# US 12,015,973 B2 · Methods for link and path quality assessment

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- Number: US 12,015,973 B2
- Document ID: US12015973B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/104,057
- Filed: 2023-01-31
- Published: 2023-08-10
- Granted: 2024-06-18
- Earliest claimed: 2017-01-20
- Assignees: Airties S.A.S.
- Applicants: Airties S.A.S.
- Inventors: Muharrem Sarper Gokturk; Metin Ismail Taskin
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12015973B2

## CPC

- H04W 40/28: for reactive routing
- H04L 43/0888: Throughput
- H04L 45/123: {Evaluation of link metrics (techniques for monitoring network metrics H04L43/08)}
- H04L 45/124: {using a combination of metrics}
- H04L 45/125: based on throughput or bandwidth
- H04L 45/22: {Alternate routing}
- H04W 40/12: based on transmission quality or channel quality
- H04W 88/06: adapted for operation in multiple networks {or having at least two operational modes}, e.g. multi-mode terminals
- H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72)
- H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M)

## Abstract

A method for assessing path quality between a source node and a destination node, the method comprising, at a node: determining a first parameter and a first path classification of a first path having at least one link; determining a second parameter and a second path classification of a second path having at least one link; determining the quality of the first path based on the first parameter and the first path classification; determining the quality of the second path based on the second parameter and the second path classification; and comparing the quality of the first path and the quality of the second path thereby to determine the best quality path.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method implemented by a device, the method comprising:
receiving measurements of at least one parameter for each link of a first path between a start node and an end node, wherein the first path comprises a first set of links between the start node and the end node, wherein each link uses a single communication technology comprising a power line communication (PLC) technology, ethernet technology, or wireless technology;
receiving measurements of at least one parameter for each link of a second path between the start node and an end node, wherein the second path comprises a second set of links between the start node and the end node, wherein the first set of links and the second set of links differ in at least one link using a different communication technology;
converting the measurement of each link to an expected throughput based on the communication technology of the link;
determining a link metric of each link based on the expected throughput, wherein determining the link metric for each link further includes performing level-based hysteresis with consistency check on each link based on the expected throughput, wherein the link metric is determined based on an equation where the link metric is equal to an absolute value of K over ([floor operator of: R/L]+1), where K is a predetermined number that designates a worst metric that can be output and R represents an expected throughput, and L is a step size for a quantization of a range of possible measurements of qualities;
determining a first path metric for the first path by adding each link metric of the first set of links;
determining a second path metric for the second path by adding each link metric of the first set of links;
comparing the first path metric to the second path metric; and
transmitting information using the first path or the second path from the start node to the end node based on the comparison.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the converting is performed base on a look-up table with respect to each link's respective communication technology and measurement.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the converting is performed based on a function of the measurement of each link and the respective communication technology for that link.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the parameter is one of: a physical parameter, physical sample rate, signal to noise ratio, signal to interference plus noise ratio, modulation and coding scheme index value, available airtime, interference, or signal strength.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the comparing is based on a threshold difference between the first path metric and the second path metric.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein predetermined outlier samples are eliminated from the measurements by pre-filtering prior to converting the measurement of each link to an expected throughput.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein determining the link metric for each link further includes using an N-sample sliding window pre-filter on the expected throughput.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, wherein determining the link metric for each link further includes filtering relevant samples that are an output of the N-sample sliding window pre-filter.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein determining the link metric for each link further includes converting a forecasted throughput that is an output of the filtering to generate a candidate metric, wherein the candidate metric is used in performing level-based hysteresis with consistency check.

### Claim 10

A device, the device comprising:
a receiver operatively coupled to a processor, the receiver configured to receive measurements of at least one parameter for each link of a first path between a start node and an end node, wherein the first path comprises a first set of links between the start node and the end node, wherein each link uses a single communication technology comprising a power line communication (PLC) technology, ethernet technology, or wireless technology;
the receiver configured to receive measurements of at least one parameter for each link of a second path between the start node and an end node, wherein the second path comprises a second set of links between the start node and the end node, wherein the first set of links and the second set of links differ in at least one link using a different communication technology;
the processor configured to convert the measurement of each link to an expected throughput based on the communication technology of the link;
the processor configured to determine a link metric of each link based on the expected throughput, wherein determining the link metric for each link further includes performing level-based hysteresis with consistency check on each link based on the expected throughput, wherein the link metric is determined based on an equation where the link metric is equal to an absolute value of K over ([floor operator of: R/L]+1), where K is a predetermined number that designates a worst metric that can be output and R represents an expected throughput, and L is a step size for a quantization of a range of possible measurements of qualities;
the processor configured to determine a first path metric for the first path by adding each link metric of the first set of links;
the processor configured to determine a second path metric for the second path by adding each link metric of the first set of links;
the processor configured to compare the first path metric to the second path metric; and
the processor operatively coupled to a transmitter, the processor and transmitter configured to transmit information using the first path or the second path from the start node to the end node based on the comparison.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The device of claim 10, wherein the converting is performed base on a look-up table with respect to each link's respective communication technology and measurement.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The device of claim 10, wherein the converting is performed based on a function of the measurement of each link and the respective communication technology for that link.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The device of claim 10, wherein the parameter is one of: a physical parameter, physical sample rate, signal to noise ratio, signal to interference plus noise ratio, modulation and coding scheme index value, available airtime, interference, or signal strength.

### Claim 14 (depends on 10)

The device of claim 10, wherein the comparing is based on a threshold difference between the first path metric and the second path metric.

### Claim 15 (depends on 10)

The device of claim 10, wherein predetermined outlier samples are eliminated from the measurements by pre-filtering prior to converting the measurement of each link to an expected throughput.

### Claim 16 (depends on 10)

The device of claim 10, wherein determining the link metric for each link further includes using an N-sample sliding window pre-filter on the expected throughput.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16, wherein determining the link metric for each link further includes filtering relevant samples that are an output of the N-sample sliding window pre-filter.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, wherein determining the link metric for each link further includes converting a forecasted throughput that is an output of the filtering to generate a candidate metric, wherein the candidate metric is used in performing level-based hysteresis with consistency check.