Lighting Sensor Nodes Multicast Transmission Reliability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing lighting sensory networks face challenges in reliable and secure communication of sensor data due to network congestion and the need for efficient retransmission strategies, especially in decentralized and ad-hoc wireless networks.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a mechanism where lighting nodes generate and transmit sensor messages with randomized exponentially increasing intervals, using encryption (such as AES-128-CBC) and synchronization, and determining message usefulness based on timestamp and distance thresholds, allowing for secure and efficient data distribution within the network.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If sensor messages are transmitted frequently to ensure reliable data communication, then data reliability is improved, but network congestion increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata communication reliabilityVSAvoidnetwork congestion
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic transmission intervals that adjust based on network conditions and message importance. Instead of fixed periodic transmission, the system uses variable intervals to optimize between reliability and network load, transmitting more frequently when needed and less frequently when conditions permit.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes transmission parameters (intervals, frequencies, timing) based on network conditions and message characteristics. By dynamically adjusting these parameters, the system achieves reliable data delivery while adapting to network capacity constraints and avoiding excessive congestion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If retransmission strategies are implemented to handle missed messages, then data reliability is improved, but network congestion worsens

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemessage delivery reliabilityVSAvoidnetwork congestion from retransmissions
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The retransmission strategy uses dynamic interval adjustment where retransmission timing is not fixed but adapts based on acknowledgment receipt and network conditions. This dynamic approach ensures reliable delivery while preventing excessive retransmission traffic that would congest the network.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback-based retransmission control where transmission decisions are influenced by acknowledgments and network condition monitoring. This feedback mechanism allows the system to adjust retransmission behavior to achieve reliability without generating excessive traffic that would worsen network congestion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If encryption is applied to secure data transmission, then security is improved, but processing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transmission securityVSAvoidencryption processing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the complex encryption processing from the main transmission path and handles it as a separate, dedicated function. By isolating the encryption/decryption operations to specific modules or hardware accelerators, the system achieves strong security while minimizing the impact on overall system complexity and processing throughput.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Productivity

If timestamp-based filtering is used to determine message usefulness, then network efficiency is improved, but measurement precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork processing efficiencyVSAvoidtimestamp accuracy requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary timestamp validation and filtering before full message processing. By checking timestamp validity and age thresholds in advance, the system efficiently discards outdated or invalid messages without undergoing complete processing, thereby improving network efficiency while maintaining appropriate timestamp precision through predefined validation rules.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2976856B1Sensor nodes with multicast transmissions in lighting sensory network
Publication Date: 2019.08.14 VERIZON PATENT & LICENSING INC
  • EP2976856B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2976856B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2976856B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3C

AI summary

An embodiment method for communicating data within a lighting sensory network may include configuring a first plurality of lighting nodes to operate as sensor nodes, configuring a second plurality of lighting nodes to operate as listening nodes, generating, by a sensor node using an encryption key, a sensor message associated with sensor data and including at least a timestamp, calculating an interval for transmitting the sensor message, wherein the interval is randomized and exponentially increasing, determining whether to transmit the sensor message based on the calculated interval, transmitting the sensor message in response to determining to transmit the sensor message based on the calculated interval, receiving, by a listening node, the sensor message at a listening node, determining whether the received sensor message is useful based on the timestamp and a predefined age threshold, and performing a lighting action in response to determining the received sensor message is useful.