Selective Channel Blocking for Interference Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Communication devices face challenges in maintaining effective communication due to channel interference, particularly from wireless local area networks (WLANs), which can lead to reduced communication quality or failure if too many channels are blocked, and arbitrary channel reclamation is resource-intensive and ineffective.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a scanning module to detect interference, a channel assessor module to determine the type of interference, and a blocking module to selectively block only the affected channels, ensuring a minimum number of clear channels for communication while minimizing resource usage, using adaptive frequency hopping and link manager protocol for command generation and communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If communication channels are blocked to avoid interference, then communication quality is improved, but the number of available channels decreases which may lead to communication failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the communication channels into two categories: clear channels and interfered channels. The system identifies and blocks only the interfered channels while keeping clear channels available for communication. This selective segmentation resolves the contradiction by preventing communication quality degradation without unnecessarily reducing the number of available channels.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by treating different channels differently based on their interference status. Instead of uniformly blocking all channels or using a blanket approach, the system selectively blocks only those channels that are experiencing interference (such as WLAN interference), while maintaining clear channels for normal communication. This localized approach ensures communication reliability without excessive channel loss.
2Reliability
If arbitrary channel reclamation is performed to ensure minimum channels, then communication availability is maintained, but device resources and power are unnecessarily consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by proactively identifying and blocking interfered channels before they cause communication failures. The system scans and assesses channels in advance, blocking problematic channels preemptively. This prevents the need for later arbitrary channel reclamation and the associated power consumption, while ensuring communication availability is maintained through informed channel management.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by continuously monitoring channel conditions and using this information to make intelligent blocking decisions. The system assesses interference levels and adjusts channel blocking accordingly, rather than using arbitrary reclamation. This feedback-driven approach maintains communication availability while avoiding unnecessary power consumption from indiscriminate channel management.
3Reliability
If interfered channels are blocked to prevent quality degradation, then communication reliability is improved, but device resources are used for scanning and assessment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by performing channel scanning and interference assessment only when necessary, rather than continuously monitoring all channels at all times. The system selectively scans channels and blocks only those showing interference, rather than exhaustively managing all possible channels. This partial approach maintains communication reliability while reducing the device resource consumption associated with comprehensive channel management.
4Adaptability or versatility
If adaptive frequency hopping is used to manage channels, then adaptability to interference is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses segmentation to divide the complex channel management task into distinct functional modules: a scanning module for detecting interference, a channel assessor module for determining interference types, and a blocking module for selectively blocking channels. This segmentation makes the adaptive frequency hopping system more manageable and less complex while maintaining its adaptability to interference.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediary components (scanning module, channel assessor module, blocking module) that mediate between the raw channel conditions and the frequency hopping mechanism. These intermediaries process and interpret channel information, making the system more adaptable to interference while organizing the complexity into manageable, modular components.
Data Source
AI summary
A system may include a scanning module that is arranged and configured to scan communication channels for channel interference, a channel assessor module that is arranged and configured to determine a type of channel interference present on one or more of the communication channels, and a blocking module that is arranged and configured to selectively block one or more of the communication channels based on the type of channel interference.