What You Should Know about Mesh Network

What is A Mesh Network?

Mesh Network means that the networking mode of the network devices is mesh. It consists of multiple nodes connected to each other, each of which can act as a router or relay, sending and receiving signals. It can realize multi-hop communication between nodes, so that data can be transmitted between different nodes. Every two devices can communicate with each other. In the field of the Internet of Things, ZigBee, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi are the current mainstream wireless interconnection technologies, and these three technologies can be mesh networking.

According to Wikipedia, it is a local network topology in which the infrastructure nodes (i.e. bridges, switches, and other infrastructure devices) connect directly, dynamically and non-hierarchically to as many other nodes as possible and cooperate with one another to efficiently route data from/to clients.

How Mesh Network Works?

When a node needs to send data to another node, it will first find the target node according to the predetermined routing information. If there is no direct connection between the two nodes, the data can be transmitted to the destination node via multi-hop communication between multiple nodes. Each node forwards the data to the next node until the data reaches the destination node.

Brief History of Mesh Network

Its history dates back to the early 1970s, when the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) developed packet wireless networks that sought to wirelessly replicate ARPANET (the precursor to the current Internet). These networks used bulky, low-throughput radio equipment manufactured by Hazelnut, and laid the groundwork for the long-term.

In the early 1990s, academics and researchers in commercial LABS began experimenting with laptops equipped with wireless cards to create mobile AD hoc networks (MANets). Over the next decade, with the rapid development of 802.11 (WiFi) technology, this led to a great deal of interest in the development of mesh networking protocols, some of which are still standards on the Internet Engineering Task Force today. Subsequently, social networks consisting of WiFi routers or custom devices began to be called mesh networks. The dot-com boom at the turn of the millennium saw the birth of several mesh networking companies geared towards home reach extensions, last-mile connectivity and city-wide networks.

Elements of Mesh Network

The basic elements of Mesh Networking include:

• Node: represents a computer that can run programs and process incoming and outgoing packets through filters.
• Link: Analog network interfaces, such as UDPLink for LAN broadcasting, or IRCLink for Internet connectivity.
• Filter: Similar to iptables, it controls the incoming and outgoing traffic of nodes and supports stateful filtering.
• Program: A user-defined thread that has methods for sending and receiving data.

All of these components run in separate threads and communicate via queues, ensuring efficient concurrent operations.

The Advantages of Mesh Network

It realizes wireless literally and seamless connection. Its own advantages make it extremely competitive. Advantages include:

Cost Effective

Fewer wires in large areas of coverage can save more costs.

Faster Connection & Running

The more nodes you install, the bigger and faster your wireless network becomes. And wireless mesh configurations allow local networks to run faster, because local packets don’t have to travel back to a central server.

Wide Suitability

They rely on the same WiFi standards (802.11a, b and g) already in place for most wireless networks.

High Reliability

When wireless signals are intermittently blocked, the mesh network will adjust to find a clear signal.

Smarter

Mesh networks can automatically integrate a new node into the existing structure without any adjustments by a network administrator. And it would find the fastest and most reliable paths to send data, even if nodes are blocked or lose their signal.

Easy Scalability

Mesh networks don’t require additional routers. Instead, each node acts as router instead. This means you can quickly and easily change the size of the network, making the network extremely adaptable and expandable.

The Drawbacks of Mesh Network

Although Mesh network is a brilliant networking mode, it still have some disadvantages:

• High routing complexity: The routing algorithm is complex and needs to process more routing information because multi-hop communication between multiple nodes is required.
• Large transmission delay: Due to the need for multi-hop communication through multiple nodes, the transmission delay can be large, especially under high load conditions.

The Applications of Mesh Network

The future of the upcoming Internet of Things age lies in ubiquitous connectivity among objects. The rising number of perishable IoT devices applied in various occasions and the increasingly complex IoT ecosystem create a surged unfilled requirements for Bluetooth Mesh.

Cities & Municipalities

With BLE mesh networking, cities can connect citizens and public services over a widespread high-speed wireless connection.

Campus

Many colleges, universities and high schools are converting their entire campuses to BLE mesh networking. This solution eliminates the need to bury cables in old buildings and across campuses. With dozens of well-placed indoor and outdoor nodes,everyone will be connected all the time.

Healthcare

Mesh nodes can sneak around corners and send signals short distances through thick glass to ensure access in every operating room, lab and office. Doctors and caregivers maintain and update patient information,test results, medical history, even insurance information on portable devices carried from room to room.

Hospitality

High-speed internet connectivity at hotels and resorts has become the mule, not the exception. Mesh networks are quick and easy to set up indoors and outdoors without having to remodel existing structures or disrupt business.

Temporary Venus

Construction sites can capitalize on the easy set-up and removal of wireless mesh networks. Architects and engineers can stay wired to the office, and Ethemet-powered surveillance cameras can decrease theft and vandalism, Mesh nodes can be moved around and supplemented as the construction project progresses.

Warehouses

There is simply no effective way to keep track of stock and shipping logistics without the types of Ethernet-enabled handheld scanners used in modern warehouses. Wireless mesh networks can ensure connectivity throughout a huge warehouse structure with little effort.

Mesh Network vs Traditional Networks

Mesh networks connect the infrastructure nodes in an easy, effective and wireless way, using inexpensive, existing technology. It makes every object into IoT become possible.

Traditional networks connect users and devices counting on a small number of wired access points or wireless hotspots. In this wireless network, the network connection stretches among dozens or hundreds of wireless mesh nodes that communicate to each other to share the network connection across a large area.

Mesh works in a different way. There’s no central hub,switch or computer which handles all computer traffic. Instead,each device on the mesh network can talk to every other device. It uses a particular kind of protocol for moving information from one place to another. These multiple relays can quickly direct traffic across devices. This creates a mesh-like pattern of connectivity.

Differences Among Mesh Network, WSN and Ad-hoc Network

In addition to Bluetooth Mesh vs. Private Mesh, Mesh networks, Wireless Sensor networks (WSN), and ad hoc networks are three different types of networks that differ in structure and application:

Conclusion

In conclusion, mesh networks are an ideal infrastructure for IoT projects, as they provide additional flexibility by allowing them to operate regardless of broken paths or faulty devices. This wireless network is bound to become more and more practical, completely making IoT era march forward. The future applications for wireless mesh networks are limited only by our imaginations. Minew invites you to explore the next.

FAQ

Is mesh network better than WiFi?

It is generally better for larger or more complex environments where consistent coverage, reliability, and scalability are key priorities. Traditional WiFi is suitable for smaller spaces or simpler needs, offering fast speeds and an affordable solution.

Is mesh a LAN or WAN?

A mesh network can be either a LAN (Local Area Network) or a WAN (Wide Area Network), depending on how it is implemented and the scale of the network.

Which is better, mesh or extender?

If your needs are minimal, an extender might suffice, but for larger homes, offices, or areas with high device usage, it will provide superior performance and coverage.

Are Mesh Networks Safe to Operate?

Comparing with other network, every node are connected with each other, not just point to point in Mesh network. 

How Expensive is a Mesh Network?

In general, the system is more expensive than other alternative. Also the cost is depended on the coverage and the scale.