Aircraft Cabin Wireless Network TDMA Energy Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aircraft cabin information systems face challenges with high weight, complex installation, and energy inefficiency, particularly in emergency situations, due to the use of wired signal lines and wireless transmission systems.
Innovation Solution
A method utilizing a wireless network with TDMA synchronization, where nodes are activated only during specific time slots, reducing energy consumption and enabling efficient communication between nodes, allowing for quick and economic information transmission while maintaining safety and redundancy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of stationary object
If wireless transmission via local area network is used to replace signal lines, then weight of the information transmission system is reduced, but energy consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action through TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access) where each node transmits data only in its assigned time slot rather than continuously. Nodes alternate between transmitting and receiving modes in a periodic fashion, which dramatically reduces energy consumption compared to continuous transmission while maintaining wireless communication functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically switches nodes between active transmitting/receiving states and sleep states based on their assigned time slots. This dynamic operation allows the network to maintain communication capabilities while minimizing energy consumption by keeping nodes in low-power states during their non-active periods.
2Ease of manufacture
If wireless transmission system is implemented to connect large number of functional units, then installation effort is reduced, but installation time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs self-service through automatic node identification and configuration. When nodes are powered on, they automatically receive their unique identifiers and TDMA time slot assignments from neighboring nodes without requiring manual configuration. This self-organizing capability significantly reduces installation time while maintaining ease of deployment.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-defining TDMA time slot assignments and communication protocols during system initialization. This preliminary configuration enables nodes to immediately begin communicating once powered on, eliminating the need for time-consuming post-installation setup and calibration.
3Adaptability or versatility
If wireless transmission is used for emergency systems, then system flexibility is improved, but transmission time becomes too long to fulfill emergency requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-establishing TDMA time slot schedules and communication routes before emergencies occur. During emergency situations, nodes can immediately transmit critical data in their pre-assigned time slots without requiring real-time routing decisions, thus achieving fast transmission while maintaining wireless flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The periodic TDMA structure ensures that emergency data transmission occurs in dedicated, predictable time slots with known timing. This periodic operation provides deterministic transmission timing that meets emergency response requirements while retaining the adaptability of wireless communication.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for activating and maintaining a plurality of separate and distanced functional units in an aircraft cabin. According to the invention, a wireless network comprising a plurality of nodes is initialized, wherein each node is associated with a device wherein said initializing comprises associating each node a sending time slot within a time frame using a TDMA synchronization scheme, wherein each node is active to send signals during its sending time slot and is active to receive signals during a first set of time slots comprising a number of time slots of said frame, wherein the sending time slot of a node is different from the sending time slots of at least a plurality of its neighbored nodes.