Fleet Tracking via Unicast and Multicast Communication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fleet tracking methods require excessive communication bandwidth and computing power due to the large number of messages exchanged between machines and a central computer, which can lead to unreliable information transmission and is not suitable for applications where machine control is critical.
Innovation Solution
A method involving unacknowledged unicast messages from machines to a central controller, which updates and repeatedly multicasts location listings to communicating devices, reducing the need for confirmation messages and optimizing communication efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If unacknowledged unicast messages are used for fleet tracking, then communication bandwidth and computing power requirements are reduced, but message reliability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges individual unicast position reports from multiple machines into a single multicast location listing that is broadcast to all machines. This consolidation reduces the total number of communication messages while maintaining reliability through collective information distribution rather than individual acknowledgments.
Solution Approach 2:
Each machine independently determines its position using onboard locating devices and self-updates its location information by receiving the multicast location listing. This self-service approach eliminates the need for central confirmation messages while maintaining accurate position tracking.
2Reliability
If confirmation messages are sent between machines and central computer, then message reliability is ensured, but communication bandwidth and message volume increase excessively
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple individual confirmation requests into a single multicast location listing that serves all machines simultaneously. This merging reduces the total message quantity from N individual confirmations to 1 collective multicast message while maintaining reliability through universal distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The multicast location listing serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a position report from the central computer, a confirmation message for all machines, and an updated location database for each machine. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate confirmation messages.
3Reliability
If location information is frequently updated and transmitted to all machines, then tracking reliability is improved, but communication bandwidth consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic multicast transmission of location listings at optimized intervals rather than continuous or event-driven individual updates. This periodic action maintains current location information for reliable tracking while reducing overall bandwidth consumption compared to frequent individual transmissions.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of tracking a fleet of machines operating at a common worksite is disclosed. The method may include receiving at a central controller an unacknowledged message from communicating devices onboard the fleet of machines, the unacknowledged message including a current location of each of the fleet of machines determined by locating devices onboard the fleet of machines. The method may also include updating a location listing of the fleet of machines with the current location, and repetitively multicasting the location listing to the communicating devices.