Portable Wireless Device Safety Message Transmission Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing 802.11p based DSRC wireless access systems in vehicular environments face issues with battery drain and channel congestion due to frequent transmission of safety messages by pedestrian devices, which are often redundant or not useful, leading to inefficient use of resources.

Innovation Solution

Implementing methods and apparatus in portable wireless communications devices to control the transmission and reception of safety messages based on location information and received signals, adjusting power and periodicity accordingly, such as shutting off messages when inside a building or vehicle, and reducing transmission rates when not near traffic.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If pedestrian devices transmit safety messages frequently in the allocated spectrum, then safety information availability is improved, but battery power is drained excessively

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesafety information availabilityVSAvoidbattery power consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic adjustment of transmission periodicity based on environmental context. Devices determine their location (e.g., near roads, in buildings, in vehicles) and adaptively modify the frequency of safety message transmissions accordingly. This dynamic approach ensures sufficient safety information availability when needed while conserving battery power when transmissions would be redundant.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the transmission parameter (periodicity/frequency) based on operational conditions. When a device detects it is near traffic or in a relevant environment, it increases transmission frequency; when in buildings or away from traffic, it reduces or suspends transmissions. This parameter adaptation resolves the contradiction between maintaining safety information availability and conserving energy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If pedestrian devices transmit safety messages at high frequency, then safety message coverage is improved, but channel congestion increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesafety message coverageVSAvoidchannel congestion
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by having different transmission behaviors in different spatial locations. Devices near roads or traffic areas transmit safety messages more frequently, while devices in buildings or far from traffic transmit less frequently or not at all. This localized approach ensures adequate safety coverage in relevant areas while minimizing channel congestion in areas where transmissions would be redundant.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If the receiver is kept on for significant durations to receive safety messages, then reception reliability is improved, but battery power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesafety message receptionVSAvoidbattery power consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements periodic action by having devices wake up at intervals to check for safety messages and then return to sleep mode. Instead of keeping the receiver continuously on, devices periodically activate the receiver to monitor for safety messages, particularly when near traffic or in relevant environments. This periodic operation maintains reception reliability when needed while dramatically reducing battery power consumption during periods when safety messages are less likely to be relevant.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

4Reliability

If multiple pedestrian users transmit safety messages continuously, then safety information redundancy is improved, but useful information quality decreases due to redundant transmissions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesafety information redundancyVSAvoiduseful information quality
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial action by having only those devices that are in relevant environments (near roads, in vehicles, close to traffic) transmit safety messages at full frequency. Devices in irrelevant environments (buildings, far from traffic) transmit less frequently or not at all. This selective approach maintains sufficient information redundancy from multiple sources while filtering out excessive redundant transmissions that would degrade useful information quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP2807837B1Method and apparatus for controlling the transmission and/or reception of safety messages by portable wireless user devices
Publication Date: 2015.10.21 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP2807837B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2807837B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2807837B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Safety message monitoring operations and/or safety message transmission operations are controlled for a mobile wireless communications device. The periodicity with regard to safety message monitoring and/or safety message transmissions is varied based on the environment of the mobile wireless device. The transmission power level with regard to safety message transmissions is varied based on the environment of the mobile wireless device. In some embodiments, safety message monitoring and transmission operations are disabled when the mobile device is determined to be inside a building or inside a vehicle. In some embodiments, safety message monitoring rate and safety message transmission rate is varied as a function of proximity to vehicular traffic and/or the level of detected vehicular traffic. In some embodiments, safety message transmission power level is varied as a function of proximity to vehicular traffic and/or the level of detected vehicular traffic.