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Technology
Background
The main goal of a smart metering or wireless sensor network is to enable the reception of data from the
meters or from the sensor field without the need for physical connection or access. An additional possible goal is the control of the sensors by a central application. The higher performance networks, often using mesh topology, have low power requirement to provide for multiyear battery lives, are reliable and have a high enough data throughput.
Once deployed, high performance mesh networks promise great efficiencies and savings; however, mass
deployment requires solving unique technology challenges that previously went unaddressed.
Namely, without a wireless connection that is as reliable as wires, but cheaper and simpler to deploy,
wireless sensor networks can't be used. Without overcoming these challenges, wireless sensor networks
are neither economic nor feasible.
Solution
Addressing these real-life challenges, Virtual Extension has developed a Wireless Sensor Network technology
optimized for mesh networks.
Diversity Path Mesh networks benefit from space diversity
Ordinary mesh networks have single propagation paths
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Called Diversity Path Mesh™, this technology uses a low bit rate,
highly synchronized, TDMA, bi-directional communication scheme. The key to Diversity Path Mesh is
the use of synchronized flooding rather than routing.
The location-agnostic nodes that form a Diversity Path Mesh are of multi-hop
type. Following the flooding approach, they distribute and relay the
data to the other nodes within the propagation range, for creating a
practically unlimited coverage area through the simultaneous many
alternative data propagation paths, which overcome physical obstacles and
radio interference. The added element of precise synchronization
enables to overcome the disadvantages associated with simple flooding, such
as those related to power consumption.
The same intrinsic connectivity means that the network
does not require reconfiguration and downtime in case of changes. Such changes can be the addition
or the movement of nodes, or of any objects that affect radio propagation or
cause multi-path.
The network acts according to its inherent space diversity by remaining
unaffected by such changes and continues to function with the nodes communicating
according to the availability of the new (or changed) propagation patterns, with no down time.
The combination between the location agnosticism of the nodes and the fact that there is no need
for building and maintaining the routing tables, translates into a significant saving of network design, deployment time,
processing resources - and ultimately, cost.
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Please inquire with us for a white paper explaining the technology.
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