Active Radio Tag Frequency Switching via Carrier-Sense Commands
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Active radio tags face challenges in changing frequencies across different regions due to varying available frequencies and cost constraints, limiting their effectiveness in tracking systems.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a communication method that allows active radio tags without data reception capabilities to use a carrier-sense function to interpret commands from an access point, enabling frequency changes through carrier sensing and signal transmission control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If active radio tags without data reception capabilities are used to reduce cost, then the device complexity and cost are reduced, but the ability to change frequency across different regions is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The carrier-sense function, originally designed only for detecting signal presence, is made multi-functional by enabling it to also receive and interpret commands from access points. This allows the radio tag to change frequency without adding a separate data reception module, thus maintaining low cost while gaining frequency adaptability across different regions.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the operational parameters of the existing carrier-sense function by enabling it to process command signals. The carrier-sense unit is configured to detect not only carrier waves but also specific command patterns from access points, allowing the radio tag to dynamically adjust its transmission frequency based on regional requirements without hardware changes.
2Adaptability or versatility
If active radio tags with data reception capabilities are used to enable frequency changes, then the adaptability is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of adding a separate data reception module, the invention makes the existing carrier-sense function multi-functional. The same carrier-sense unit that detects signal presence is also configured to detect and interpret command signals from access points, eliminating the need for additional hardware and reducing device complexity while maintaining frequency adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the command reception function with the existing carrier-sense function. By combining these two functions into a single carrier-sense unit, the radio tag achieves frequency adaptability without increasing device complexity, as the same hardware component performs both signal detection and command interpretation.
3Device complexity
If the carrier-sense function is used to interpret commands for frequency changes, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability of carrier sensing may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
The carrier-sense function is segmented into distinct operational modes: standard carrier sensing for collision avoidance and command interpretation mode for receiving frequency change instructions. This segmentation allows the system to maintain reliable carrier sensing by switching between modes appropriately, preventing command detection from interfering with the reliability of standard carrier sensing operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where the radio tag confirms successful command reception and interpretation to the access point. This feedback loop ensures that frequency changes are executed reliably and allows the access point to verify that the radio tag is functioning correctly, maintaining system reliability even with the enhanced multi-functional carrier-sense capability.
Data Source
AI summary
A communication method includes: performing carrier sensing at a predetermined time interval; transmitting first data including ID information of a current radio tag to an access point when a signal transmitted by another radio tag to the access point is not detected during the performing of the carrier sensing and the current radio tag is not in a transmission stop state; interpreting a command included in a signal, when the signal is detected during the performing of the carrier sensing and is not a signal transmitted by another radio tag to the access point, the interpreting being performed under an assumption that the signal detected is a signal transmitted from the access point; and changing the radio frequency of a signal to be transmitted by the current radio tag, when the interpreting shows that the signal includes a command instructing changing of a frequency.