Broadcast information reliability through scrolling window repetition

Abstract

Systems and methods for repeatedly operating a wireless network using a rolling window. One example wireless base station includes an electronic processor and a transceiver coupled to the electronic processor. The electronic processor is configured to determine, for each of the plurality of information sets, a correlation period. The electronic processor is configured to generate, for a first broadcast time, a broadcast packet including an information set selected from the plurality of information sets based on the correlation period. The electronic processor is configured to transmit the broadcast packet via the transceiver.

Description

Cross-references to related applications

[0001] This application relates to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 63 / 470,014 entitled “Broadcast Information Reliability Through Rolling Window Repetition”, filed May 31, 2023, and claims the benefit of it under 35 U.SC §119(e), the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Background Technology

[0002] Utilities, such as electricity utilities, use wireless data communication networks to connect smart devices to monitor and control their infrastructure. For example, electricity uses meters, sensors, and other devices to provide telemetry data to the utility's automated billing and monitoring systems. This communication is increasingly bidirectional, for instance, when used in smart grids employing distributed automation control. Such wireless communication networks can comprise hundreds of base stations communicating with thousands of end nodes using limited radio frequency spectrum. Attached Figure Description

[0003] The accompanying drawings, together with the following detailed description, are incorporated in and form part of this specification, and serve to further illustrate embodiments including the concepts of the claimed invention and to explain the various principles and advantages of those embodiments, wherein the same reference numerals denote the same or functionally similar elements throughout the separate views.

[0004] Figure 1 A communication system according to some embodiments is shown.

[0005] Figure 2 According to some embodiments Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the system's wireless base station.

[0006] Figure 3 This is a flowchart illustrating a method, according to some embodiments, for improving the reliability of broadcast information in a wireless communication network by using a scrolling window to repeat.

[0007] Figure 4 This illustrates some embodiments. Figure 1 A diagram showing aspects of the system's operation.

[0008] Figure 5 This illustrates some embodiments. Figure 1 A diagram showing aspects of the system's operation.

[0009] Figure 6 This illustrates some embodiments. Figure 1 A diagram showing aspects of the system's operation.

[0010] Figure 7 This illustrates some embodiments. Figure 1 A diagram showing aspects of the system's operation.

[0011] Figure 8 This illustrates the use according to some embodiments. Figure 3 The table provides examples of grouping efficiency and reliability achieved by applying the method.

[0012] Those skilled in the art will understand that the elements in the figures are shown for simplicity and clarity and are not necessarily drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to aid in understanding the illustrated embodiments.

[0013] In some instances, device and method components have been indicated in their proper places by conventional symbols in the accompanying drawings, showing only those specific details relevant to understanding embodiments of the invention, so as not to obscure this disclosure with details that would be obvious to those skilled in the art who would benefit from the description herein. Detailed Implementation

[0014] As mentioned above, power companies can deploy short packet wireless communication networks, which consist of hundreds of low-power base stations communicating with thousands of end nodes using limited radio frequency spectrum. Compared to wired networks, packet reliability can be lower when transmitting over wireless networks because there are no RF barriers in wired systems. However, deploying wired networks may be impractical or prohibitively expensive in certain environments.

[0015] Several techniques have been developed to help mitigate these obstacles and improve overall packet reliability in wireless networks. Many of these techniques add extra signaling between the packet sender and receiver to help ensure successful packet delivery. However, these techniques are only manageable if the wireless network has spare capacity to accommodate the overhead incurred by the additional signaling. For example, using broadcast signaling, where there is a single sender and many receivers (e.g., sometimes tens of thousands), sending a packet may require thousands of acknowledgments. In this case, the overhead required to improve overall packet reliability would limit the network's capacity, making the network impractical for its intended purpose (i.e., providing reliable data communication for thousands of nodes). To address the overhead problem, some broadcast techniques simply repeat packets multiple times in an attempt to increase reliability without incurring feedback overhead. However, these techniques merely shift the additional network overhead from the return path (original receiver to original sender) to the original / main path (original sender to original receiver).

[0016] In wireless networks that require broadcast control signaling from a coordinating device to numerous managed devices, spectrum usage can be asymmetrical. For example, the amount of spectrum required or allocated to the downlink (e.g., from the coordinating device to managed devices) may be significantly less than the amount required or allocated to the uplink. This is due to the asymmetry in the number of devices requiring spectrum usage. Given this structure, the additional signaling overhead on the much smaller downlink path can negatively impact the network, similar to the thousands of acknowledgments that must be extended over more uplink spectrum. From this normalized perspective, the additional signaling overhead is unattractive in either case, necessitating alternatives. Therefore, systems and methods are needed to improve packet reliability in wireless networks without introducing excessive overhead.

[0017] To address these issues and for other reasons, this paper provides systems and methods for improving the reliability of broadcast information in wireless communication networks by using rolling window repetition. Among other things, the embodiments described herein provide a lower-cost means of providing redundancy in the downlink path by extending the information of various downlink packets across each other in terms of spectrum. Using such embodiments, the downlink packet count does not increase, only the packet size increases. Furthermore, by including more useful information, the information efficiency of each packet is improved, thereby reducing the packet overhead to information ratio.

[0018] This embodiment provides increased broadcast packet efficiency and information content reliability for wireless communication networks. By identifying the relevance period of information content and including relevant information content for the present and near future in packets, greater reliability is achieved without increasing signal overhead. Furthermore, the embodiment removes no longer relevant information content while repeating still relevant information content from one packet to the next. Using such an embodiment increases reliability while limiting overhead, resulting in increased network throughput. This, in turn, leads to more spectral efficiency and more effective use of the network and its computing resources.

[0019] An example embodiment provides a wireless base station. The wireless base station includes an electronic processor and a transceiver coupled to the electronic processor. The electronic processor is configured to: determine a correlation period for each of a plurality of information sets. The electronic processor is configured to: generate a broadcast packet based on the correlation period, for a first broadcast time, comprising an information set selected from the plurality of information sets. The electronic processor is configured to: transmit the broadcast packet via the transceiver.

[0020] Another example embodiment provides a method for operating a wireless base station. The method includes using an electronic processor to determine a correlation period for each of a plurality of information sets. The method includes, for a first broadcast time, generating a broadcast packet based on the correlation period, comprising the information sets selected from the plurality of information sets. The method includes transmitting the broadcast packet via a transceiver.

[0021] For ease of description, some or all of the example systems presented herein are illustrated by a single example of each of their constituent components. Some examples may not describe or show all components of the system. Other example embodiments may include more or fewer of each of the components shown, may combine some components, or may include additional or alternative components.

[0022] It should be understood that although some of the accompanying figures presented herein illustrate hardware and software located within a particular device, these descriptions are for illustrative purposes only. In some embodiments, the components shown may be combined or divided into separate software, firmware, and / or hardware. For example, logic and processing may be distributed among multiple electronic processors, rather than residing within a single electronic processor and executed by that single processor. Regardless of how the hardware and software components are combined or divided, the hardware and software components may reside on the same computing device or may be distributed among different computing devices connected via one or more networks or other suitable communication links.

[0023] Figure 1 This is a diagram of an example embodiment of a communication system 100. In the example shown, system 100 includes a field area network 102 and a core network 104. In the example shown, field area network 102 is a radio area network including a first base station 106, a second base station 108, a third base station 110, a first end node 112, a second end node 114, and a third end node 116. In one example, field area network 102 is a low-power short packet wireless communication network deployed to monitor and control equipment on a power utility grid, and core network 104 is a back-end computing network for the power utility (including, for example, billing systems, grid monitoring systems, and other command and control for the grid). The first end node 112, the second end node 114, and the third end node 116 each include appropriate hardware and software components (e.g., electronic processors, memories, transceivers) for operating the end nodes as described herein.

[0024] In the example shown, field area network 102 is communicatively coupled to core network 104 via core network gateway 118. For example, each of the first base station 106, the second base station 108, and the third base station 110 is coupled to core network gateway 118 via a suitable wired or wireless backhaul connection. Core network gateway 118 includes hardware and software components (e.g., electronic processor, memory, transceiver) for controlling electronic communication between field area network 102 and core network 104. In some embodiments, core network 104 may be a cloud computing platform accessible via one or more networks, including over the Internet using encrypted tunnels or another secure virtual network connection.

[0025] about Figure 2 More specifically, the first base station 106, the second base station 108, and the third base station 110 are wireless base stations for operating the field area network 102 to provide wireless communication to, from, and between the first end node 112, the second end node 114, and the third end node 116. In some instances, the base stations of the field area network 102 may be referred to herein or in the accompanying drawings as a "field network gateway" or "FNG".

[0026] System 100 may include more components than shown. In particular, it should be understood that, although Figure 1 Only three base stations and three end nodes are shown, but system 100 may include a field area network serving dozens, hundreds, or even thousands of end nodes with hundreds of base stations.

[0027] In one example, the field area network (LAN) is a wireless network operating in the 450-470MHz frequency band using a 12.5kHz channel to provide narrowband packet-based data communication between 5 and 10 kbps. In one example, each base station LAN 102 is configured to transmit data to end nodes on a single downlink channel and receive data from end nodes on one of a plurality of uplink channels, where the uplink and downlink frequencies are the same for each base station. Similarly, each end node is configured to receive data using the same downlink channel and transmit data on the same uplink channel. In some instances, the LAN 102 operates geographically close to other users using the same or adjacent frequencies allocated from the same frequency band as the LAN's downlink and uplink channels.

[0028] like Figure 1As shown, an end node may be able to transmit signals that can be received by multiple base stations, and similarly, be able to receive signals transmitted from multiple base stations. For example, the first end node 112 can communicate with all three base stations, while the second end node 114 can only communicate with the first base station 106, and the third end node 116 can communicate with the first base station 106 and the third base station 110, but cannot communicate with the second base station 108. In some instances, an end node may be able to receive transmissions from a specific base station, but may not be able to transmit transmissions that can be received by that base station. In some instances, an end node may be able to transmit transmissions that can be received by a specific base station, but cannot receive transmissions from that base station.

[0029] As an example, Figure 1 This illustrates communication between the second end node 114 and the first base station 106. (Example) Figure 1 As shown, and as described herein, the first base station 106 broadcasts network information to end nodes (including the second end node 114) based on the correlation period and rolling correlation window of the information, and the second end node 114 sends uplink data to the first base station 106.

[0030] In some embodiments, scheduled transmissions require time synchronization between the base station and end nodes. In such embodiments, the base station is configured to maintain network timing by periodically sending timing beacons, which are used by end nodes to synchronize their uplink data transmissions.

[0031] Figure 2 An example embodiment of a first base station 106 is schematically illustrated. In the illustrated embodiment, base station 106 includes an electronic processor 205, a memory 210, a communication interface 215, a baseband processor 220, a transceiver 225, and an antenna 230. The illustrated components, along with various other modules and components, are coupled to each other by or through one or more control or data buses (e.g., bus 235), which enable communication between them.

[0032] Electronic processor 205 may include one or more microprocessors, application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), or other suitable electronic devices. Electronic processor 205 acquires and provides information (e.g., to and from memory 210 and / or communication interface 215) and processes the information by executing one or more software instructions or modules that can be stored, for example, in a random access memory (“RAM”) region of memory 210, a read-only memory (“ROM”) of memory 210, or another non-transitory computer-readable medium (not shown). The software may include firmware, one or more applications, program data, filters, rules, one or more program modules, and other executable instructions. In the illustrated embodiment, memory 210 stores an information set 240 and a scrolling relevance window 245 (both described in detail herein).

[0033] Electronic processor 205 is configured to retrieve and execute software related to the control processes and methods described herein from memory 210. Electronic processor 205 executes instructions stored in memory 210 to implement the functions of the first field network gateway 118.

[0034] Electronic processor 205 is configured to control baseband processor 220 and transceiver 225 to transmit and receive radio frequency signals to and / or other end nodes using antenna 230. It should be noted that many base stations and other communication devices in practice typically employ multiple antennas to achieve spatial diversity (e.g., MIMO). Electronic processor 205, baseband processor 220, and transceiver 225 may include various digital and analog components (e.g., digital signal processors, high-frequency band filters, low-frequency band filters, etc.), which are not described herein for brevity, and may be implemented in hardware, software, or a combination of both. In some embodiments, transceiver 225 is a combined transmitter-receiver assembly. In other embodiments, transceiver 225 includes separate transmitter and receiver assemblies or may be replaced by separate transmitter and receiver assemblies.

[0035] The electronic processor 205 is configured to control the communication interface 215 (and in some embodiments, the antenna 230, another antenna (not shown), or a suitable wired connection) to send communication signals to and receive communication signals from the core network gateway 118.

[0036] A description of base station 106 is provided as a representative example of other base stations deployed in the network, including base stations 108 and 110. In some respects, one or more of the end nodes and core network gateways 118 may include systems or devices having a general component configuration similar to that of base station 106, as they each include a corresponding electronic processor, memory, communication interface, input / output interface, and / or radio frequency communication components coupled by at least one communication bus, although they may not have the same functionality and capabilities.

[0037] As mentioned above, there is a need to improve packet reliability in wireless networks without introducing excessive overhead. Therefore, Figure 3 Example method 300 is illustrated to provide increased broadcast packet efficiency and information content reliability in a wireless communication system by using a relevance period and a rolling relevance window for the information content. Although method 300 is described in conjunction with system 100 as described herein, method 300 can be used with other systems and devices. Furthermore, method 300 can be modified or implemented differently from the specific example provided.

[0038] As an example, method 300 is described as being executed by a first base station 106 (and specifically, by an electronic processor 205). However, it should be understood that in some embodiments, portions of method 300 may be executed by other devices, including, for example, a core network gateway 118, one or more end nodes, or combinations thereof. Additional electronic processors may also be included in the first base station 106 or other control devices for a field area network 102 (not shown), which execute all or part of method 300. For ease of description, method 300 is described in part based on a single base station and a single end node. However, method 300 can be applied to systems comprising multiple base stations and end nodes.

[0039] Method 300 is described based on a set of information broadcast from a base station (e.g., first base station 106) to one or more end nodes of a wireless network (e.g., field area network 102). Each set of information (Qi) is relevant to the end node during a specific time period (Ti) called the relevance period. Before Ti, it is beneficial for the device to know Qi. After Ti, it is not beneficial for the device to know Qi. In one example, a set of information Qi contains the resources that the end node needs to configure itself to participate in the network.

[0040] Figure 4 Figure 400 shows three sets of information (402) Q1, Q3, and Q4, and six time periods (404) T0-T5. (See figure 400 for details.) Figure 4 As shown, Q1 is relevant during period T1, Q3 is relevant during period T3, and Q4 is relevant during period T4. There is no relevant information for periods T0, T2, and T5.

[0041] In some respects, the correlation cycles can overlap. Figure 5 Figure 500 shows four sets of information (502) Q1-Q4 and six time periods (504) T0-T5. (See figure 500 for details.) Figure 5 As shown, Q1 is correlated during T1, Q2 is correlated during T2, Q3 is correlated during T3, and Q4 is correlated during T4. The correlation periods T1 and T2 overlap but end simultaneously with T2. The correlation periods T3 and T4 overlap but end during T4.

[0042] In this example, if a network coordinator device (e.g., a base station or field network gateway) needs to share information from Q1, Q2, Q3, and Q4, it can broadcast four separate packets and repeat these packets, ensuring sufficient packet reliability for each. However, depending on transmission opportunities, some information in this message may be irrelevant when additional packet attempts are possible. Figure 3 As described below, method 300 groups the information set (Qi) into a single broadcast Bk, where each Bk contains only relevant information (see below). Figure 6 ).

[0043] Method 300 begins at block 302, where electronic processor 205 has broadcast times and multiple sets of information to be broadcast. The broadcast time is the scheduled time used to send broadcast packets. The broadcast time is determined based on network timing, conditions, and protocols.

[0044] Using method 300, electronic processor 205 determines which information set (if any) will be broadcast at the broadcast time. At block 304, electronic processor 205 determines the correlation period of an information set. For example, the information set may be stored in the base station's memory along with its associated correlation period. In some respects, the correlation period is associated with the actual period. In other respects, the correlation periods are correlated with each other based on the type of information contained in the information set. In some respects, the correlation period is determined based on network protocol characteristics.

[0045] In some embodiments, a base station receives a set of information (and an associated correlation period) from the network core or another network device. In some embodiments, the base station derives the correlation period based on the type of information contained in the set of information according to predetermined rules. In some embodiments, the correlation period may be determined based on network conditions measured or reported to the base station.

[0046] At box 306, electronic processor 205 determines whether the broadcast time occurs before or during a correlation period. When electronic processor 205 determines that the first broadcast time does not occur before or during a correlation period, it does not include the information set in the broadcast packet to be sent at the broadcast time (at box 308). In some embodiments, when electronic processor 205 determines that the first broadcast time occurs before or during a correlation period, it includes the information set in the broadcast packet to be sent at the broadcast time. For example, Figure 6 Figure 600 shows four sets of information (502) and six time periods (504). Figure 6 Five broadcast times B1-B5 are also shown. Each broadcast packet for Bk contains only the relevant Qi. For example, B1 contains Q1 to Q4 because B1 occurs before the correlation periods T1-T4. Although the correlation period T1 has already begun at broadcast time B2, it also contains Q1 to Q4 because Q1 is still relevant at the broadcast time. However, the broadcast packets for broadcast time B3 only contain Q3 and Q4 because the correlation periods T1 and T2 for Q1 and Q2 have expired. The broadcast packets for B4 only contain Q4. The broadcast packets generated for B5 will contain no information, so sending them at that broadcast time is unnecessary.

[0047] return Figure 3 In some embodiments, a rolling correlation window is used to further determine the content of the broadcast packet. At block 310, in response to determining that the broadcast time occurs before or during the correlation period, the electronic processor 205 determines whether the correlation period occurs within the rolling correlation window.

[0048] Using a rolling relevance window, broadcasts can be aligned with and timed to the information set, providing enough future information in a redundant manner to allow receiving devices to miss some broadcasts but still reconstruct the complete super-information set. For example, Figure 7 A diagram 700 shows seven broadcast groups B0 to B6. Each contains different sets of information Q0-Q9. In the example shown, the correlation periods T0-T9 have the same length, and the scrolling correlation window has a duration of four correlation periods.

[0049] like Figure 7As shown, each successive broadcast occurs sequentially, such that a set of information becomes irrelevant and does not need to be included in the broadcast packet. This frees up space in the packet to include the next set of information. In the example shown, each broadcast contains four sets of information in the relevant rolling window. During the steady-state period (which continues indefinitely as long as the broadcast continues), the receiving device has as many opportunities to receive a given set of information as the number of sets included in each broadcast packet. Therefore, each broadcast packet always contains new information, excludes outdated information, and provides redundant information for those periods in the middle of its range. This allows the receiver to, for example, miss any three from B0 to B3 and still receive Q3, and so on for each such Qi. It should be understood that broadcasts do not need to be strictly periodic, nor do they need to have relevant adjacent periods.

[0050] There may be many Qi values ​​associated with future receivers. However, due to limited network bandwidth, not all future Qi values ​​associated with the receiver can be transmitted during the correlation window. Therefore, in some respects, the duration of the rolling correlation window can be based on the expected number of information sets per packet. The expected number N of information sets per packet can be generated based on one or more of average individual packet reliability and RF environment responsiveness. For example, increasing N will increase the reliability of transmissions from the base station, but decrease the responsiveness. Similarly, decreasing N will increase responsiveness, but result in decreased reliability. In some embodiments, the value of N is set by the network core and indicated to the base station. In some embodiments, the base station can modify N, for example, based on measured or reported network conditions. In some embodiments, the expected reliability and therefore the value of N are determined based on network applications.

[0051] Return to Figure 3 When the electronic processor 205 determines that the correlation cycle occurs within the rolling correlation window, it includes the information set in the broadcast packet (at 312).

[0052] If no remaining set of information to be evaluated exists, electronic processor 205 sends a broadcast packet (in box 316). If a remaining set of information to be evaluated exists, electronic processor 205 iterates the process (in boxes 304-314).

[0053] like Figure 3As shown, in some aspects, the electronic processor 205 iterates for subsequent broadcast times. For example, for a subsequent broadcast time, the electronic processor 205 can generate a modified broadcast packet based on the current broadcast packet and the subsequent broadcast time. In some aspects, the electronic processor 205 generates a modified broadcast packet by removing a set of information from the broadcast packet when the relevance period for that set of information expires before the subsequent broadcast time or falls outside the rolling relevance window. In some aspects, the electronic processor 205 generates a modified broadcast packet by adding one or more sets of information to the broadcast packet based on the relevance period of the new set of information or by moving the rolling relevance window, as described above regarding... Figure 7 As described.

[0054] Figure 8 Table 800 is shown, illustrating exemplary performance improvements achieved by operating the network according to the embodiments described herein. Each row of Table 800 has an increasing number of Qi (information sets) ranging from 1 to 5, represented in broadcast packets. In this example, it is assumed that the size of each Qi, in bytes, is 10, and the broadcast packet overhead is also 10 bytes. This allows us to measure the efficiency of each packet. Figure 8 As shown, efficiency increases with the inclusion of more information, since the overhead is constant. As described in this paper, the steady-state period for each of these packet types also ranges from 1 to 5, providing the repetitions needed to increase the reliability of a single Qi. Assuming a single-attempt packet reliability of 80%, with increasing steady-state time, for a steady-state correlation window length of 5, more repetitions per Qi drive reliability up to 99.97%. As the number of Qi per packet increases, the steady-state correlation window length and the total number of bytes transmitted across all packets within the correlation window also increase. This total number of bytes is a measure of the bandwidth required to achieve information reliability.

[0055] Now consider an alternative that simply sends each Qi multiple times within its own packet to achieve the same reliability. For example, if we want to send Q1 through Q5 with 99.97% reliability, we would need to transmit each packet 5 times. Each Qi needs its own packet, so the efficiency per packet is 50%, and we would need to send each packet 5 times, for a total of 25 packets, each 20 bytes. This incurs a cost of 500 bytes to achieve the same reliability for each Qi. In this case, the embodiment described herein results in a 40% cost reduction to achieve the same performance.

[0056] Specific embodiments have been described in the foregoing specification. However, those skilled in the art will understand that various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. Therefore, the specification and drawings are to be considered illustrative rather than restrictive, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this teaching.

[0057] Benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any elements that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more apparent shall not be construed as key, essential, or necessary features or elements of any or all claims.

[0058] Furthermore, in this document, relational terms such as first and second, top and bottom, etc., may be used only to distinguish one entity or action from another entity or action, without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between these entities or actions. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” “containing,” or any other variation thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that includes, has, contains, or contains a list of elements includes not only those elements but may also include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such a process, method, article, or apparatus. Without further constraints, an element beginning with “comprising…a,” “having…a,” “containing…a,” or “containing…a” does not exclude the presence of additional identical elements in a process, method, article, or apparatus that includes, has, contains, or contains that element. Unless otherwise expressly stated herein, the terms “a” and “an” are defined as one or more. The terms “substantially,” “generally,” “approximately,” “about,” or any other form thereof are defined as close to as understood by one person skilled in the art, and in one non-limiting embodiment, the term is defined as within 10%, in another within 5%, in yet another within 1%, and in yet another within 0.5%. As used herein, the term “coupling” is defined as a connection, although not necessarily a direct connection or a mechanical connection. A device or structure “configured” in a certain way is configured at least in this manner, but may also be configured in ways not listed.

[0059] It should be understood that some embodiments may include one or more general-purpose or special-purpose processors (or "processing devices"), such as microprocessors, digital signal processors, custom processors, and field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), and uniquely stored program instructions (including both software and firmware) that control one or more processors in conjunction with certain non-processor circuitry to implement some, most, or all of the functions of the methods and / or apparatuses described herein. Alternatively, some or all of the functions may be implemented by a state machine without stored program instructions, or in one or more application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), wherein each function or some combinations of certain functions is implemented as custom logic. Of course, a combination of these two approaches may be used.

[0060] In a claim, if protection is claimed for an apparatus or system, for example, which includes an electronic processor or other element configured in a certain way (e.g., for performing multiple decisions), then the claim or claim element shall be interpreted as: any one of one or more electronic processors (or other elements) is configured as described in the claim, for example, to perform any one or more of a plurality of decisions.

[0061] Furthermore, one embodiment can be implemented as a computer-readable storage medium on which computer-readable code is stored for programming a computer (e.g., including a processor) to perform the methods described and claimed herein. Examples of such computer-readable storage media include, but are not limited to, hard disks, CD-ROMs, optical storage devices, magnetic storage devices, ROMs (read-only memories), PROMs (programmable read-only memories), EPROMs (erasable programmable read-only memories), EEPROMs (electrically erasable programmable read-only memories), and flash memory. Moreover, it is anticipated that those skilled in the art, guided by the concepts and principles disclosed herein, will be readily able to generate such software instructions and programs, as well as ICs, with minimal experimentation, given the potentially significant effort and numerous design options inspired by factors such as available time, current technology, and economic considerations.

[0062] The following paragraphs provide various examples of the embodiments disclosed herein.

[0063] Example 1 is a wireless base station. The wireless base station includes an electronic processor and a transceiver coupled to the electronic processor. The electronic processor is configured to: determine a correlation period for each of a plurality of information sets. The electronic processor is configured to: for a first broadcast time, generate a broadcast packet based on the correlation period, comprising the information set selected from the plurality of information sets. The electronic processor is configured to: transmit the broadcast packet via the transceiver.

[0064] Example 2 may include the subject of Example 1 and may further specify that the electronic processor is configured to generate broadcast packets by determining, for each of a plurality of information sets, whether a first broadcast time occurs before or during a correlation period. The electronic processor is also configured to include the information set in the broadcast packet when the first broadcast time occurs before or during a correlation period.

[0065] Example 3 may include the subject matter of either Example 1 or 2, and may also specify that the electronic processor is further configured to generate a modified broadcast packet based on the broadcast packet and the second broadcast time. The electronic processor is further configured to transmit the broadcast packet via a transceiver.

[0066] Example 4 may include the subject of Example 3, and may further specify that the electronic processor is configured to generate a modified broadcast packet by determining, for each of the multiple information sets included in the broadcast packet, whether a relevance period expires before the second broadcast time. The electronic processor is also configured to remove the information set from the broadcast packet when the relevance period expires before the second broadcast time.

[0067] Example 5 may include the subject of any of Examples 1 to 4, and may also specify that the electronic processor is further configured to: for the first broadcast time, generate broadcast packets including a set of information selected from multiple sets of information based on the relevance period and a rolling relevance window.

[0068] Example 6 may include the subject of Example 5 and may further specify that the electronic processor is configured to generate the broadcast packet by: for each of a plurality of information sets, determining whether a first broadcast time occurs before or during a correlation period. The electronic processor is configured to: in response to determining that the first broadcast time occurs before or during a correlation period, determine whether the correlation period occurs within a rolling correlation window. The electronic processor is configured to: include the information set in the broadcast packet when the correlation period occurs within the rolling correlation window.

[0069] Example 7 may include the subject of Example 6 and may further specify that the electronic processor is configured to: generate an adjusted rolling correlation window based on a second broadcast time. The electronic processor is configured to: for each of a plurality of information sets included in a broadcast packet, determine whether the correlation period occurs within the adjusted rolling correlation window. The electronic processor is configured to: when the correlation period does not occur within the rolling correlation window, generate a modified broadcast packet by removing that information set from the broadcast packet. The electronic processor is configured to: transmit the modified broadcast packet via a transceiver.

[0070] Example 8 may include the subject matter of Example 7, and may further specify that the electronic processor is configured to: for each of a plurality of information sets, determine whether a second broadcast time occurs before or during a correlation period. The electronic processor is configured to: in response to determining that the second broadcast time occurs before or during a correlation period, determine whether the correlation period occurs within an adjusted rolling correlation window. The electronic processor is configured to: when the correlation period occurs within the adjusted rolling correlation window, generate a modified broadcast packet by adding an information set to the broadcast packet.

[0071] Example 9 may include the subject of any of Examples 5 through 8, and may also specify the duration of the scrolling relevance window based on the expected amount of information in each broadcast group.

[0072] Example 10 may include the subject of any of Examples 1 to 9, and may also specify that the expected number of information sets for each broadcast packet is generated based on one or more of the average single packet reliability and RF environment responsiveness.

[0073] Example 11 is a method of operating a wireless base station. The method includes: determining a correlation period for each of a plurality of information sets using an electronic processor. The method includes: for a first broadcast time, generating a broadcast packet based on the correlation period, comprising the information sets selected from the plurality of information sets. The method includes transmitting the broadcast packet via a transceiver.

[0074] Example 12 may include the subject of Example 11, and may further include: for each of a plurality of information sets, determining whether the first broadcast time occurs before or during the correlation period. Example 12 may further include: when the first broadcast time occurs before or during the correlation period, including the information set in the broadcast packet.

[0075] Example 13 may include the subject of any one of Examples 11 and 12, and may further include: generating a modified broadcast packet based on the broadcast packet and the second broadcast time. Example 13 may also include: sending the broadcast packet via a transceiver.

[0076] Example 14 may include the subject of Example 13, and may further include: for each of the multiple information sets included in the broadcast packet, determining whether the relevance period expires before the second broadcast time. Example 13 may further include: when the relevance period expires before the second broadcast time, removing the information set from the broadcast packet to generate a modified broadcast packet.

[0077] Example 15 may include the subject of any of Examples 11 to 14, and may also include: generating broadcast groups based on the correlation period and the rolling correlation window.

[0078] Example 16 may include the subject of Example 15, and may further include: for each of a plurality of information sets, determining whether a first broadcast time occurs before or during a correlation period. Example 16 may further include: in response to determining that the first broadcast time occurs before or during a correlation period, determining whether the correlation period occurs within a rolling correlation window. Example 16 may further include: when the correlation period occurs within a rolling correlation window, including the information set in a broadcast group.

[0079] Example 17 may include the subject of Example 16, and may further include: generating an adjusted rolling correlation window based on a second broadcast time. Example 17 may further include: for each of a plurality of information sets included in a broadcast packet, determining whether a correlation period occurs within the adjusted rolling correlation window. Example 17 may further include: when a correlation period does not occur within the rolling correlation window, generating a modified broadcast packet by removing information sets from the broadcast packet. Example 17 may further include: transmitting the modified broadcast packet via a transceiver.

[0080] Example 18 may include the subject of Example 17, and may further include: for each of a plurality of information sets, determining whether the second broadcast time occurs before or during the correlation period. Example 18 may further include: in response to determining that the second broadcast time occurs before or during the correlation period, determining whether the correlation period occurs within the adjusted rolling correlation window. Example 18 may further include: when the correlation period occurs within the adjusted rolling correlation window, generating a modified broadcast group by adding information sets to the broadcast group.

[0081] Example 19 may include the subject of Example 15, and may also include: determining the duration of the rolling relevance window based on the expected number of information sets for each group.

[0082] Example 20 may include the subject matter of claim 18, and may also specify that the expected number of information sets for each packet is generated based on one or more of the average individual packet reliability and RF environment responsiveness.

[0083] Example 21 may include one or more non-transitory computer-readable media having instructions thereon that, when executed by one or more electronic processors, cause one or more electronic processors to perform the subject matter of any one or more of Examples 11 to 20.

Claims

1. A wireless base station, comprising: Electronic processor; and A transceiver coupled to the electronic processor; The electronic processor is configured as follows: For each of the multiple information sets, determine the correlation period; For the first broadcast time, a broadcast packet is generated based on the correlation period, comprising an information set selected from the plurality of information sets; as well as The broadcast packet is transmitted via the transceiver.

2. The wireless base station according to claim 1, wherein, The electronic processor is also configured to generate the broadcast packets by: For each of the plurality of information sets: Determine whether the first broadcast time occurs before or during the correlation period; and When the first broadcast time occurs before or during the correlation period, the information set is included in the broadcast packet.

3. The wireless base station according to claim 1, wherein, The electronic processor is also configured to: A modified broadcast packet is generated based on the broadcast packet and the second broadcast time; and The broadcast packet is transmitted via the transceiver.

4. The wireless base station according to claim 3, wherein, The electronic processor is also configured to generate the modified broadcast packets by: For each of the plurality of information sets included in the broadcast packet: Determine whether the correlation period expires before the second broadcast time; and When the correlation period expires before the second broadcast time, the information set is removed from the broadcast group.

5. The wireless base station according to claim 1, wherein, The electronic processor is also configured to: For the first broadcast time, a broadcast group is generated based on the correlation period and the rolling correlation window, which includes a set of information selected from the plurality of information sets.

6. The wireless base station according to claim 5, wherein, The electronic processor is also configured to generate the broadcast packets by: For each of the plurality of information sets: Determine whether the first broadcast time occurs before or during the correlation period; In response to determining that the first broadcast time occurs before or during the correlation period, it is determined whether the correlation period occurs within the rolling correlation window; as well as When the correlation period occurs within the rolling correlation window, the information set is included in the broadcast group.

7. The wireless base station according to claim 6, wherein, The electronic processor is also configured to: An adjusted rolling correlation window is generated based on the second broadcast time; For each of the plurality of information sets included in the broadcast packet: Determine whether the correlation period occurs within the adjusted rolling correlation window, and When the correlation period does not occur within the rolling correlation window, a modified broadcast group is generated by removing the information set from the broadcast group; as well as The modified broadcast packet is transmitted via the transceiver.

8. The wireless base station according to claim 7, wherein, The electronic processor is also configured to: For each of the plurality of information sets: Determine whether the second broadcast time occurs before or during the correlation period; In response to determining that the second broadcast time occurs before or during the correlation period, it is determined whether the correlation period occurs within the adjusted rolling correlation window; as well as When the correlation period occurs within the adjusted rolling correlation window, the modified broadcast group is generated by adding the information set to the broadcast group.

9. The wireless base station according to claim 5, wherein, The duration of the rolling relevance window is based on the expected amount of information set for each broadcast packet.

10. The wireless base station according to claim 9, wherein, The expected number of information sets for each broadcast packet is generated based on one or more of the average individual packet reliability and RF environment responsiveness.

11. A method of operating a wireless base station, the method comprising: The correlation period of each information set in multiple information sets is determined using an electronic processor; For the first broadcast time, a broadcast packet is generated based on the correlation period, comprising an information set selected from the plurality of information sets; as well as The broadcast packet is transmitted via transceiver.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein, Generating the broadcast packet includes: For each of the plurality of information sets: Determine whether the first broadcast time occurs before or during the correlation period; and When the first broadcast time occurs before or during the correlation period, the information set is included in the broadcast group.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising: A modified broadcast packet is generated based on the broadcast packet and the second broadcast time; and The broadcast packet is transmitted via the transceiver.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein, Generating the modified broadcast packet includes: For each of the plurality of information sets included in the broadcast packet: Determine whether the correlation period expires before the second broadcast time; and When the correlation period expires before the second broadcast time, the information set is removed from the broadcast group.

15. The method according to claim 11, wherein, Generating the broadcast packet, which includes an information set selected from the plurality of information sets, includes generating the broadcast packet based on the correlation period and the rolling correlation window.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein, Generating the broadcast packet includes: For each of the plurality of information sets: Determine whether the first broadcast time occurs before or during the correlation period; In response to determining that the first broadcast time occurs before or during the correlation period, it is determined whether the correlation period occurs within the rolling correlation window; and When the correlation period occurs within the rolling correlation window, the information set is included in the broadcast group.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising: An adjusted rolling correlation window is generated based on the second broadcast time; For each of the plurality of information sets included in the broadcast packet: Determine whether the correlation period occurs within the adjusted rolling correlation window, and When the correlation period does not occur within the rolling correlation window, a modified broadcast group is generated by removing the information set from the broadcast group; as well as The modified broadcast packet is transmitted via the transceiver.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising: For each of the plurality of information sets: Determine whether the second broadcast time occurs before or during the correlation period; In response to determining that the second broadcast time occurs before or during the correlation period, it is determined whether the correlation period occurs within the adjusted rolling correlation window; as well as When the correlation period occurs within the adjusted rolling correlation window, the modified broadcast group is generated by adding the information set to the broadcast group.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising: The duration of the rolling relevance window is determined based on the expected amount of information in each broadcast packet.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein, The expected number of information sets for each broadcast packet is generated based on one or more of the average individual packet reliability and RF environment responsiveness.

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