Mobile Network Participant Segment Switching

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing mobile network systems in industrial settings, such as electric monorail systems, face complexity and cost issues due to the need for multiple segments to maintain signal strength, requiring efficient methods to switch between network segments while ensuring reliable communication and seamless operation.

Innovation Solution

A mobile network participant with slave modems, contact arrangements, and a modem distributor that allows for efficient switching between segments using redundancy protocols and flexible connection management, enabling quick and reliable communication across segments without requiring handovers, and incorporating features like PRP managers and terminations to enhance reliability and reduce complexity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If multiple segments are used to maintain signal strength, then communication reliability is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication reliabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The network is divided into multiple segments with master modems at each segment, allowing the mobile network participant to switch between segments during movement. This segmentation maintains signal strength and communication reliability while enabling efficient segment transitions through coordinated modem switching.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The mobile network participant establishes preliminary connections with master modems in adjacent segments before actually transitioning. The slave modems are pre-configured to communicate with multiple master modems, allowing seamless switching without interrupting communication flow.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If seamless switching between segments is implemented, then operational continuity is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational continuityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple slave modems are combined within the mobile network participant, each capable of communicating with master modems in different segments. This merging allows the system to maintain multiple potential communication paths simultaneously, enabling seamless switching without requiring complex handover protocols.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

Each slave modem is designed with multi-functionality to communicate with master modems in any segment, not just a dedicated single segment. This universal communication capability simplifies the switching mechanism by allowing any slave modem to take over communication regardless of which segment the mobile participant is in.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If multiple contact arrangements are used for segment switching, then switching reliability is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveswitching reliabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Different contact arrangements are positioned at specific locations on the mobile network participant corresponding to different segments. Each contact arrangement is optimized for its local function of establishing connection with master modems in adjacent segments, simplifying the overall manufacturing by dividing the system into manageable, location-specific components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3284181B1Changing between segments of a network
Publication Date: 2020.11.04 SIEMENS AG
  • EP3284181B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3284181B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3284181B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The invention relates to a mobile network subscriber (10) for use in a cabled network (1), particularly in a collector wire network of an electric telpher, wherein the cabled network (1) has at least one first segment (S1) and at least one second segment (S2) and wherein the mobile network subscriber (10) has a first slave modem (SM1), a second slave modem (SM2), a first contact arrangement (K1) and a second contact arrangement (K2) in each case. In order to allow a change between two segments of a network in a simple and efficient manner, it is proposed that the slave modems (SM1, SM2) be provided for communication with at least one first master modem (MM1) and/or at least one second master modem (M2) via the contact arrangements (K1, K2) and the segments (S1, S2), wherein the mobile network subscriber (10) is provided for movement along the segments (S1, S2), the contact arrangements (K1, K2) of the mobile network subscriber (10) being arranged such that the change from the first segment (S1) to the second segment (S2) involves at least one of the contact arrangements (K1, K2) being connected to the first segment (S1) and at least one further contact arrangement (K1, K2) being connected to the second segment (S2).