Higher Layer Message Composition for Protocol Stack Packet Drops

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current communication systems lack an effective method for composing messages at a higher layer of the protocol stack to account for packet or message drops at lower layers, which can lead to inefficiencies and incomplete information transmission in vehicular applications.

Innovation Solution

A method that receives information about dropped messages from lower layers, evaluates the relevance of their content, and incorporates it into new messages, prioritizing content based on message capacity and relevance, while using a ring buffer for message identification and storage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If messages are transmitted at higher layers without considering lower layer packet drops, then message transmission speed is improved, but information completeness deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemessage transmission speedVSAvoidinformation completeness
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the lower layer (MAC layer) informs the higher layer (application layer) about dropped packets through notifications. This feedback loop enables the higher layer to adapt its message composition strategy by including redundant information from previously dropped messages, thereby maintaining information completeness without sacrificing transmission speed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies preliminary action by proactively including redundant content from previously transmitted messages in current message compositions. Instead of waiting for acknowledgment of information loss, the system preemptively adds backup information to messages, ensuring that even if packets are dropped, the essential information is preserved in subsequent transmissions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If redundant content is included in all messages, then information reliability is improved, but message size increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation reliabilityVSAvoidmessage size
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements partial action by selectively including redundant content only when the higher layer receives notifications about packet drops. Instead of adding redundancy to every message unconditionally, the system adds supplemental information only in response to actual drop events, thereby maintaining reliability without unnecessarily increasing message size during normal transmission conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by making message composition adaptive - the level of redundancy included in each message depends on the local condition of whether packet drops have been detected. Messages are composed with different levels of redundancy based on the specific transmission context, optimizing the balance between reliability and message size for each individual transmission.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Loss of information

If packet drop notification mechanisms are implemented, then information completeness is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation completenessVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary notification mechanism that bridges the MAC layer and application layer. This intermediary approach allows the higher layer to be informed about packet drops without requiring complex end-to-end acknowledgment protocols. The notification system acts as a simple mediator that transfers drop information between layers, maintaining information completeness while avoiding the complexity of full-duplex acknowledgment systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Reliability

If message composition adapts to dropped packets, then information reliability is improved, but processing time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation reliabilityVSAvoidprocessing time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by maintaining a buffer of previously transmitted message content in memory. When a packet drop is detected, the system can quickly retrieve and include the relevant redundant information without needing to reprocess or regenerate it. This pre-storation of message content significantly reduces the processing time required to compose corrected messages.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements discarding and recovering by temporarily storing dropped message content in a buffer and then recovering it for inclusion in subsequent messages. Instead of losing the information permanently or spending excessive time regenerating it, the system efficiently recovers the original content from memory, minimizing processing overhead while ensuring information reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

Data Source

PatentEP3920658B1Vehicle, apparatus, method, and computer program for composing a message at a higher layer of a communications protocol stack
Publication Date: 2024.04.17 VOLKSWAGEN AG
  • EP3920658B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3920658B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3920658B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

Embodiments relate to a vehicle, an apparatus, a method, and a computer program for composing a message at a higher layer of a communications protocol stack. The communications protocol stack comprises the higher layer and one or more lower layers being below the higher layer in the protocol stack. The method (10) for composing a message at a higher layer of a communications protocol stack comprises receiving (12) information related to a dropped previous message from a lower layer and evaluating (14) a relevancy of a content of the dropped previous message to obtain relevant content. The method (10) further comprises composing (16) the message based on the relevant content of the dropped previous message.