Mobile Terminal Relay for Wireless Sensor Data

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Solution Overview

Problem

Wireless communication systems face inefficiencies in communicating sensor data due to limited resources and the increasing number of devices, leading to potential congestion and decreased quality of service, especially in applications like sports events where multiple sensors and spectators generate vast amounts of data.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a system where wireless sensor nodes transmit data to mobile terminals using non-cellular communication, which then relay the data to a server via cellular communication, with mechanisms to discard duplicates and utilize broadcast transmissions to ensure continuous connectivity and minimize packet losses, while also providing incentives for mobile terminals to participate by receiving processed data.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If wireless sensor nodes transmit data directly to a server using cellular communication, then data can be transmitted reliably, but cellular resources are consumed excessively and system efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata transmission reliabilityVSAvoidsystem efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces mobile terminals as intermediary devices between wireless sensor nodes and the server. Sensor data is first transmitted to mobile terminals via non-cellular communication (e.g., Bluetooth, Wi-Fi), and then mobile terminals relay the data to the server using cellular communication. This intermediary approach reduces cellular resource consumption by aggregating data at mobile terminals before server transmission.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The communication path is segmented into two stages: (1) non-cellular transmission from sensor nodes to mobile terminals, and (2) cellular transmission from mobile terminals to the server. This segmentation allows different communication protocols to be used optimally for each stage, improving overall system efficiency while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Loss of information

If all sensor data is transmitted to the server, then complete data is available for processing, but unnecessary data transmissions consume cellular resources and increase congestion

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata completenessVSAvoidcellular resource consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements partial action by having mobile terminals selectively transmit only necessary sensor data to the server. Instead of forwarding all received sensor data, mobile terminals can filter, aggregate, or prioritize data based on relevance, thereby reducing unnecessary transmissions while maintaining data completeness for essential information.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The system discards redundant or low-priority sensor data at mobile terminals before server transmission. By filtering out unnecessary data locally, the system recovers cellular resources that would otherwise be consumed by transmitting redundant information, while still preserving critical data for server processing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

3Reliability

If multiple mobile terminals receive and forward sensor data, then data transmission reliability improves, but duplicate transmissions increase cellular resource consumption

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata transmission reliabilityVSAvoiddata transmission volume

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by enabling each mobile terminal to independently determine whether to forward received sensor data based on local conditions. Mobile terminals can assess data uniqueness, relevance, and transmission necessity locally, allowing selective forwarding that maintains reliability through multiple potential transmitters while avoiding duplicate transmissions of the same data.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

4Adaptability or versatility

If the system supports increasing number of wireless devices, then system versatility improves, but cellular resources become more constrained and quality of service decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem capacityVSAvoidcellular resource availability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

Mobile terminals serve as intermediaries that aggregate sensor data from multiple wireless sensor nodes before transmitting to the server. This intermediary function allows the system to support an increasing number of wireless devices by consolidating data at mobile terminals, thereby reducing the total cellular transmission volume and preserving cellular resources even as system capacity expands.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS11838990B2Communicating sensor data in wireless communication systems

Publication Date: 2023.12.05 SUUNTO OY

AI summary

According to an example aspect, there is provided a method comprising a non-cellular receiver configured to receive first sensor data from a first wireless sensor node and second sensor data from the first or a second wireless sensor node, a processor configured to determine whether the second sensor data is a duplicate of the first sensor data and a cellular transmitter configured to transmit, responsive to the determination, third sensor data to a server, wherein said third sensor data is based on at least one of said first and second sensor data.