Sender

Abstract

For the purpose of creating a transmitter that is data-technically connected to other electrical devices, whereby the transmitter's transmission operations are limited by a specification, in which energy consumption and computing effort are reduced, and the time periods between a transmission and the execution of the transmission order are effectively minimized, a transmitter is proposed that makes the execution of a transmission order dependent on a suitable time and that the transmitter predicts a suitable time for transmission based on its already completed transmission operations, for example with regard to telegram length or transmission frequency, and that the transmitter only executes the transmission order when the suitable time has been reached.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a transmitter which is connected to other electrical devices for data purposes, wherein the transmission processes of the transmitter are limited by a specification.

[0002] Such transmitters are known, for example, from EP 2 842 399 A1. Such transmitters typically transmit large amounts of data, including data whose transmission time would exceed the permissible duty cycle (corresponding to a restrictive specification) of a transmitter. This results in significant delays in transmission processes. The processing time is then correspondingly long, since after transmitting a data packet and reaching the duty cycle, a wait must first be made until the same transmitter is permitted and able to transmit the next data packet.

[0003] The transmission method regularly practiced in such transmitters (time-slot method) consists in not recording the past, for example the last hour, exactly, but in accumulating data from transmissions in a number (N) of discrete time intervals (T).

[0004] For example, an hour is divided into 12 intervals of 5 minutes (N = 12, T = 5 minutes). For each time interval, only the used transmission time is recorded. An additional interval is required for future transmissions. The limitation must then be applied when the used radio time over the 13 (N + 1) intervals exceeds the duty cycle limit.

[0005] The problem with this method, or rather the previously known transmitter, is that it requires continuous time measurement. This is not possible with most battery-operated devices (especially handheld and wall-mounted transmitters), since a continuously active time measurement device consumes approximately half the battery capacity over the required 10-year operating life of such a transmitter.

[0006] The resulting behavior of the process must also be considered. If the transmission time quota is exhausted, the end of the interval must be waited for before further transmissions are possible. Choosing smaller time intervals is advantageous in this case, but this increases energy consumption and computational effort.

[0007] The problem with such known generic transmitters is that they regularly cause high energy consumption and computing effort, do not optimally utilize the specifications regarding the transmitter's transmission processes and, at the same time, and for the end user, cause undesirably long periods of time between a transmission and the implementation of the transmission order.

[0008] Based on this discussed prior art, the invention seeks to create a transmitter that communicates with other electrical devices via data communication, while avoiding the aforementioned disadvantages. In particular, energy consumption and computational effort are to be reduced, and the time between a transmission and the execution of the transmission request is to be effectively minimized.

[0009] This task is solved by a transmitter that is connected to other electrical devices via data technology, whereby the transmitter's transmission processes are limited by a specification, whereby the transmitter makes the execution of a transmission order dependent on a suitable time and the transmitter updates a suitable time for transmission based on its previous transmission processes, for example with regard to the telegram length or the transmission frequency, and the transmitter only implements the transmission order when the suitable time is reached.

[0010] In the following, a transmitter is understood to be an electrical device that requires transmission time for transmission processes.

[0011] The transmitter according to the invention therefore only executes a transmission request at a suitable time. The transmitter according to the invention advantageously determines a suitable transmission time by updating it based on its previously completed transmissions. This avoids, in comparison to previously known transmitters, long periods of time between a transmission and the execution of the transmission request, for example, if the transmitter's transmissions have already been exhausted due to a specification in the current time interval, for example, 1 or 5 minutes, so that the end of the time interval must be waited for before further transmissions are possible.

[0012] Updating a suitable time for sending based on the number of transmissions already completed can be done, for example, based on the telegram length or transmission frequency. For example, with an example telegram length of 25 ms and a specified duty cycle limit of 1%, the maximum possible time span between a transmission and the execution of the transmission request, or an observation time of 2.5 s, will occur.

[0013] In this respect, the transmitter according to the invention is based on a (from the user's perspective) quasi-continuous tracking of the last transmission process, rather than a differentiated history, such as the last transmission processes of the last hour. The updating according to the invention thus takes place in a single, scalar value, effectively reducing energy consumption and computational effort.

[0014] According to a preferred development of the transmitter according to the invention, the transmitter does not implement a transmission request if the transmission request has been withdrawn upon reaching the appropriate transmission time. This can be advantageous, for example, when more current information is available, so that the outdated information is not implemented, but rather the more current information, for example, an operating telegram generated by a user.

[0015] In a preferred development of the transmitter according to the invention, after a transmission operation, the transmitter determines the next suitable time for transmission from the previous suitable time for transmission plus a waiting time specific to the last transmission operation. The waiting time specific to the transmission operation (defined as a shift in the transmission time) is determined from the quotient of the duration of the last transmission operation and a permissible duty cycle (limiting specification, defined as the quotient of the transmission time and the observation time).

[0016] According to a further preferred development of the transmitter according to the invention, the transmitter adds a proportional surcharge to the compensation time specific to the transmission processes (defined as transmission time divided by duty cycle) to create a credit. This creates a time credit for the future that contributes to the reliability of compliance with the specification. This makes it possible, for example, for only 90% of the permissible telegram length to be used over a certain period of time, so that additional telegrams can be sent if necessary.

[0017] In a preferred embodiment of the transmitter according to the invention described above, the transmitter differentiates between transmission requests based on a priority, with special requests being assigned an additional waiting time depending on their priority. This allows for particularly effective use of the time credit for the future by utilizing the priority.

[0018] According to a preferred, efficient development of the transmitter according to the invention, it disregards suitable transmission times that are mathematically more than a time limit in the past, since they do not effectively contribute to the updating of the suitable time for transmission on the basis of its already completed transmission processes.

[0019] In a preferred development of the transmitter according to the invention described above, the transmitter switches off time recording devices when it does not take past transmission times into account in order to switch to an energy-saving mode. QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] EP 2 842 399 A1

[0002]

Claims

[1] Transmitter that is connected to other electrical devices for data transmission, whereby the transmission processes of the transmitter are limited by a specification, characterized by that the sender makes the execution of a transmission order dependent on a suitable time and the sender updates a suitable time for transmission based on its previous transmission processes, for example with regard to the telegram length or the transmission frequency, and the sender only implements the transmission order when the suitable time has been reached. [2] Transmitter according to claim 1, characterized by that the sender does not implement a transmission order if the transmission order has been withdrawn when the appropriate transmission time has been reached. [3] Transmitter according to one of claims 1 to 2, characterized bythat after a transmission process, the transmitter determines the next suitable time for transmission from the previous suitable time for transmission plus a waiting time specific for the last transmission process, whereby the waiting time specific for the transmission process (Def. WZ:=shift of the transmission time) is determined from the quotient of the duration of the last transmission process and a permissible duty cycle. [4] Transmitter according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by that the sender adds a proportional surcharge to the compensation time specific to the transmission processes in order to create a credit. [5] Transmitter according to claim 4, characterized by that the sender differentiates between transmission requests based on a priority, and that transmission requests are assigned an additional waiting time depending on their priority. [6] Transmitter according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized bythat the broadcaster disregards suitable transmission times that are mathematically more than a certain time limit in the past. [7] Transmitter according to claim 6, characterized by that if the broadcaster does not take past transmission times into account, it switches off time recording devices.