Mobile Node Data Courier for Low Power Display Updates

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Solution Overview

Problem

Wireless and battery/solar cell powered display units in public transportation systems face challenges in updating information efficiently due to high power consumption issues with traditional receivers, especially when frequent updates are needed for multiple units with unique information.

Innovation Solution

A method utilizing a network server to determine and transmit information updates to mobile nodes traveling along predetermined routes, which then use short-range low power transmitters like Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) to update self-powered display units, eliminating the need for high power consumption receivers and enabling bi-directional communication for status and monitoring information.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If traditional receivers are used at wireless display units for receiving information updates, then information can be transmitted to display units, but power consumption becomes too high

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidinformation update capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces mobile nodes (public transportation vehicles) as intermediary carriers to transport information from the information source to display units. Instead of display units actively receiving data via high-power receivers, the data is passively carried by mobile nodes and transmitted only when in proximity, eliminating the need for continuous high-power reception at display units

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent inverts the traditional communication paradigm: instead of display units actively receiving information continuously, the information is actively delivered to display units by mobile nodes when they are in proximity. This inversion allows display units to use minimal-power receivers that only need to receive data briefly when a mobile node passes by

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Loss of information

If information is updated frequently and individually for each display unit, then information freshness is improved, but power consumption and system complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation freshnessVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple information delivery functions into a single mobile node platform. Public transportation vehicles, which already exist in the system, are utilized as multi-functional carriers that can deliver information to multiple display units along their route, consolidating what would otherwise require separate communication infrastructure for each display unit

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

Mobile nodes serve multiple functions: they act as information carriers, wireless transmitters, and location-based triggers simultaneously. A single mobile node can update multiple display units with different information relevant to their respective locations, providing universal information delivery service without requiring dedicated systems for each display unit

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

Data Source

PatentEP3504698B1A method for providing information to information representation units
Publication Date: 2021.05.26 TELESTE OYJ
  • EP3504698B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3504698B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method and related apparatus for providing information to information representation units, the method comprising: determining, in a network server, information to be provided to at least one information representation unit (200); transmitting the information to at least one mobile node (100) travelling on a predetermined route passing in the vicinity of said at least one information representation unit (202); and in response to the mobile node (100) approaching said at least one information representation unit, transmitting the information from a short-range low power transmitter (112) of the mobile node (100) to a short-range low power receiver (114) of the information representation unit (204).