Configurable BLE Process Variable Transmission
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Solution Overview
Problem
Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) communication systems face inefficiencies in energy consumption and data filtering when transmitting multiple process variables, leading to increased energy usage and time-consuming data evaluation, especially in battery-operated devices, due to the limited capacity of advertising packets and the need to broadcast multiple packets for comprehensive data transmission.
Innovation Solution
A communication system where the process variables are configurable, allowing only relevant data to be transmitted as advertising packets, reducing energy consumption and enabling efficient monitoring by prioritizing the transmission of essential variables, with a control unit managing the selection and formatting of data for transmission via a peripheral communication unit using the BLE standard.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If all process variables are transmitted via multiple advertising packets, then complete data transmission is achieved, but energy consumption increases and operating time decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and transmits only the most relevant process variables (such as temperature, pressure, and flow rate) in the prioritized list within the advertising packet, rather than transmitting all available process variables. This selective extraction reduces the data volume while ensuring that the most critical monitoring information is conveyed, thereby lowering energy consumption without significantly compromising data completeness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the process variables into a prioritized list with different levels of importance. The advertising packet structure is segmented to include first a prioritized process variable and optionally a second process variable, allowing the system to transmit critical data first and less critical data later or omit it entirely when energy is constrained.
2Loss of information
If multiple advertising packets are transmitted to cover all data, then comprehensive monitoring is achieved, but data filtering time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-establishing a prioritized list of process variables that identifies which variables are most relevant for monitoring specific process units. This pre-configuration is done before runtime, so that during operation the system can directly transmit the prioritized variables without requiring real-time filtering or analysis of all available data, significantly reducing data filtering time.
Solution Approach 2:
The system extracts only the necessary process variables from the complete set based on the prioritized list, transmitting only those that are relevant to the specific monitoring task. This extraction approach eliminates the need for users to filter through unnecessary data, as the relevant information is already separated and transmitted in the advertising packet.
3Loss of information
If all process variables are transmitted, then comprehensive data is available, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamics by making the advertising packet content adaptive based on energy availability and monitoring needs. The system can dynamically adjust which process variables are transmitted - transmitting both prioritized and second process variables when energy is abundant, and transmitting only the most critical prioritized variables when energy is constrained. This dynamic approach simplifies the communication system compared to always transmitting all data.
Data Source
AI summary
A communication system for monitoring process units includes at least one process unit operably connected to an associated peripheral communication unit via a communication interface in order to transmit process variables to the associated peripheral communication unit. The process variables which are transmitted to the associated peripheral communication unit are configurable. Each peripheral communication unit is configured to receive the configured process variables from the corresponding process unit and to emit them as advertising packets. The communication system further includes a central communication unit configured to receive the advertising packets from each peripheral communication unit.