Irrigation Network Auto Discovery Using TTL for Layout Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing irrigation systems face challenges in efficiently and automatically discovering the actual layout of hydraulic infrastructures laid in the field, which may deviate from the planned design due to on-site considerations, leading to inefficiencies in communication and control.
Innovation Solution
An auto discovery (AD) protocol using Time to Live (TTL) and Timeout characteristics to determine the number of hydraulic infrastructures by sending messages downstream and analyzing upstream responses, allowing for efficient discovery of header and lateral nodes within the irrigation system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional discovery methods are used to detect hydraulic infrastructures, then the system can identify the layout of irrigation components, but the process requires excessive probes, results in high latency, and generates significant communication overhead
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary configuration by assigning unique device identifiers and TTL values to each hydraulic infrastructure component before the discovery process. This preliminary action allows nodes to be pre-prepared and identified, eliminating the need for extensive probing during the actual discovery phase, thus reducing both the number of probes required and the overall discovery latency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical probing methods with a message-based communication system using UDP packets. Instead of physically or sequentially testing each node, the system substitutes this with broadcast messages containing TTL values that automatically traverse the network topology, significantly reducing communication overhead and discovery time
2Measurement precision
If extensive probing is performed to ensure accurate detection of hydraulic infrastructures, then measurement precision improves, but communication overhead and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the parameter of message transmission by incorporating Time-To-Live (TTL) values into UDP packets. This parameter change allows messages to automatically expire after a certain number of hops, enabling accurate detection of network topology without requiring complex probing sequences. The TTL mechanism provides a simple yet effective way to track message propagation and identify all nodes in the network
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces timeout mechanisms as an intermediary element that mediates between sending discovery messages and determining node presence. Instead of direct complex communication protocols, the timeout mechanism serves as a simple mediator that indicates whether a node exists based on the absence or presence of responses within a specified time frame, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining detection accuracy
Data Source
AI summary
An auto discovery (AD) protocol is provided for discovering within a communication network of an irrigation system how many hydraulic infrastructures were laid in a field. The AD protocol includes communicating within the communication network in a downstream direction messages that comprise each a Time to Live (TTL) field and determining based on responses that are received in the upstream direction the amount of hydraulic infrastructures that were laid in the field.