Wireless Mesh Network Slot Scheduling for Collision Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

Industrial wireless mesh networks face reliability and latency issues due to collisions in data transmission, which existing technologies attempt to address with complex scheduling algorithms and routing protocols, but these solutions are inefficient for unpredictable traffic patterns and high energy consumption.

Innovation Solution

A distributed slot scheduling algorithm and time-synchronized data re-transmission technique that exploits constructive interference and capture effects, allowing multiple nodes to transmit simultaneously without pre-defined routing structures or complex scheduling, adapting to dynamic traffic and minimizing energy usage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If complex scheduling algorithms and routing protocols are used to avoid transmission collisions, then communication reliability is improved, but device complexity and energy consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication reliabilityVSAvoidalgorithm complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of avoiding collisions through complex scheduling, the patent inverts the approach by exploiting collisions through constructive interference. Multiple nodes transmit simultaneously without coordination, and the receiver uses signal processing to extract data from overlapping transmissions, turning the harmful collision effect into a useful parallel transmission mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts only the essential function of data transmission without requiring complex routing or scheduling protocols. By using flooding-based transmission where every node forwards every packet, the system removes the need for route discovery, path maintenance, and conflict arbitration mechanisms that characterize traditional protocols.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Productivity

If routing structures are established to minimize forwarding cost, then transmission efficiency is improved, but adaptability to dynamic traffic patterns deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransmission efficiencyVSAvoidadaptability to traffic patterns

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a dynamic flooding mechanism where nodes adaptively adjust their forwarding behavior based on real-time traffic conditions. Instead of static routing tables, nodes use distributed algorithms to dynamically determine packet forwarding decisions, allowing the network to automatically adapt to changing traffic patterns without reconfiguration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

Every node in the network performs universal flooding functionality, acting as both a potential source and forwarder for all traffic. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for specialized routing infrastructure and allows any node to handle any traffic pattern, providing universal adaptability across different application scenarios.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Use of energy by moving object

If multiple nodes transmit simultaneously without coordination, then energy consumption is reduced, but transmission reliability deteriorates due to collisions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenode energy consumptionVSAvoiddata transmission reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the traditionally harmful collision effect into a beneficial parallel transmission mechanism. By designing the system to exploit constructive interference, simultaneous transmissions from multiple nodes are transformed from a reliability problem into an energy-efficient solution that maintains data integrity through signal processing at the receiver.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach achieves ultra-fast, reliable, and energy-efficient data delivery with minimal latency and high throughput, adapting to unpredictable traffic patterns without the need for complex routing or scheduling, making it suitable for industrial control applications.

Implementation Method 1

A distributed slot scheduling algorithm and time-synchronized data re-transmission technique that exploits constructive interference and capture effects

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectConstructive interference: Interference

Implementation Method 2

A distributed slot scheduling algorithm and time-synchronized data re-transmission technique that exploits constructive interference and capture effects

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCapture effect:

Data Source

PatentUS10952032B2Wireless mesh network and associated data transmission network

Publication Date: 2021.03.16 KK TOSHIBA

AI summary

A node comprising a receiver, a transmitter, a controller and memory storing program instructions. The node is suitable for participating in time synchronised data re-transmission within a network. The program instructions cause the controller, when executed by the controller, to receive, via the receiver an indication of other nodes in the network to which data is or is not to be re-transmitted, update a list of other nodes in the network to which data is or is not to be re-transmitted stored within said memory using the indication, determine, based on the list, whether to re-transmits data received from another node in the network and, when it is determined that said data is to be re-transmitted, re-transmit the received data using said transmitter.