Model based Path Selection in a Bluetooth Low Energy, BLE, Mesh Network

A method for supporting the establishment of a path for transmitting a message in a mesh network, wherein said message is to be transmitted from a source node in said mesh network to a destination node, via one or more intermediary nodes, in said mesh network, said method comprising the steps of:

• receiving, by an intermediary node in said mesh network, a path discovery message originating from said source node in said mesh network, said path discovery message comprising a path quality parameter;
• updating, by said intermediary node, said path quality parameter based on a quality of link associated with a node from which said intermediary node received said path discovery message;
• and
• broadcasting, by said intermediary node, said path discovery message wherein said broadcasted path discovery message comprises said updated path quality parameter.

A method for determining a path for transmitting a message in a mesh network, wherein said message is to be transmitted from a source node in said mesh network to a destination node, via one or more intermediary nodes, in said mesh network, said method comprising the steps of:

• receiving, by said destination node, one or more path discovery messages, wherein each of said messages comprises a corresponding path quality parameter;
• determining, by said destination node, from said received path discovery message, that said destination node is the intended destination node;
• updating, by said destination node, said path quality parameters for each of said received one or more path discovery messages, based on a quality of link associated with a node from which said destination node received said corresponding path discovery message;
• selecting, by said destination node, a path from said source node to said destination node as being the path between said source node and said destination node based on said updated path quality parameters;
• and
• unicasting, by said destination node, a discovery response message to said source node using said selected path.

An intermediary node in a mesh network arranged for supporting establishment of a path for transmitting a message in said mesh network, wherein said message is to be transmitted from a source node in said mesh network to a destination node, via one or more intermediary nodes, in said mesh network, said intermediary node comprising:

• receiver circuitry configured to receive a path discovery message originating from said source node in said mesh network, said path discovery message comprising a path quality parameter;
• processing circuitry configured to update said path quality parameter based on a quality of link associated with a node from which said intermediary node received said path discovery message;
• and
• transmitter circuitry configured to broadcast said path discovery message, such that said broadcasted path discovery message comprises said updated path quality parameter.

A destination node for determining a path for transmitting a message in a mesh network, wherein said message is to be transmitted from a source node to said destination node, via one or more intermediary nodes, in said mesh network, said node comprising:

• receiver circuitry configured to receive one or more path discovery messages, wherein each of said path discovery messages comprising a corresponding path quality parameter;
• processing circuitry configured to determine, from said received path discovery message, that said destination node is the intended destination node, and for updating said path quality parameters, for each of said received path discovery messages, based on a quality of link associated with a node from which said intermediary node received said corresponding path discovery message, and to select a path from said source node to said destination node as being the path between said source node and said destination node based on said updated path quality parameters;
• and
• transmitter circuitry configured to unicast a discovery response message to said source node using said selected path.