates to a network system, a wireless network extender and a network provider, and more particularly, to a network system, a wireless network extender, and a network provider applied to a wireless mesh network.

Description of the Related Art

In current wireless mesh network architecture, when the wireless network extender and the wireless network router are disconnected, a temporary or permanent “diagnostic unavailable” state occurs. In this case, engineers need to be dispatched to carry out on-site diagnosis or repair, which requires much manpower and a long recovery time.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The disclosure provides a network system, a wireless network extender, and a network provider, which can provide a mesh network with a redundancy mechanism for diagnosis/management using different communication protocols.

According to the first aspect of the disclosure, a network system is provided. The network system includes: a network provider; a wireless network router; and a wireless network extender, including a communication unit and a first extension unit, where the wireless network extender connects to the wireless network router through a first communication channel provided by the first communication unit and communicates with the network provider through the wireless network router, or communicates with the network provider through a second communication channel provided by the first extension unit; and where when the first communication channel is unavailable, the wireless network extender connects to the network provider through the second communication channel provided by the first extension unit, and the first communication channel and the second communication channel use different communication protocols.

According to the second aspect of the disclosure, a wireless network extender is provided. The wireless network extender applied to a network system includes: a communication unit, configured to provide a first communication channel; and a first extension unit, configured to provide a second communication channel; where the wireless network extender connects to the wireless network router through the first communication channel and communicates with the network provider through the wireless network router; when the first communication channel is unavailable, the wireless network extender connects to the network provider through the second communication channel; and the first communication channel and the second communication channel use different communication protocols.

According to the third aspect of the disclosure, a network provider is provided. The network provider applied to a network system includes: an auto configuration server, where the auto configuration server connects to the wireless network extender by the wireless network router using a first communication channel, where when the first communication channel is unavailable, the auto configuration server connects to the wireless network extender through a second communication channel, and the first communication channel and the second communication channel use different communication protocols.

In the disclosure, the wireless network extender and the wireless network router form a mesh network. The wireless network extender or the wireless network router connects to the network provider through the first communication channel or the second communication channel. When the first communication channel is unavailable, the network provider manages or diagnoses the wireless network extender through the second communication channel. That is, the disclosure provides the mesh network with a redundancy mechanism for diagnosis/management using different communication protocols.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

As used herein, the terms such as “first” and “second” and the like do not particularly refer to an order or sequence, and are not intended to limit the disclosure, but are merely used for the purpose of distinguishing elements or operations that are described in the same technical language.

As used herein, “coupled”, “communicate”, or “connected” may mean that two or more components or devices are in direct or indirect physical contact with each other, and may also mean that two or more components or devices cooperate or interact with each other.

In some embodiments of the disclosure, “communication channel” may refer to a wired or wireless transmission channel established between devices according to a communication protocol.

Refer toFIG. 1. The center of a mesh network system (MNS) is a network provider10. In some embodiments, the network provider10is a server belonging to a network service provider (for example, Chunghwa Telecom), and the network provider10is configured to provide Internet services to a plurality of relay terminals.

As shown inFIG. 1, the network provider10connects to mesh network clusters100,200,300,400. In an embodiment, a wireless network router110in the mesh network cluster100connects to and exchanges information with the network provider10through a physical wire. In other embodiments, the mesh network cluster200connects to and exchanges information with the network provider10wirelessly. In an embodiment, the mesh network clusters300,400also connect to the network provider10by a physical wire or wireless transmission. The details will not be repeated herein.

As shown inFIG. 1, the mesh network cluster100includes the wireless network router110and wireless network extenders120,130. Similarly, the mesh network clusters200,300,400are each formed by the same components as those in the mesh network cluster100. The details will not be repeated herein.

To better understand the configuration of the mesh network cluster100, please refer toFIG. 2, which is a schematic diagram of the mesh network cluster100according to some embodiments of the disclosure. In this embodiment, the mesh network cluster100inFIG. 1is illustrated in detail inFIG. 2.

In an embodiment, the wireless network router110connects to the network provider10through an initial communication channel (for example, the wireless network router110connects to the network provider10through a physical wire). In addition, the wireless network router110is the main node in the mesh network cluster100. In an embodiment, the devices located within the signal coverage of the wireless network router110retrieve network services provided by the network provider10by connecting to the wireless network router110. In some embodiments, the wireless network router110has components and/or circuits such as an antenna, a microprocessor, a memory, or a system-on-chip, and has related control software or firmware installed therein, thus providing functions such as signal transmitting and receiving, format conversion, troubleshooting, or reconfiguration.

As shown inFIG. 2, the wireless network extender120includes a communication unit121, and the communication unit121provides a first communication channel CH1, the wireless network extender120connects to the wireless network router110through the first communication channel CH1. The first communication channel CH1is established according to a Wi-Fi communication protocol. Therefore, the wireless network extender120accesses a fixed network service provided by the network provider10to become a wireless access point for other devices to access the network service provided by the network provider10. Similarly, since the wireless network extender130includes a communication unit131providing a first communication channel CH2, the wireless network extender130connects to the wireless network router110through the first communication channel CH2. The first communication channel CH2is also established according to the Wi-Fi communication protocol. Therefore, the wireless network extender130also becomes a wireless access point. In some embodiments, the wireless network extender120and the wireless network extender130include components and/or circuits such as an antenna, a microprocessor, a memory, or a system-on-chip, and have related control software or firmware installed therein, thus providing functions such as signal transmitting and receiving, format conversion, troubleshooting, or reconfiguration.

As shown inFIG. 2, a user equipment UE is located within the signal coverage of the wireless network extender120. In an embodiment, the user equipment UE connects to the wireless network extender120through the communication unit121to access the network service provided by the network provider10. In addition, even another user equipment comes out within the signal coverage of the wireless network extender120, the user equipment UE is also able to connect to the wireless network extender120to access the network service. In some embodiments, the user equipment UE is a smartphone, a tablet computer, a notebook computer, or another common electronic device having a network connection function.

As shown inFIG. 2, the mesh network cluster100includes the wireless network router110and the wireless network extenders120,130. The wireless network router110is the main node and connected to the network provider10by a physical wire to provide a network service. The wireless network extenders120,130are relay nodes and connected to the wireless network router110to extend the coverage of the network service. The user equipment UE is a terminal node and connected to the relay node in the mesh network cluster100to access the network service.

As shown inFIG. 2, the mesh network cluster100has a layered architecture, and once the wireless network extenders120,130fail to connect to the wireless network router110(that is, the first communication channels CH1, CH2provided by the communication units121,131are unavailable), or the physical-wire communication between the wireless network router110and the network provider10is interrupted, the user equipment UE cannot access the network service. Generally, as shown inFIG. 2, the network provider10has an auto configuration server12configured to collect information from the mesh network cluster100through an intranet. When the connection is faulty or the communication is interrupted, the auto configuration server12attempts to perform a diagnosis and repair procedure such as failover diagnosis and repair procedure (for example, TR069) on at least one of the main node (that is, the wireless network router) or the relay node (that is, the wireless network extender) in the mesh network cluster100. In an embodiment, the failover diagnosis and repair procedure of the auto configuration server12includes TCP/IP protocol diagnosis and repair or Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) protocol diagnosis and repair. If the auto configuration server12successfully diagnoses the cause of the problem, the auto configuration server12further attempts to repair (or reconfigure) at least one of the wireless network router110or the wireless network extenders120,130, to recover the communication.

FIG. 3is a schematic diagram of a network management system100A according to some embodiments of the disclosure. It should be understood that some components of the network management system100A inFIG. 3are same as those of the mesh network cluster100inFIG. 2. Therefore, refer toFIG. 2for a better understanding of the network management system100A inFIG. 3.

As shown inFIG. 3, in some embodiments, the network management system100A includes the wireless network router110and the wireless network extenders120,130inFIG. 2. The wireless network router110is the main node, which connects to the network provider10to access the fixed network service. The wireless network extenders120,130are relay nodes connected to the wireless network router110through the first communication channels CH1, CH2provided by the communication units121,131, respectively, thereby extending the coverage of the network service. The user equipment UE is a user terminal which connects to the wireless network extender120to access the network service provided by the network provider10.

In some embodiments, as shown inFIG. 3, the wireless network extender120further includes a first extension unit122and the wireless network extender130further includes a first extension unit132. The first extension unit122provides a second communication channel CH3for the wireless network extender120and the first extension unit132provides a second communication channel CH4for the wireless network extender130. The second communication channels CH3, CH4are different from the first communication channels CH1, CH2. Therefore, the wireless network extender120communicates with the network provider10through the second communication channel CH3and the wireless network extender130communicates with the network provider10through the second communication channel CH4. It should be noted that in some embodiments, the second communication channels CH3, CH4provided by the first extension unit122and the first extension unit132are established through at least one of the following communication protocols: Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA), Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), Personal Digital Cellular (PDC), Total Access Communication System (TACS), Advanced Mobile Phone System (AMPS), Long Term Evolution (LTE), 3rd-Generation (3G), 4th-Generation (4G), 5th-Generation (5G), Long Range (LoRa), Narrow Band Internet of Things (NBIoT), and/or Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE).

The above communication protocols used by the first extension unit122and the first extension unit132are examples only, and the disclosure is not limited to the above types of communication protocols or technologies. In some embodiments, the second communication channels CH3, CH4provided by the first extension units122,132use different communication protocols.

It should be understood that the first extension units122,132are implemented through a hardware device, a firmware program or a software program. In an embodiment, the first extension units122,132are USB dongle devices and respectively disposed on the wireless network extenders120,130, and the microprocessors of the wireless network extenders120,130are respectively connected to the USB dongle devices to implement the above functions. In an embodiment, the first extension units122,132are embedded Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) cards and respectively disposed on the wireless network extenders120,130, and the microprocessors of the wireless network extenders120,130access the embedded SIM card to implement the above functions. In an embodiment, the first extension units122,132are firmware programs or software programs and respectively installed in memories of the wireless network extenders120,130, and the microprocessors of the wireless network extenders120,130access and execute the firmware programs or the software programs from the memories to utilize the communication modules of the wireless network extenders120,130to implement the above functions. Alternatively, each of the first extension units122,132is implemented by one or more transceiver circuits and/or repeater circuits to perform communication operations specified by the corresponding communication protocols. It should be understood that the above embodiments can also be used in combination in different applications.

In an embodiment, when an architecture similar to the mesh network cluster100inFIG. 1andFIG. 2is established, the wireless network router110connects to the wireless network extenders120,130respectively only through the first communication channels CH1, CH2established based on a single communication protocol (for example, Wi-Fi communication protocol implemented by the communication units121,131). In these technologies, when the communication units121,131of the wireless network extenders120,130fail in connecting to the wireless network router110(that is, when the first communication channel between the relay node and the main node is unavailable), the mesh network cluster100is in a temporary or permanent “diagnostic unavailable” state. In these states, the auto configuration server (ACS) in the network provider10cannot perform the above diagnosis and repair procedure to control the relay node.

In an embodiment, the network management system100A inFIG. 3is an integration between the mesh network cluster100inFIG. 2and a cellular network employing another communication protocol. In the network management system100A, when the first communication channel CH1provided by the communication unit121is in a normal state, the wireless network extender120communicates with the network provider10through the first communication channel CH1based on the Wi-Fi protocol (through the wireless network router110). In some embodiments, when the first communication channel CH1is unavailable, the wireless network extender120communicates with the network provider10through the second communication channel CH3that is based on the other communication protocol. In this way, the auto configuration server12in the network provider10performs diagnosis, management, reconfiguration, repair or other operations on the wireless network extender120through the second communication channel CH3. Similarly, since the wireless network extender130has the first extension unit132, the auto configuration server12diagnoses, manages, or repairs the wireless network extender130through the second communication channel CH4when the first communication channel CH2is unavailable. In other words, the auto configuration server12performs online Over-the-Air Technology (OTA) diagnosis or repair on the wireless network extenders120,130through the communication channels of the extension units122,132. In addition, the communication protocols of the communication channels of the extension units122,132are different from that of the communication channels of the communication units121,131.

In some embodiments, when the auto configuration server12successfully repairs or reconfigures the wireless network extenders120,130through the second communication channels CH3, CH4, the wireless network extenders120,130recover to communicate with the network provider10through the first communication channels CH1, CH2. In this case, when the connection of the wireless network extenders120,130is failed, the auto configuration server12repairs the connection of the wireless network extenders120,130through the first communication channels CH1, CH2. However, when the auto configuration server12cannot repair the connection of the wireless network extenders120,130through the first communication channels CH1, CH2, the auto configuration server12diagnoses the wireless network extenders through the second communication channels CH3, CH4.

In some embodiments, network service operators of the network provider10provide different charging schemes for such an integrated mesh network service. In an embodiment, a network service provided by the first communication channels CH1, CH2based on a first Wi-Fi protocol (that is, the architecture of the mesh network cluster100shown in the embodiment ofFIG. 2) is charged according to a first scheme. An additional network service provided by the second communication channels CH3, CH4based on a Wi-Fi protocol (that is, a second Wi-Fi protocol) different from that of the first communication channels CH1, CH2(that is, the architecture of the network management system100A shown in the embodiment ofFIG. 3) is charged according to a second scheme. In this embodiment, the second scheme is a backup mechanism for the first scheme. Users can select whether to pay for the backup mechanism, to diagnose or repair the mesh network in the “diagnostic unavailable” state, so as to improve the efficiency of network repair.

Refer toFIG. 3. In an embodiment, the wireless network router110also includes a second extension unit111, which provides a third communication channel CH5that is based on a communication protocol different from that of the initial communication channel (for example, a physical wire between the wireless network router110and the network provider10), so that the wireless network router110communicates with the network provider10through the third communication channel CH5. In an embodiment, the third communication channel CH5provided by the second extension unit111is established based on the communication protocol of the first extension units122,132, and the details will not be repeated herein. Similarly, when the physical wire is in a normal state, the wireless network router110communicates with the network provider10through a physical wire. In some embodiments, when the physical wire is unable to provide connecting service (that is, the wireless network router110fails to connect to the network provider10through the physical wire), the second extension unit111in the network provider10communicates with the wireless network extender120through the third communication channel CH5that is based on another communication protocol different from that of the physical wire. In this way, the auto configuration server12performs the diagnosis and repair procedure on the wireless network router110through the third communication channel CH5. When the auto configuration server12successfully repairs or reconfigures the wireless network router110through the third communication channel CH5, the wireless network router110recovers to communicate with the network provider10through the physical wire. In this way, the network provider10performs the diagnosis and repair procedure on the wireless network router110through the initial communication channel.

In some embodiments, when the initial communication channel and the third communication channel CH5of the wireless network router110and the network provider10are both unavailable, the auto configuration server12of the network provider10communicates with the wireless network extenders120,130through the second communication channels CH3, CH4, and further communicates with the wireless network router110through the first communication channels CH1, CH2, so as to perform the diagnosis and repair procedure on the wireless network router110. When the wireless network router110is repaired or reconfigured, the wireless network router110recovers to communicate with the network provider10through the initial communication channel or the third communication channel CH5. In this way, the network provider10performs the diagnosis and repair procedure on the wireless network router110through the initial communication channel or the third communication channel CH5.

It should be understood that the various embodiments described above are examples only, and other hardware or software elements capable of implementing the same functions or operations also fall within the scope of the disclosure. In addition, it should be understood that the quantity of elements shown in the accompanying drawings is merely exemplary, and various quantities of extenders, user equipment, routers and/or network providers all fall within the scope of the disclosure.

Refer toFIG. 4.FIG. 4is a flowchart of a network management method according to some embodiments of the disclosure. In an embodiment, the network management method is performed by the network management system100A shown inFIG. 3. In particular, the network management method is mainly performed by the wireless network extenders120,130with the first extension units122,132and the wireless network router110with the second extension unit111, so reference can also be made to the embodiment inFIG. 3. In this embodiment, steps included in the network management method will be detailed below.

Step S401: The wireless network extender120connects to the wireless network router110through the first communication channel CH1to communicate with the network provider10.

In some embodiments, the wireless network extender120connects to the wireless network router110through the first communication channel CH1based on the wireless network protocol. When the first communication channel CH1is in a normal state, the wireless network extender120communicates with the network provider10through the first communication channel CH1provided by the communication unit121. In this case, a user equipment UE comes up within the signal coverage of the wireless network extender120is also able to access the network service provided by the network provider10through the wireless network extender120.

Step S402: When the first communication channel is unavailable (that is, the wireless network router110and the wireless network extender120fail to connect to each other through the first communication channel), the wireless network extender120connects to the network provider10through the second communication channel CH3, and the network provider10performs the diagnosis and repair procedure on the wireless network extender120through the second communication channel CH3. The first communication channel CH1and the second communication channel CH3use different communication protocols.

In some embodiments, when the first communication channel CH1is unavailable, the wireless network extender120connects to the network provider10through the second communication channel CH3provided by the first extension unit122disposed on the wireless network extender120. In this way, the auto configuration server12in the network provider10performs the diagnosis and repair procedure such as diagnosis, management, or repair on the wireless network extender120through the second communication channel CH3. It should be understood that in some embodiments, the second communication channel CH3is established based on the communication protocol in the embodiment ofFIG. 3, and the first communication channel CH1and the second communication channel CH3use different communication protocols. The details will not be repeated herein.

Step S403: When the wireless network extender120is repaired, the network provider10performs the diagnosis and repair procedure on the wireless network extender120through the first communication channel CH1.

In some embodiments, when the auto configuration server12successfully repairs or reconfigures the wireless network extender120through the second communication channel CH3, the wireless network extender120recovers to communicate with the network provider10through the first communication channel CH1provided by the communication unit121and the wireless network router110. In this way, when the connection to the wireless network extender120is failed again, the auto configuration server12attempts to repair the connection of the wireless network extender120through the first communication channel CH1first. However, when the connection to the wireless network extender120is still failed, the auto configuration server12diagnoses the wireless network extender120through the second communication channel CH3provided by the first extension unit122.

According to the foregoing embodiments, the disclosure disclose a network management system and method, to integrate an existing wireless mesh network and cellular network that use different communication protocols, to provide a self-healing mechanism for nodes in the mesh network. In addition, according to the foregoing embodiments, for such an integrated mesh network, the network provider provides different charging schemes for users to select, creating a new business mode.

Although the disclosure is described with reference to the above embodiments, the embodiments are not intended to limit the disclosure. Any person of ordinary skill in the art may make variations and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Therefore, the protection scope of the disclosure should be subject to the appended claims.