Bicycle Electronic Communication Architecture for BLE Data Bottlenecks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology in bicycle electronic systems becomes inflexible and inadequate as the complexity and data volume increase, necessitating more efficient communication methods to ensure accuracy and speed, especially for safety-critical commands.
Innovation Solution
A bicycle electronic system employs a hybrid network architecture with a unique data structure and payload format, utilizing both BLE and wired connections, along with a higher-level communication protocol to manage data exchange among components, ensuring flexibility and reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology is used for wireless communication among bicycle system components, then energy consumption is reduced and simplicity is maintained, but communication flexibility and adequacy deteriorate as system complexity and data volume increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the communication system into two distinct networks: a wired communication network for high-speed, reliable data transmission among critical components, and a wireless BLE network for auxiliary communication and mobile device connectivity. This segmentation allows each network to be optimized for its specific function, resolving the contradiction by enabling communication flexibility through the wired network without proportionally increasing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a gateway component that acts as an intermediary between the wired communication network and the wireless BLE network. This gateway translates and routes messages between the two networks, allowing the system to leverage both communication modes. The intermediary enables communication flexibility by coordinating between networks while managing complexity through centralized protocol handling.
2Speed
If conventional BLE technology is used, then implementation simplicity is maintained, but communication speed and accuracy deteriorate for safety-critical commands
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments communication traffic into different networks based on requirements: time-critical and safety-related commands are transmitted through the wired network for high speed and reliability, while non-critical data can use the wireless network. This segmentation achieves high transmission speed for critical commands without requiring the entire system to adopt complex high-speed communication infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different communication qualities to different parts of the system: the wired network provides high-speed, low-latency communication for safety-critical commands between the control unit and actuator units, while the wireless BLE network provides adequate communication for user interface and mobile device interactions. This local quality differentiation achieves high speed where needed without proportionally increasing overall system complexity.
3Quantity of substance
If more data needs to be communicated in complex bicycle systems, then system functionality is enhanced, but conventional BLE communication becomes inadequate and less flexible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the communication load between wired and wireless networks based on data characteristics: the wired network handles high-volume, real-time data from sensors and actuators requiring reliable transmission, while the wireless network handles lower-volume configuration and user interaction data. This segmentation enables the system to communicate large quantities of data effectively while maintaining flexibility through appropriate protocol selection for each network type.
Data Source
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AI summary
A transmission method, applied in a component of a bicycle electronic system, the system comprising at least one second, receiving component, each system component having zero or more pieces of information attributable thereto and candidate to communication within the system, each of said attributable pieces of information comprising an identifier which is unique in the bicycle electronic system, the method comprising the steps of: - forming a payload (250), wherein said step of forming a payload comprises: -- forming a plurality of basic-payloads (260) each containing at least the unique identifier of a respective one of said attributable pieces of information, and -- grouping together said plurality of basic-payloads (260) in the payload (250) and - transmitting the payload to said at least one receiving component as value of a characteristic of a service of a GATT server of a Bluetooth Low Energy® network architecture, or BLE service.