Relay Node Beacon Signal Synchronization in Radio Networks

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

In radio communication networks without centralized control, nodes can lose radio contact with the coordinator node due to movement out of coverage areas, leading to disrupted communication, especially when they no longer receive beacon signals.

Innovation Solution

A relaying method that detects when a node is out of range, selects a neighboring node to act as a relay, and establishes a new communication route using a different beacon signal to maintain synchronization and communication with the coordinator node, even if the relay node is not in the same subnet.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a node moves out of the coordinator node's coverage area, then the node can no longer receive beacon signals and synchronize with the coordinator, but the node needs to maintain communication with the coordinator node

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication continuityVSAvoidloss of beacon signal reception
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a relay node as an intermediary between the mobile node and the coordinator node. When a node moves out of the coordinator's coverage area and can no longer receive beacon signals, the relay node within range acts as a mediator to forward data and maintain synchronization information, enabling continuous communication without direct contact with the coordinator node.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If a relay node is introduced to maintain communication, then communication continuity is improved, but the network complexity and beacon signal management become more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication continuityVSAvoidnetwork topology management
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the network into different functional zones: coordinator nodes that manage beacon signals, relay nodes that handle local data forwarding, and mobile nodes that communicate through the relay structure. This segmentation allows each node type to have simplified responsibilities, reducing overall network management complexity despite the presence of multiple node types.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The relay node creates a local copy of the beacon signal information received from the coordinator node and uses this copied information to maintain synchronization with mobile nodes in its coverage area. This copying mechanism allows the relay node to independently manage synchronization without requiring mobile nodes to directly receive and process the original coordinator beacon signals.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

3Reliability

If the relay node transmits a different beacon signal, then the mobile node can synchronize with the relay node, but synchronization coordination between multiple beacon signals becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesynchronization capabilityVSAvoidbeacon signal coordination
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The relay node's beacon signal is nested within the coordinator node's beacon signal framework. The relay node transmits a beacon signal that contains or references the coordinator's beacon information, creating a hierarchical nesting structure. This allows mobile nodes to synchronize with the relay's local beacon while ultimately maintaining alignment with the coordinator's master timing and network synchronization protocol.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentEP3100519B1Relay method implemented in a radio communication network and terminal for implementing said method
Publication Date: 2018.03.14 SAFRAN ELECTRONICS & DEFENSE (FR)
  • EP3100519B1 patent drawingFigure 1a~1b
  • EP3100519B1 patent drawingFigure 2a~2c
  • EP3100519B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention concerns a relay method implemented in a radio communication network comprising a plurality of network nodes and at least one coordinator node. It comprises: - a step (E10) of detecting a relay situation, by a node of said network, said node becoming a node to be relayed, - a step (E20) of selecting, by said node to be relayed, a relay node from among the nodes within one hop of the node to be relayed, - a step (E30) of emitting, by said relay node, a beacon signal different from the beacon signal emitted by the coordinator node of the network, - a step (E40) of synchronising said node to be relayed with the beacon signal emitted by the relay node, and establishing the path, followed by communication via said relay node. The present invention also concerns a radio communication terminal for implementing said relay method.