Compute-and-forward relaying for vehicle-to-vehicle communication

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current communications protocols for vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure communications, such as CSMA, LTE RACH, and coded slotted ALOHA, face challenges like significant signalling overhead, signal collisions, and latency, which can impact safety and efficiency in high-mobility scenarios.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a compute-and-forward relaying system that allows vehicle-borne transceivers to transmit messages simultaneously, with a central controller using channel state information to select equation coefficients for linearly independent combinations, enabling reliable decoding without dedicated timeslots or frequent handovers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If CSMA protocol is used for vehicle communications, then signal collision probability is reduced, but transmission delay increases and safety is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignal collision avoidanceVSAvoidtransmission delay
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a central controller as an intermediary that coordinates transmissions from multiple vehicles. The controller receives messages from vehicles, assigns unique time slots for retransmission based on collision detection, and manages the communication process centrally. This mediator approach resolves collisions systematically without requiring vehicles to wait for channel clearance, thus reducing delay while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If LTE RACH protocol is used for vehicle communications, then connection establishment is achieved, but signalling overhead and latency increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection establishmentVSAvoidsignalling overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the complex connection establishment and collision resolution functions from the vehicle transceivers and centralizes them in a dedicated controller. Vehicles simply transmit messages without needing to perform complex RACH procedures, handshakes, or signalling exchanges. The controller handles all the overhead-related tasks, significantly reducing the signalling burden on vehicles while maintaining reliable connection management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Productivity

If coded slotted ALOHA is used for vehicle communications, then message transmission is achieved, but frequent handovers and retransmissions are required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemessage transmissionVSAvoidhandover frequency
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary collision detection and resolution before messages are lost or handovers become necessary. The central controller monitors incoming messages, identifies collisions proactively, and assigns retransmission time slots in advance. This preliminary intervention prevents the need for frequent handovers and retransmissions by resolving issues at the source, thereby improving productivity and reducing time loss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

4Productivity

If multiple vehicles transmit simultaneously without coordination, then throughput is maximized, but signal collisions occur frequently

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission throughputVSAvoidsignal collision rate
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a dynamic time slot assignment mechanism where the central controller adaptively allocates transmission opportunities based on real-time channel conditions and collision patterns. Time slots are not fixed but dynamically adjusted to accommodate varying traffic loads and collision scenarios. This dynamic approach allows high throughput by enabling simultaneous transmissions when conditions permit while maintaining reliability through adaptive collision avoidance when conflicts arise.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3501147B1Aggregating received data
Publication Date: 2024.04.10 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3501147B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3501147B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3501147B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A method for estimating transmitted signals transmitted from a plurality of transmitters, the method comprising: simultaneously receiving at each of a plurality of receivers a respective received signal resulting from the transmitted signals; determining for each receiver a set of equation coefficients; forming for each received signal a characterisation of that received signal composed of elements weighted in accordance with the equation coefficients determined for the receiver at which that received signal was received; and processing the characterisations to estimate the transmitted signals; wherein the equation coefficients are determined such that the characterisations are substantially linearly independent.