Physical Variable Detection Using Broadcast Time Slots

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing low-cost devices for detecting physical quantities in IoT networks often experience collisions and data loss due to uncoordinated data transmission on communication channels, lacking efficient media access control.

Innovation Solution

A detection device assigned a network address receives a broadcast signal indicating free transmission time slots, preventing data transmission if the signal indicates its address, and allowing transmission if it does not, with a predetermined period for periodic data transmission.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If uncoordinated data transmission is used on the communication channel, then device complexity is reduced and cost is lowered, but data collisions occur and data loss increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemedia access control complexityVSAvoiddata transmission reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by having the server entity broadcast free transmission time slot information before the actual data transmission occurs. Detection devices use this advance information to coordinate their transmissions, preventing collisions while maintaining simple device architecture. The server entity proactively provides transmission schedules, allowing devices to prepare and transmit at appropriate times without complex MAC protocols.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If complex media access control procedures are implemented, then data collision is prevented, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transmission reliabilityVSAvoidmedia access control complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The server entity acts as an intermediary that coordinates transmission between detection devices and the communication channel. Instead of implementing complex MAC procedures in each detection device, the server entity receives free time slot information from a network manager and broadcasts this coordination information to all devices. This centralizes the complexity in the server entity while keeping detection devices simple.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If confirmation signals are transmitted to verify data reception, then data transmission reliability is improved, but communication overhead and transmission time increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata reception confirmationVSAvoidtransmission time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback through the broadcast signal containing free transmission time slot information. The server entity provides feedback about which time slots are available for transmission, allowing detection devices to confirm their transmission opportunities without requiring separate confirmation signals. This feedback mechanism ensures reliable coordination while minimizing communication overhead and transmission time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3485651B1Detection device for detecting a physical variable
Publication Date: 2025.09.03 DEUTSCHE TELEKOM AG
  • EP3485651B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3485651B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3485651B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a detection device (100) for detecting a physical variable, wherein the detection device (100) is assigned a network address, comprising a detector (101) for detecting the physical variable, wherein the detector (101) is designed to output data which represents the physical variable, and a communication interface (103), which is designed to receive a broadcast signal via a communication network, wherein the broadcast signal has information about at least one free transmission time slot in a predetermined transmission interval, and wherein the communication interface (103) is designed to suppress the transmission of the data in the free transmission time interval if the broadcast signal indicates the network address of the detection device (100).