Radio Link Diversity Management for Fading Mitigation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Radio wave fading in buildings significantly degrades the robustness of communication systems used in anti-intrusion, home automation, and temperature management systems, particularly affecting the transmission range and reliability between sensors, centralized devices, and actuation devices.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a method and system that utilize spatial and frequency diversity by transmitting messages in two distinct frequency bands, with sensors and centralized devices switching to a secondary frequency band if acknowledgment is not received in the primary band, and using antennas separated by a predetermined distance to mitigate fading issues.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a single frequency band is used for transmission, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability of transmission deteriorates due to fading

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission reliabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the frequency parameter by using two distinct frequency bands (first and second frequency bands) for transmission. When fading occurs in the first frequency band, the system switches to the second frequency band, thereby maintaining transmission reliability without requiring complex multi-antenna configurations at each sensor node.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If multiple antennas are used at each sensor, then the spatial diversity is improved, but the size and cost of sensors increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespatial diversityVSAvoidsensor cost and size
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of adding spatial diversity through multiple antennas at each sensor (spatial dimension), the patent introduces frequency diversity by transmitting on two distinct frequency bands (frequency dimension). This allows reliability improvement without increasing sensor physical size or complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Reliability

If the second frequency band is always used, then the robustness against fading is improved, but the energy consumption and interference increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproverobustnessVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses the second frequency band partially - only when fading is detected in the first frequency band. The sensor transmits initially on the first frequency band, and only switches to the second band if an acknowledgment is not received, thereby conserving energy while maintaining robustness when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

4Reliability

If acknowledgment verification is implemented, then the transmission quality is improved, but the transmission time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission qualityVSAvoidtransmission time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements a feedback mechanism where the sensor waits for an acknowledgment from the centralized device after transmission. If no acknowledgment is received within a timeout period, the sensor retransmits on the second frequency band. This ensures transmission quality while minimizing time loss by only triggering retransmission when necessary.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3016298B1Method for managing the spatial and frequency diversity of radio links
Publication Date: 2017.12.13 DELTA DORE SA
  • EP3016298B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3016298B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3016298B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for managing the spatial and frequency diversity of radio links between sensors, a centralized device and an actuation device located in a building in which radio waves are subject to fading, the sensors, the centralized device and the actuation device emitting messages in a first and a second frequency band.The process includes the steps of: - transferring, by a sensor, a message in the first frequency band via an antenna of the sensor, - transferring the message in the second frequency band via the antenna of the sensor if an acknowledgment of the message is not received, - transferring, by the centralized device (E500), another message in the first frequency band via a first antenna of the centralized device, - transferring, by the centralized device (E504), the other message in the second frequency band via a second antenna of the centralized device if an acknowledgment of the message is not received.