Communication Link Configuration for Cooperative Control Under Interference

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Solution Overview

Problem

Cooperative control algorithms in communication systems face challenges due to data packet losses in wireless communication links, which degrade control performance and require high convergence speeds to react to perturbations, often leading to over-dimensioned systems and coexistence issues, especially in scenarios like vehicle platoons.

Innovation Solution

A method for configuring communication links between communicating nodes arranged in a fixed regular formation, optimizing communication parameters to balance control performance and interference, by selecting candidate neighbor node communication patterns and parameter values that satisfy predetermined criteria for convergence speed and interference levels, thereby reducing interference while ensuring control requirements are met.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If communication parameters are optimized to maximize communication performance and reduce packet losses, then control performance is improved, but system complexity and interference increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol performanceVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the system into independent communicating nodes with standardized communication interfaces. Each node independently configures its communication parameters based on local measurements, avoiding centralized complex optimization. The formation is divided into discrete neighbor relationships that can be individually managed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Each communicating node autonomously measures communication performance metrics (packet loss rate, convergence speed) and self-configures its own communication parameters without requiring complex centralized control. The system serves itself through distributed autonomous decision-making at each node.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Speed

If communication parameters are optimized to ensure fast convergence speed, then control performance is improved, but interference levels increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconvergence speedVSAvoidinterference
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The communication parameters are made dynamic rather than fixed. Nodes continuously measure convergence speed and packet loss rates, then adaptively adjust communication parameters in real-time. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to achieve fast convergence when needed while reducing interference during stable operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes communication parameters (transmission power, data rate, timing) based on measured performance metrics. When convergence speed is insufficient, parameters are adjusted to accelerate convergence; when performance is adequate, parameters are relaxed to reduce interference and energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If communication links are configured to handle packet losses, then reliability is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverobustness to packet lossesVSAvoidconfiguration complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Each node continuously monitors communication reliability metrics such as packet loss rate and uses this feedback to adjust communication parameters. The feedback loop enables the system to maintain robustness against packet losses through simple reactive adjustments rather than complex proactive configurations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP4071563B1Method, device and system for configuring communication links used for exchanging data related to a cooperative control algorithm
Publication Date: 2023.09.06 MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC R&D CENTRE EUROPE BV
  • EP4071563B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP4071563B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5c
  • EP4071563B1 patent drawingFigure 6~7

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a method (40) for configuring communication links between a plurality of communicating nodes (10), wherein the communication links are used for exchanging data related to a cooperative control algorithm, wherein the communicating nodes are arranged according to a regular formation, said method comprising: - (S40) selecting a candidate neighbor node communication pattern for the regular formation and a candidate value of at least one communication parameter; - (S41) determining a candidate communication performance profile; - (S42) estimating a control performance level of the cooperative control algorithm; - (S43) estimating an interference level generated by the communicating nodes (10); wherein different control performance levels and different interference levels are estimated for different candidate neighbor node communication patterns and different candidate values of the at least one communication parameter until a predetermined control performance criterion and a predetermined interference criterion are both satisfied.