Optical Transmitter Synchronization via Backhaul Channel

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

In asset tracking systems, simultaneous transmission of signals by multiple nodes can cause interference, leading to performance issues such as delays and errors, and implementing time-division multiplexing (TDM) to mitigate this interference increases complexity and cost.

Innovation Solution

The system synchronizes optical transmitters within a wireless network using a synchronization signal transmitted through an electrical backhaul channel, allowing each transmitter to follow a TDM algorithm without requiring specialized circuitry, thereby reducing interference and maintaining low complexity and cost.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If time-division multiplexing (TDM) is implemented to synchronize transmissions from multiple nodes, then signal interference is reduced, but network complexity and cost significantly increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal interferenceVSAvoidnetwork complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces specialized synchronization circuitry with software-based TDM algorithms running on general-purpose processors. The TDM control algorithm coordinates transmissions from multiple anchor nodes without requiring hardware synchronization mechanisms, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining interference reduction benefits

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent makes general-purpose network infrastructure serve dual functions: the existing electrical backhaul channel is used both for data communication and for distributing synchronization signals to anchor nodes. This eliminates the need for separate synchronization infrastructure, reducing overall system complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If time-division multiplexing (TDM) is implemented to synchronize transmissions from multiple nodes, then signal interference is reduced, but implementation cost significantly increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal interferenceVSAvoidimplementation cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent substitutes expensive specialized synchronization hardware with affordable software-based TDM control algorithms that run on existing anchor node processors, significantly reducing implementation cost while maintaining the ability to coordinate transmissions and reduce signal interference

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent enables anchor nodes to autonomously synchronize their transmissions by receiving TDM control parameters from the server through the existing backhaul channel and automatically adjusting their transmission timing, eliminating the need for expensive centralized synchronization hardware

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Stability of the object's composition

If specialized circuitry is used to maintain synchronization among nodes, then transmission synchronization is achieved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesynchronization stabilityVSAvoidcircuitry complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces specialized synchronization circuitry with software-based TDM control algorithms that run on general-purpose processors in each anchor node, achieving transmission synchronization through coordinated software control rather than hardware circuitry, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining synchronization stability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a server as an intermediary that distributes TDM control parameters to all anchor nodes through the electrical backhaul channel, coordinating their transmissions without requiring direct synchronization circuitry between nodes, thus achieving stable synchronization with minimal added complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS9654933B2Systems and methods for synchronizing optical transmitters

Publication Date: 2017.05.16 SYNAPSE WIRELESS INC

AI summary

A wireless network has a plurality of nodes that are configured to communicate electrical signals via a backhaul channel in which messages hop from node-to-node through the network. The nodes have optical transmitters for communicating with tags via an optical channel that is time division multiplexed (TDM) among the nodes of the network. The nodes are configured to transmit an electrical synchronization signal via the backhaul channel and to synchronize transmissions for the optical channel based on the electrical synchronization signal. Thus, use of the backhaul channel to communicate the synchronization signal leverages the existing framework of the network in order to synchronize the optical transmitters without requiring specialized synchronization circuitry, and a robust TDM algorithm can be implemented for the optical channel with relatively low complexity and costs.