Beacon Discovery Thresholding for Reliable Gateway Selection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing beacon discovery processes prioritize quicker connection over reliability and data rate, often synchronizing with gateway components that are far away or with marginal signal strength, leading to inefficient and unreliable wireless links.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a dynamic threshold value for beacon discovery, where devices determine a threshold based on received signal strength and connect only to gateway components that meet this threshold, switching between static and dynamic methods based on movement conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If devices connect to the first detected beacon signal, then connection speed is improved, but connection reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter of beacon selection from 'first detected' to 'strongest signal above threshold'. Devices scan beacons and compare signal strengths, selecting only those exceeding a predetermined threshold. The device with the strongest qualifying signal is chosen, balancing connection speed with reliability by filtering out weak signals while maintaining efficient selection.
2Area of stationary object
If devices connect to distant gateway components, then coverage area is improved, but signal strength deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a threshold filter that discards weak beacon signals from distant gateways. Instead of accepting all detected beacons, the system selectively rejects those below the predetermined signal strength threshold, ensuring only sufficiently strong connections are established. This maintains coverage by allowing distant gateways to be detected while preventing poor-quality connections.
3Adaptability or versatility
If devices use marginal signal strength connections, then connection availability is improved, but connection quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the selection criterion from 'any detected beacon' to 'beacon above threshold'. By implementing a predetermined signal strength threshold, the system ensures that only connections with sufficient quality are established. This parameter change maintains adaptability by allowing connections in various environments while guaranteeing minimum connection quality through the threshold filter.
Data Source
AI summary
A system that improves beacon discovery by enabling a device to determine a dynamic threshold and connect to a gateway that satisfies the dynamic threshold. For example, the device may iteratively scan through available channels for a first duration of time, detecting beacon signals and storing corresponding signal strengths, then calculate a dynamic threshold value using the stored information. In some examples, the dynamic threshold value is calculated using a sum and counter implementation, with the counter incrementing with each beacon signal detected and a summing component adding the signal strength. Additionally or alternatively, the device may switch between performing first beacon discovery using a static threshold and performing second beacon discovery using a dynamic threshold. For example, the device may perform the first beacon discovery when movement of the device exceeds a threshold, while performing the second beacon discovery when movement of the device is below the threshold.