Central Entity Querying for Collision-Free Node Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Packet-based communication systems face challenges in controlling access to shared resources, leading to unreliable transmission, high power consumption, and unsuitability for real-time critical data due to collisions and high overhead in conventional competing and coordinated media access methods, especially with a large number of nodes.
Innovation Solution
A communication method where a central entity sends a query message to nodes, determining node-specific response times for filtered response messages, allowing for deterministic behavior, reduced overhead, and efficient power usage by prioritizing transmission authorization based on priority and minimizing synchronization needs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If competing media access methods (e.g., CSMA/CD) are used to allow fast access to the shared medium, then access speed is improved, but transmission reliability deteriorates due to collisions
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by having the central entity query node states before actual data transmission occurs. Nodes report their transmission requirements and priorities in advance, allowing the central entity to pre-coordinate access and prevent collisions before they happen.
Solution Approach 2:
The central entity acts as an intermediary between nodes and the shared medium. It receives state information from nodes, determines access priorities, and coordinates medium allocation to prevent collisions while maintaining fast access through efficient arbitration.
2Reliability
If coordinated media access methods with central entity control are used to eliminate collisions, then transmission reliability is improved, but access time increases due to polling overhead
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts only the essential state information needed for coordination (transmission requirements and priorities) rather than exchanging complete control messages. This reduces overhead and minimizes the time nodes need to wait for polling cycles.
Solution Approach 2:
The central entity performs partial coordination by querying only nodes that have transmission requirements rather than polling all nodes in the network. This selective approach reduces access time while maintaining reliability for active nodes.
3Productivity
If multiple nodes access the shared medium simultaneously to increase throughput, then productivity is improved, but power consumption increases due to simultaneous transmission mode operation
Solution Approach 1:
Nodes perform preliminary actions by reporting their transmission requirements and priorities to the central entity before entering transmission mode. This allows the central entity to schedule transmissions efficiently, ensuring nodes only operate in high-power transmission mode when necessary and coordinating access to minimize simultaneous transmissions.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a communications method that comprises the step of sending a query message from a central entity to at least one node. For every queried node, the central entity determines a node-specific time window based on a node-specific response time. The central entity filters out a response message, sent from the queried node, from the signals received during this time window. Based on the node-specific time window, the central entity assigns the response message to the queried node. The invention also relates to a computing unit that is configured to operate as a central entity, to a communications system, as well as to a computer program and a computer-readable storage program with said computer program.