Adaptive Radio Beacon for OBU Localization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern road toll systems face challenges in accurately localizing on-board units (OBUs) to specific lanes due to varying reception sensitivities and transmission strengths of OBUs, leading to cross-talk issues, especially with the increasing interoperability of OBUs across different national systems.
Innovation Solution
A method and radio beacon system that store OBU identifiers and associated radio properties in a database, allowing for adaptive transmission power adjustments based on determined radio properties to precisely localize OBUs within predefined areas, reducing cross-talk and ensuring accurate lane assignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the transmission strength of the radio beacon is increased to improve reception sensitivity, then the detection range is extended, but cross-talk with OBUs in adjacent lanes increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making the transmission strength adaptive rather than uniform. The radio beacon adjusts its transmission power based on the specific OBU's reception sensitivity characteristics, creating a customized communication zone for each OBU rather than a fixed uniform coverage area. This resolves the contradiction by allowing high reception sensitivity for each target OBU while preventing excessive transmission that would cause cross-talk in adjacent lanes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamics by making the transmission strength variable and adaptive. Instead of using a fixed transmission power, the system dynamically adjusts the transmission strength based on measured signal characteristics and OBU type. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to optimize reception sensitivity for each OBU while automatically reducing power to prevent cross-talk, resolving the static contradiction between detection range and interference.
2Measurement precision
If the reception sensitivity of OBUs is increased to improve detection accuracy, then the localization precision is improved, but the range of OBUs causing cross-talk is expanded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies feedback by measuring the received signal strength and OBU response characteristics, then using this information to adjust subsequent transmission parameters. The system receives feedback from each OBU about its reception capabilities and uses this feedback to optimize transmission strength, thereby achieving high localization precision without causing cross-talk to other OBUs with high sensitivity receivers.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements parameter changes by varying the transmission strength parameter based on detected OBU characteristics. When an OBU with high reception sensitivity is detected, the system changes the transmission parameter to a lower value, preventing that sensitive OBU from causing or receiving cross-talk. This parameter adaptation allows the system to maintain high detection accuracy across OBUs with varying sensitivity levels.
3Measurement precision
If a dedicated radio beacon is assigned to each lane to improve lane assignment accuracy, then the localization accuracy is improved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by enabling radio beacons to serve multiple functions and multiple lanes. Instead of requiring one dedicated beacon per lane, a single radio beacon can communicate with OBUs from multiple adjacent lanes by adaptively adjusting its transmission parameters. This multi-functional approach maintains lane assignment accuracy while reducing the total number of beacons needed, thereby reducing system complexity.
4Measurement precision
If the transmission strength is adapted to each OBU type to reduce cross-talk, then the localization accuracy is improved, but the processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-characterizing different OBU types and their reception sensitivity ranges before actual localization operations. The system maintains a database of OBU type characteristics, so when an OBU is identified, the appropriate transmission parameters can be quickly retrieved and applied without extensive real-time calculations. This preliminary preparation reduces processing time while maintaining the ability to adapt transmission strength for accurate localization.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for localizing an on-board unit, which has a radio transceiver and an identifier, to a predefined area around a radio beacon, comprising the following steps: a) storing the identifier and an associated radio property in a database; b) sending a first request; c) receiving a first response from an on-board unit; d) determining, from the database, the radio property of the transceiver associated with the received identifier; and e) localizing the on-board unit in the predefined area; wherein: the steps b) to e) are repeated, for each run-through of the steps b) to e), a localization result is stored in a presence list, and the localizing is verified when the number of the positive localization results exceeds a threshold value.