Relay Communication Switching With Predictive Control Adjustment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing communication systems between a relay device and a device to be controlled face instability due to changes in communication characteristics, which can affect control operations.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a relay device with multiple communication units differing in method and channel, allowing autonomous switching based on a switching policy, and providing prediction and notification of communication characteristics to the control device for adaptive control.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the relay device autonomously switches the use set of communication units to stabilize communication, then communication stability is improved, but communication characteristics change and affect control accuracy

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication stabilityVSAvoidcontrol accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The relay device includes a notification unit that notifies the control device of the switched use set, and the control device adjusts control parameters based on this feedback. This closed-loop feedback mechanism allows the system to maintain control accuracy despite communication characteristic changes caused by autonomous switching.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The control device changes control parameters according to the notified use set information. By dynamically adjusting control parameters based on the current communication configuration, the system compensates for communication characteristic variations and maintains control precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If multiple communication units with different methods and channels are provided, then communication stability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication stabilityVSAvoidrelay device complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The relay device includes a communication control unit that autonomously manages the switching of communication units based on communication quality. This self-service capability eliminates the need for external control of switching operations, simplifying the overall system architecture while maintaining multiple communication units for reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically switches between different communication units based on real-time communication quality assessment. This dynamic adaptation allows the relay device to optimize communication stability without requiring all communication units to be actively managed simultaneously, reducing operational complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If autonomous switching of communication units is implemented, then communication stability is improved, but loss of information occurs regarding communication characteristic changes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication stabilityVSAvoidcommunication characteristic information
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The notification unit provides feedback to the control device about the switched use set, ensuring that information about communication characteristic changes is preserved and transmitted. This prevents information loss by maintaining awareness of the current communication configuration at the control device.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3944653B1Control system, relay device, control device, control method, and non-transitory computer-readable medium
Publication Date: 2026.03.11 NEC CORP
  • EP3944653B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3944653B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3944653B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

In a relay device (20), a prediction unit (24) predicts an overall communication characteristic of a planned switching set selected by a communication control unit (23). A notification unit (25) notifies a control device (10) of a notification signal including a prediction communication characteristic predicted by the prediction unit (24). In the control device (10), a control unit (11) performs control for a device to be controlled (30) based on a "control parameter value." A change unit (12) changes the control parameter value used by the control unit (11) based on the prediction communication characteristic notified from the relay device (20).