Radio Communication System Piggybacking Wait Time Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing piggybacking technique in remote management systems for gas meters suffers from poor real-time performance due to a wait time of up to one day before data transmission from the parent device to the child device, leading to inefficiencies in communication and increased power consumption.

Innovation Solution

A radio communication system that employs piggybacking-type communication in a first predetermined time and broadcasting-type, multicasting-type, or unicasting-type communication in a second predetermined time, allowing the child device to receive instructions from the parent device at times other than immediately after data transmission, and includes a mechanism for re-transmitting data in a third predetermined time if the child device fails to recognize communication data, thereby reducing wait times and power consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If piggybacking technique is used for two-way communication, then power consumption is reduced and communication is achieved, but real-time performance deteriorates due to wait time of up to one day before data transmission from parent device

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidwait time
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The communication protocol is segmented into two distinct phases: piggybacking communication phase (first predetermined time) for power-efficient data transmission from child to parent device, and independent communication phase (second predetermined time) for real-time instructions from parent to child devices. This segmentation allows each phase to optimize for its specific function, resolving the contradiction between power consumption and real-time performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The parent device transmits instructions to child devices in advance during the second predetermined time, before the child devices need to execute actions. This preliminary action eliminates the wait time that would otherwise occur in pure piggybacking systems, as child devices receive commands ahead of time and can execute them independently without waiting for acknowledgment cycles.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Device complexity

If communication is performed only immediately after data transmission from meter, then communication protocol simplicity is maintained, but real-time performance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication protocol complexityVSAvoidwait time
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The communication protocol is divided into structurally distinct time slots with different communication modes. The first predetermined time maintains simple piggybacking for upward communication, while the second predetermined time enables independent downward communication. This segmentation allows the system to achieve real-time performance without significantly increasing overall protocol complexity, as each segment remains relatively simple.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Loss of time

If child device operates continuously to receive instructions, then real-time performance is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewait timeVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The child device operates periodically rather than continuously, waking up at predetermined times to perform specific communication functions. During the first predetermined time, it transmits data using piggybacking; during the second predetermined time, it receives instructions. This periodic operation pattern enables the device to remain in low-power sleep mode between activations, achieving real-time communication capability while minimizing power consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The child device is designed to autonomously wake up at predetermined times and execute its communication tasks without requiring continuous power or external control signals. It self-manages its operational schedule, transmitting data during allocated time slots and entering sleep mode otherwise, thereby achieving real-time responsiveness with minimal power consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP2782410B1Radio communication system, parent radio device, and child radio device
Publication Date: 2016.06.01 PANASONIC HOLDINGS CORP
  • EP2782410B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2782410B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5
  • EP2782410B1 patent drawingFigure 6

AI summary

In a radio communication system, a parent device and child devices perform piggybacking-type communication in time T1, perform communication such as broadcasting-type communication in time T2. When one of the child devices (e.g., a child device n) fails to recognize communication data in time T1, the parent device transmits a data communication request for requesting data communication with the parent device in time T3, to the child device n in time T2.