Communication Device Data Size Control for Half-Duplex Latency

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Solution Overview

Problem

In half-duplex wireless communication systems, such as those used in head-mounted displays (HMDs) connected to entertainment apparatus, achieving a predetermined round-trip communication time is challenging due to the need for high-quality video data transmission while minimizing user discomfort from latency.

Innovation Solution

The system controls data size per unit time by determining optimal bit rates and data sizes for video and sensing data transmission, using a repeating apparatus to manage bit rates and data sizes based on target transfer times, and adjusting video quality elements like resolution and compression to maintain communication efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If the size of video data generated per unit time is increased to improve video quality, then the video quality is improved, but the round-trip communication time exceeds the target time causing user discomfort

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevideo qualityVSAvoidround-trip communication time
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic adjustment of video data generation parameters (resolution, frame rate, compression ratio) based on real-time communication conditions. The entertainment apparatus monitors round-trip communication time and dynamically modifies video quality parameters to maintain the target communication time while maximizing video quality within available bandwidth, resolving the contradiction between video quality and communication time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes multiple video parameters simultaneously (resolution, frame rate, compression ratio) to control the overall data generation rate. By adjusting these parameters, the system can fine-tune the video quality to achieve the highest possible quality while ensuring the total data size fits within the target round-trip communication time constraint.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Loss of time

If the size of data generated per unit time is reduced to meet target communication time, then the round-trip communication time is controlled, but the video quality deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveround-trip communication timeVSAvoidvideo quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of uniformly reducing video quality, the system selectively adjusts specific parameters (resolution, frame rate, compression) based on priority and communication conditions. This allows maintaining acceptable video quality while reducing data size enough to meet the target communication time, preventing the harsh quality deterioration that would result from simple data size reduction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adapts video parameters in response to communication conditions, allowing it to maintain high video quality when bandwidth permits and gracefully degrade only when necessary to meet timing constraints, rather than consistently operating at reduced quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Manufacturing precision

If high-quality video data is transmitted in half-duplex wireless communication, then video quality is maintained, but the alternating transmission protocol increases round-trip time

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevideo qualityVSAvoidround-trip communication time
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary calculation of the maximum video data size that can be transmitted within the target round-trip time, considering the half-duplex protocol overhead. By pre-determining this size limit and configuring video parameters accordingly before transmission, the system ensures that high-quality video can be transmitted without exceeding the timing constraint imposed by the alternating transmission protocol.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The entertainment apparatus monitors actual round-trip communication time and uses this feedback to continuously adjust video data generation parameters. This closed-loop control ensures that video quality is maintained at the highest level possible while consistently meeting the target communication time despite the overhead of half-duplex alternating transmission.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3573282B1Communication device, generated data size control method, and program
Publication Date: 2021.09.08 SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT LLC
  • EP3573282B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3573282B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2C
  • EP3573282B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

There are provided a communication apparatus, a generated data size controlling method, and a program for bringing a time required for a round-trip half-duplex communication close to a predetermined target time. A video data transmission section (86) transmits data generated by a video data generation section (70) to an HMD (12). A sensing data reception section (88) receives data transmitted from the HMD (12). A required time identification section (92) identifies the time required for the round-trip half-duplex communication between a repeating apparatus (16) and the HMD (12). A generation control section (98) controls a size of the data generated per unit time by the video data generation section (70) on a basis of the identified time, the size of the data exchanged with the HMD (12) in a round-trip communication, and a predetermined target time for the round-trip communication.