IEEE 802.15.4 Protocol Adaptations for Visible Light Communication Addressing

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing IEEE 802.15.4 standard is inadequate for visible light communications, particularly in applications requiring flexible addressing modes such as broadcast and multicast, as it lacks a coordinating device and inefficient addressing modes for shouter devices and anonymous transmissions.

Innovation Solution

Adaptations to the IEEE 802.15.4 standard protocol include new address formats and bit interpretations to enable more efficient addressing in visible light communications, allowing for anonymous transmission and indiscriminate broadcasts by modifying the frame control field, thereby accommodating VAN-specific requirements while maintaining backwards compatibility.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the existing IEEE 802.15.4 standard addressing modes are used, then device compatibility is maintained, but addressing efficiency is insufficient for visible light communications applications

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaddressing efficiencyVSAvoidapplication-specific addressing capability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces dynamic addressing modes that can be selected based on application requirements. The frame control field includes address mode indicators that allow the system to switch between different addressing schemes (broadcast, multicast, unicast, anonymous) depending on the communication needs, making the addressing system adaptable rather than static

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent modifies the frame control field parameters to include new address mode indicators. By changing the interpretation of existing bits and adding new parameter combinations, the system enables multiple addressing modes without requiring a complete protocol redesign, thus improving addressing efficiency while maintaining compatibility

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Quantity of substance

If source and destination addresses are always transmitted, then message routing is enabled, but message transmission overhead is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemessage transmission overheadVSAvoidmessage routing capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and transmits only the necessary addressing information based on the communication scenario. For broadcast messages, only a broadcast address is transmitted without source address. For anonymous transmissions, only destination address is included. This selective extraction of address information reduces overhead while maintaining essential routing capabilities

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements partial addressing by transmitting only the minimum required address information for each message type. Instead of always transmitting both source and destination addresses, the system transmits only what is necessary for the specific application, reducing overall transmission overhead while maintaining sufficient routing capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Quantity of substance

If PAN identifier is transmitted in every message, then network identification is enabled, but message overhead is increased

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemessage overheadVSAvoidnetwork identification information
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and transmits the PAN identifier only when necessary for network identification. In messages where the network context is already established or where broadcast/multicast is used, the PAN identifier is omitted. This selective extraction reduces message overhead while preserving network identification information where required

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP2749005B1Protocols for visible light communications
Publication Date: 2020.06.24 SIGNIFY HOLDING BV
  • EP2749005B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2749005B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The invention relates to the field of IEEE 802.15.4 based networks, and in particular to methods and devices for transmitting and receiving messages in IEEE 802.15.4 based networks. The existing IEEE 802.15.4 standard is further improved and adapted to better fit the properties of a network of lighting devices. The improvements and adaptations of the existing IEEE 802.15.4 standard allow for more flexible addressing. Bits which are indicative of use of address fields and/or whether one or two frame control fields is/are present in the ordered data portions of the message to be transmitted are defined by the device transmitting the message in the IEEE 802.15.4 based network. Existing features of the existing IEEE 802.15.4 standard protocol are retained.