Communication Device Beacon Signal Collision Avoidance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing communication systems face collisions between beacon signals from systems with different communication schemes, leading to synchronization issues and inefficient data transmission.

Innovation Solution

A communication device that sends a second beacon signal after a predetermined time from receiving the first beacon signal, using time division multiple access to allocate time slots for wireless signal transmission, allowing for synchronous communication and minimizing collisions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If two systems with different communication schemes send beacon signals independently, then each system can maintain its own synchronization, but beacon signal collisions occur between the systems

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesynchronization reliabilityVSAvoidbeacon signal collision
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a frame structure as an intermediary mechanism that coordinates beacon signal transmission between upper and lower systems. The frame contains timing information and resource allocation data that enables the lower system to synchronize its beacon signals with the upper system, preventing collisions while maintaining independent operation of both systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The upper system transmits a frame signal before the lower system sends its beacon signals. This preliminary action provides the lower system with advance timing information and resource allocation data, allowing it to schedule its beacon transmissions to avoid collisions with the upper system's beacons.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Quantity of substance

If the frame length is made longer to accommodate more time slots for communication terminals, then more terminals can communicate simultaneously, but the frame may extend beyond the beacon signal interval causing synchronization issues

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of communication terminalsVSAvoidsynchronization reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic frame structure where the frame length and time slot allocation are adjustable based on the number of communication terminals and traffic requirements. The frame timing is dynamically synchronized with the beacon signal interval, allowing the system to optimize between accommodating more terminals and maintaining synchronization reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3273732B1Communication device and communication system
Publication Date: 2022.04.20 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO LTD
  • EP3273732B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3273732B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3273732B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An object of the present invention would be to propose a communication device and a communication system which are capable of suppressing collision between beacon signals sent from two systems with different communication schemes. A communication device (1) according to one aspect of the present invention includes a communication unit (11) and a control unit (12) configured to control the communication unit (11). The communication unit (11) is configured to send to and receive from an upper communication device (2) and at least one communication terminal (3) a wireless signal using a radio wave as a communication medium. The control unit (12) is configured to, when a predetermined length of time elapses from receiving a first beacon signal from the upper communication device (2) by the communication unit (11), instruct the communication unit (11) to send a second beacon signal to the at least one communication terminal (3).