Gateway Device Multi-Path Communication for Disaster Resilience
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wearable devices face challenges in maintaining constant connectivity to computer communication networks, especially during natural disasters when power is not available and multi-hop communication areas are sparse, leading to unstable connections.
Innovation Solution
A gateway device with multiple communication units (first, second, and third communication units) that allows electronic devices to communicate with computer communication networks via different schemes, ensuring stable communication even when one unit is disconnected, and includes a power generation unit for sustainable operation using natural energy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If wearable devices use small-sized batteries to maintain wearing properties, then device size and weight are reduced, but communication duration becomes insufficient for long-term stable connection
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the communication function into multiple segments: wearable device, gateway device, and computer communication network. The gateway device acts as an intermediate relay that does not require power from the wearable device, allowing the wearable to use small batteries while maintaining communication capability through the powered gateway infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The gateway device serves as an intermediary between the wearable device and the computer communication network. It receives data from the wearable device via short-range wireless communication and transmits it to the network via wide-area communication, eliminating the need for the wearable device to maintain direct long-range connection.
2Area of stationary object
If multi-hop communication is used to extend communication area, then coverage is improved, but connection stability deteriorates when terminal devices are sparse during natural disasters
Solution Approach 1:
Gateway devices are pre-deployed at strategic locations (streetlights, telegraph poles, etc.) before natural disasters occur. This preliminary positioning ensures that even when terminal devices are sparse during disasters, the pre-established gateway infrastructure provides stable communication relay points, avoiding the instability of ad-hoc multi-hop networks formed during emergencies.
Solution Approach 2:
Gateway devices are installed on infrastructure that provides their own power supply (streetlights, telegraph poles, vending machines, etc.). These self-powered gateways do not depend on terminal devices for power or connectivity, maintaining stable operation independently even when terminal devices are unavailable or sparse during natural disasters.
3Ease of manufacture
If gateway devices are installed on existing infrastructure like streetlights and telegraph poles, then device deployment complexity is reduced, but power supply availability becomes dependent on external power sources
Solution Approach 1:
The gateway device is designed with multi-functionality to operate in diverse power environments. It can function as a powered gateway when connected to external power sources (streetlights, telegraph poles, vending machines) and potentially switch to battery-powered operation when isolated, adapting to different deployment scenarios while maintaining core communication relay functionality.
Data Source
AI summary
A gateway device includes: a first communication unit that communicates with an electronic device; a second communication unit that communicates with a computer communication network; a third communication unit that communicates with a gateway device different from the gateway device and has a different communication scheme from the second communication unit; and a processing unit that controls communication. The processing unit performs control such that the electronic device and the computer communication network are able to communicate with each other via the second communication unit when the second communication unit is able to communicate with the computer communication network, and performs control such that the third communication unit enables the electronic device and the computer communication network to communicate with each other via the gateway device when the second communication unit is not able to communicate with the computer communication network.