Mobile Node Communication Network with Profile Broadcasting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Communication networks for wireless communication, especially in rural areas and agricultural settings, face challenges in maintaining connectivity and data exchange between mobile machines due to limited range and dependence on cellular infrastructure, making it difficult to monitor the operating status of remote machines effectively.

Innovation Solution

A communication network with nodes equipped with transceiver units that store and broadcast operating parameter profiles, allowing nodes to share knowledge of machine statuses and update profiles efficiently, even when direct communication is not possible, using a combination of direct wireless communication and cellular networks to minimize data transmission and costs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If nodes store and broadcast operating parameter profiles of multiple mobile machines, then knowledge of machine status spreads throughout the network enabling remote status estimation, but memory requirements and data transmission load increase at each node

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveknowledge of machine statusVSAvoidmemory and data transmission
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The network information is segmented into local profiles (stored locally at each node) and remote profiles (obtained through broadcasting and forwarding). Each node maintains its own machine profiles locally while selectively acquiring and forwarding profiles of other machines in the network, dividing the information management burden across multiple nodes rather than requiring each node to store all information centrally.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system transitions from direct peer-to-peer communication to a multi-dimensional information propagation model where profiles are broadcasted across the network and forwarded through intermediate nodes. This creates multiple pathways and dimensions for information flow, allowing status knowledge to spread throughout the network via successive broadcasting steps rather than requiring direct connections between all nodes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Reliability

If nodes continuously update and broadcast profiles to maintain up-to-date information, then operating status knowledge remains current, but communication costs and energy consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccuracy of machine status informationVSAvoidcommunication energy
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of continuous broadcasting, the system implements periodic profile updates and broadcasting. Nodes update their local profiles at intervals and broadcast these updates selectively, reducing the frequency of communication events while maintaining reasonably current information. This periodic approach balances the need for up-to-date status knowledge against the energy cost of continuous transmission.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where nodes receive profiles from other nodes through broadcasting and can update their local information accordingly. This feedback loop allows information to propagate through the network via multiple nodes, with each node contributing to and benefiting from the collective knowledge, reducing the burden on any single node to maintain all information continuously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Speed

If direct wireless communication is used between nodes, then communication speed is fast, but communication range is limited to 30-100m for WLAN or a few kilometers for WIMAX

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transmission speedVSAvoidcommunication range
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses intermediate nodes as mediators to extend communication range. When two nodes are beyond direct communication distance, intermediate nodes within range of both can receive and forward messages between them. This multi-hop routing through intermediate nodes effectively extends the network range beyond the physical limitations of direct wireless communication while maintaining the benefits of wireless transmission speed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Loss of information

If nodes exchange complete operating parameter profiles frequently, then information remains current, but data transmission volume and network load increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetimeliness of profile informationVSAvoiddata transmission volume
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system extracts and transmits only the essential and changing elements of operating parameter profiles rather than complete profile data. Nodes identify and broadcast only the relevant updates or changes in machine status parameters, removing unnecessary data from transmission. This extraction approach maintains information timeliness while significantly reducing the volume of data that needs to be transmitted across the network.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP1874002B1Communication network with a plurality of nodes installed on mobile machines and corresponding process
Publication Date: 2016.06.01 CLAAS SELBSTFAHRENDE ERNTEMASCHINEN GMBH
  • EP1874002B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP1874002B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A communication network comprises a plurality of nodes (1, 4) equipped with transmitter-receiver units (16; 5, 9) for wireless communication, including nodes designated as mobile nodes (1) installed on mobile machines (2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 3c). To enable decentralized decisions regarding the deployment of the mobile machines at their respective locations, each node is assigned a memory (11) for operating parameter profiles (P2a, P2b, P3a, P3b, P3c) of several of the mobile machines. Each node is configured to broadcast profiles stored in its assigned memory via its transmitter-receiver unit (16) and to update the profile of one of the mobile machines stored in its assigned memory (11) based on a profile received from another node.One preferred application example includes mobile machinery such as agricultural machinery and/or transport machinery, for example harvesting machines and transport vehicles.