Multiprotocol Vehicle Communications Dynamic Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicles face challenges in maintaining reliable wireless communications due to varying signal strengths and availability of different communication types across geographic areas, especially in areas with obstructed signals or limited infrastructure.
Innovation Solution
A system that generates a coverage map indicating signal distributions for multiple communication types, allowing vehicles to dynamically switch between protocols to optimize communication quality based on predefined targets, such as maximizing signal strength or minimizing costs, by selecting the best communication type for each area along a path.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single communication protocol is used, then device complexity is reduced, but communication reliability deteriorates in areas with obstructed signals or limited infrastructure
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle communication system is equipped with multiple communication protocols (cellular, satellite, DSRC, Wi-Fi) simultaneously, enabling it to function across diverse communication environments. The system can universally adapt to different infrastructure conditions by selecting the appropriate protocol, thereby maintaining reliability without requiring separate dedicated systems for each communication type.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically switches between different communication protocols based on real-time signal conditions, geographic location, and infrastructure availability. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to maintain optimal communication reliability by transitioning from cellular to satellite or DSRC protocols as conditions change, rather than relying on a static single-protocol approach.
2Reliability
If multiple communication protocols are supported, then communication reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple communication protocols are merged into a single integrated vehicle communication system with unified management. The system combines cellular, satellite, DSRC, and Wi-Fi capabilities into one cohesive architecture, reducing the need for separate independent systems and simplifying overall device complexity while maintaining multi-protocol reliability benefits.
Solution Approach 2:
A central communication manager acts as an intermediary that coordinates between multiple protocol interfaces and the vehicle's data processing systems. This mediator handles protocol selection, signal quality assessment, and data routing, thereby managing the complexity of multiple protocols through a single controlling interface rather than requiring direct integration of all protocols with every system component.
3Reliability
If communication type is selected based on signal strength optimization, then communication quality is improved, but data costs may increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the parameter of communication protocol selection based on multiple factors including signal strength, cost considerations, and data requirements. By adjusting selection criteria dynamically - sometimes prioritizing signal quality and other times prioritizing cost-effectiveness - the system optimizes the balance between communication quality and data costs rather than following a fixed selection rule.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses partial optimization by selecting communication protocols based on specific criteria for specific data types or time periods. Rather than always optimizing for maximum signal strength regardless of cost, the system applies optimization selectively - using high-quality protocols only when necessary for critical data transmission and relying on lower-cost protocols for routine communications, thereby achieving partial optimization that balances quality and cost.
Data Source
AI summary
A system includes a computer including a processor. The processor is programmed to receive data mapping one or more predicted signal metrics for each of one or more types of wireless communications within a geographic area. Based on optimization targets, the processor is programmed to select, for a vehicle travelling along a planned path within the geographic area, a respective type of communications to be used respectively for each area along the planned path. The processor is further programmed to activate the selected type of communications when the vehicle is within the respective area.