Ad-hoc PLC Collision Detection via Source Address Analysis
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In ad-hoc power line communication networks, control packets often collide due to changes in the communication path caused by electrical apparatus usage, leading to PLC terminals being unable to receive packets, making it difficult to determine if the issue is due to noise or collisions, resulting in the terminal being continuously out of the network.
Innovation Solution
A communication apparatus that receives control packets and determines collisions by analyzing source addresses in the header portions, distinguishing between noise and collision-induced packet loss, and adjusts transmission timing or probability to prevent network disconnection by instructing terminals to delay or modify their transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple relay terminals transmit control packets periodically in an ad-hoc power line communication network, then network coverage and reliability are improved, but packet collisions increase causing terminals to be unable to receive control packets
Solution Approach 1:
The receiving terminal monitors received control packets and detects collisions by comparing source addresses. When a collision is detected (multiple different source addresses in defective packets), the receiving terminal feeds back collision information to the relay terminals, enabling them to adjust their transmission timing and avoid future collisions.
Solution Approach 2:
The transmission timing of control packets is made dynamic rather than fixed. Relay terminals adjust their transmission timing based on feedback from the receiving terminal, allowing the system to adapt to changing network conditions and avoid collisions while maintaining periodic transmission benefits.
2Area of stationary object
If control packets are transmitted periodically from multiple relay terminals, then network coverage is improved, but it becomes impossible to determine whether packet loss is due to noise or collisions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses source addresses in packet headers as distinctive identifiers (analogous to different colors) from multiple relay terminals. When the receiving terminal detects packets with different source addresses among defective packets, it can identify this as a collision scenario rather than noise, enabling cause determination.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the proactive method is used for relay terminal specification in power line communication, then network stability is improved, but packet collisions increase due to multiple relay terminals transmitting simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
The receiving terminal performs preliminary monitoring of incoming control packets to detect collisions before they cause permanent network disconnection. By detecting multiple different source addresses in defective packets, the system takes preliminary action to identify the collision problem and initiate corrective measures.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback from the receiving terminal to relay terminals about detected collisions. This feedback enables relay terminals to adjust their transmission timing proactively, maintaining network stability while preventing packet reception failures.
Data Source
AI summary
A communication apparatus which, in an ad-hoc network, when receiving control packets from a plurality of terminals, can determine whether or not there is a collision among the control packets, and, based on the determination, can be prevented from continuing to be out of the network due to a collision among the control packets transmitted from the plurality of terminals. In the communication terminal, a communication section receives a control packet which periodically comes up on a communication path. When the communication apparatus receives a plurality of control packets which are defective in at least payload portions thereof within a predetermined time period, if a control section determines that source addresses included in header portions of the control packets which are defective in the payload portions thereof include a source address which is not identical to the other source addresses, the control section determines that the control packets are transmitted from a plurality of terminals and collide with each other.