Wireless Polling Cycle Free Time for New Vehicle Integration

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Solution Overview

Problem

In automatic conveyance systems, adding a new cart to the communication system without disrupting the existing wireless polling communication poses a challenge, as continuous beacon transmission can interfere with the stability of cart control.

Innovation Solution

A wireless communication acceptance method that performs a connection sequence for the new traveling vehicle during the 'free time' after the completion of wireless polling communication, ensuring that the new vehicle is recognized by the communication system without interfering with the existing communication.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If beacons are continuously transmitted to add a new cart to the wireless polling communication system, then the new cart can be detected and integrated into the communication system, but the wireless polling communication may be interfered with and the stability of cart control may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveAbility to add new carts to the communication systemVSAvoidStability of wireless polling communication and cart control
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The communication cycle is segmented into two distinct phases: a polling period for stable communication with existing carts and an extended inter-polling period for adding new carts. This segmentation allows the system to handle new cart addition without interfering with the stability of ongoing polling communication, as the beacon transmission for new cart detection occurs only during the extended inter-polling period when no polling communication is taking place.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts the polling cycle by extending the inter-polling period when new cart addition is detected. This dynamic modification allows the system to allocate sufficient time for beacon transmission and new cart integration while maintaining the regular polling schedule for existing carts, thus balancing adaptability with communication stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If the polling cycle is extended to allow beacon transmission for new cart addition, then new carts can be integrated, but the polling frequency for existing carts may be reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveCapability to integrate new traveling vehiclesVSAvoidPolling frequency for existing carts
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements periodic action by establishing a structured polling cycle that alternates between a polling period for existing carts and an extended inter-polling period for new cart addition. This periodic structure ensures that beacon transmission for new carts occurs at regular intervals without continuously interrupting the polling frequency for existing carts, thus maintaining a balance between integration capability and polling speed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The polling cycle is dynamically configured with two distinct phases: a fixed polling period for maintaining communication with existing carts at regular intervals, and an extended inter-polling period for new cart addition. This dynamic structure allows the system to adjust the timing and duration of each phase based on system needs, ensuring that polling frequency for existing carts is maintained while providing adequate opportunity for new cart integration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4129798B1Wireless communication acceptance method and communication system using said method
Publication Date: 2025.06.04 MURATA MASCH LTD
  • EP4129798B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4129798B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4129798B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A communication system comprises a communication management unit, an access point, and a plurality of traveling vehicles. The access point is connected to the communication management unit. Each vehicles includes a wireless communication unit. The communication system performs wireless polling communication between the communication management unit and the plurality of traveling vehicles via the access point at each predetermined polling cycle (T). In the communication system, a process including a wireless communication object addition step is performed for accepting a new traveling vehicle as an object of wireless communication. In the wireless communication object addition step, a connection sequence for accepting the new traveling vehicle into the communication system is performed within the free time which is the time after the wireless polling communication between the communication management unit and the plurality of traveling vehicles is completed and until an end of a period during which the wireless polling communication is possible, in the polling cycle (T).