Adaptive Thresholding for Sensor Bandwidth Allocation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing communication systems in distributed sensor networks face challenges in efficiently managing network traffic and congestion, particularly in allocating bandwidth and setting data detection thresholds, leading to suboptimal performance and wastage of bandwidth.

Innovation Solution

A system and method that dynamically allocates bandwidth by adjusting data sensor detection thresholds based on reallocated data rates, using a controller to set maximum and minimum sensitivities and reallocating excess capacity from underused channels to those needing it, while maintaining global sensitivity and meeting aggregate system-level link bandwidth constraints.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If over-designing communication links to carry worst case traffic loads is used, then traffic congestion is avoided, but bandwidth is wasted and implementation costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetraffic congestion avoidanceVSAvoidbandwidth wastage
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts detection thresholds and data rates at sensor nodes based on real-time network conditions and congestion levels, allowing communication links to adapt their capacity usage rather than being statically over-designed for worst-case scenarios

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The congestion control mechanism uses feedback from network conditions and sensor data characteristics to continuously optimize detection thresholds and data rates, enabling the system to achieve reliable congestion avoidance without permanently allocating excess bandwidth

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Loss of energy

If statistical multiplexing with a-priori allocated capacity is used, then bandwidth is efficiently utilized, but system performance deteriorates under actual traffic conditions due to limited accurate data

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebandwidth efficiencyVSAvoidsystem performance under actual traffic
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables sensor nodes to self-adjust their detection thresholds and data generation rates based on local data characteristics and network feedback, eliminating the need for external controllers to have perfect knowledge of traffic conditions while maintaining efficient bandwidth utilization

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes detection threshold parameters dynamically based on observed traffic patterns and data characteristics, allowing the network to adapt to actual traffic conditions rather than relying on pre-configured capacity allocations based on limited statistical data

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Measurement precision

If increasing sensor detection sensitivity is implemented, then more data is detected, but network congestion increases and bandwidth is overwhelmed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesensor detection sensitivityVSAvoidnetwork data transfer efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies different detection thresholds and data rates to different sensor nodes and data channels based on local data characteristics and network conditions, allowing high sensitivity where needed while maintaining overall network efficiency through localized optimization

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically changes detection threshold parameters at sensor nodes based on network congestion levels and data characteristics, enabling high detection sensitivity when bandwidth is available while reducing sensitivity thresholds when network capacity is constrained

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP2243259B1System and method for multi-channel data-adaptive thresholding for shared channels with time-varying rate constraints
Publication Date: 2011.09.07 HARRIS CORP
  • EP2243259B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP2243259B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP2243259B1 patent drawingFigure 2C~2D

AI summary

A system and method allocates bandwidth for a plurality of data sources within a communications network. The data sources each generate data and transmit the generated data along communications channels in a shared communications link of the communications network. Each data source includes a data sensor for sensing data generation at each data source indicative of network resource usage. A node is connected to the communications link for receiving the data generated from respective data sources. A controller is associated with at least one of the node and each data sensor and data source for establishing data sensor detection thresholds, reallocating excess data capacity from underused channels to those channels requiring excess data capacity, and setting new data detection thresholds for each data sensor based on reallocated data rates at each data source.