Hybrid Data Transmission Protocol for Medical Monitoring
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing data transmission protocols, such as UDP and TCP, lack control over priority and ordering when used separately, leading to inefficient bandwidth usage and potential data loss in unreliable network conditions, particularly in medical monitoring applications where data reliability and priority are critical.
Innovation Solution
A method that transmits data between computers using a single protocol, prioritizing urgent data and ensuring reliable receipt of critical data by buffering and retransmitting only necessary packets, while allowing non-critical data to be sent without acknowledgment, thereby optimizing bandwidth usage without losing control over data priority and ordering.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If TCP protocol is used for data transmission, then data reliability is improved, but transmission speed deteriorates due to retransmission overhead
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating transmission requirements for different data types. Critical data (e.g., cardiac arrest alerts) receives reliable transmission with acknowledgment and retransmission, while non-critical data (e.g., routine vitals) uses faster transmission without retransmission overhead. This resolves the contradiction by applying reliability measures only where necessary, improving overall transmission speed while maintaining reliability for critical data.
2Speed
If UDP protocol is used for data transmission, then transmission speed is improved, but data reliability deteriorates due to lack of acknowledgment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamics by making the transmission protocol adaptive to data criticality. The system dynamically selects between reliable and unreliable transmission modes based on the urgency and importance of each data type. Critical data triggers reliable transmission with acknowledgment, while non-critical data uses fast UDP transmission. This resolves the contradiction by making reliability conditional rather than fixed.
3Productivity
If both UDP and TCP protocols are used separately for different data types, then transmission efficiency is improved, but control over priority and ordering deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the advantages of both UDP and TCP into a single hybrid protocol. It combines UDP's fast transmission capability with TCP's acknowledgment and retransmission mechanisms, while adding priority-based queue management. All data types are transmitted through the same protocol stack, which internally routes critical data through reliable transmission paths and non-critical data through fast paths. This resolves the contradiction by unifying control while maintaining efficiency.
4Reliability
If retransmission is performed for all transmitted data, then data completeness is improved, but bandwidth usage deteriorates due to redundant transmissions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by performing retransmission only for critical data that requires complete receipt, rather than for all data. Non-critical data is transmitted without retransmission, accepting potential loss to save bandwidth. This selective approach resolves the contradiction by applying reliability measures partially, matching the effort to the actual need for data completeness.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A method of transmitting data between a first computer and a second computer, the method comprises obtaining, by the first computer, data for transmission to the second computer, the data comprising at least first data and second data, the first data being of a first type of data and the second data being of a second type of data, each type of data having an associated transmission priority, and the first type of data having a receipt requirement whereby the data is required to be received by the second computer and the second type of data not having a receipt requirement. The method further comprises buffering the obtained data in one or more buffers, reading the data from the one or more buffers and transmitting the data to the second computer according to the transmission priorities. For only transmitted data having a receipt requirement whereby the data is required to be received by the second computer, determining, by the first computer by reference to an expected acknowledgement message from the second computer, whether the transmitted data has been received by the second computer and, if it is determined not to have been received, retransmitting the data to the second computer.