Sensor Data Gateway for Cross-Controller Protocol Compatibility

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Solution Overview

Problem

In intelligent vehicles, sensors may have data interfaces that are not compatible with multiple controllers, leading to incompatible data protocols and the need for redundant sensor configurations.

Innovation Solution

A first controller converts sensor data to a compatible protocol for a second controller using a first communication protocol supported by both, allowing data transmission between controllers without requiring redundant sensor setups.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a data interface of a sensor is not compatible with multiple controllers, then each controller requires its own dedicated sensor interface, but this leads to redundant sensor configuration and increased hardware complexity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesensor interface compatibilityVSAvoidhardware configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a gateway as an intermediary device between sensors and controllers. The gateway receives data from sensors using their native protocols and converts/forwards it to controllers using compatible protocols. This mediator resolves the incompatibility between sensor interfaces and controller interfaces without requiring redundant sensors or direct adapter hardware at each controller.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The gateway is designed with multi-functional capability to support multiple sensor protocols and multiple controller protocols simultaneously. It can adapt to different data interfaces and communication protocols, making a single gateway device universally applicable to various sensor-controller pairing scenarios, thereby eliminating the need for dedicated interfaces for each controller-sensor pair.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If protocol conversion is implemented at the controller level, then data compatibility is achieved, but this increases controller complexity and processing overhead

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata protocol compatibilityVSAvoidcontroller configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent moves the protocol conversion function from the controller level to a dedicated gateway intermediary. The gateway handles all protocol translation, format conversion, and data adaptation tasks, while controllers maintain their native protocol handling capabilities. This separation reduces controller complexity and processing overhead while achieving full data compatibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If redundant sensor configurations are deployed for each controller, then each controller can independently access sensor data, but this increases system cost and hardware quantity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata access reliabilityVSAvoidsensor quantity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple sensor connections and protocol handling functions into a single gateway device. Instead of each controller having direct connections to sensors, multiple controllers share access to sensors through the gateway, which consolidates the communication infrastructure and reduces the total number of physical connections and components required.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The gateway provides universal access to sensor data for multiple controllers simultaneously. A single sensor configuration can serve multiple controllers through the gateway's protocol conversion capabilities, eliminating the need for redundant sensor deployments while maintaining reliable data access for all controllers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP4297305B1Data transmission method, apparatus and system
Publication Date: 2026.02.11 YINWANG INTELLIGENT TECHNOLOGIES CO LTD
  • EP4297305B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP4297305B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP4297305B1 patent drawingFigure 1C

AI summary

This application provides a data transmission method, apparatus, and a system. The data transmission method includes: A first controller receives a data obtaining request from a second controller, where the data obtaining request requests to obtain data of a first sensor, the first controller supports a data interface corresponding to the first sensor, and the second controller does not support the data interface corresponding to the first sensor; the first controller receives first data from the first sensor; and the first controller sends converted first data to the second controller according to a first communication protocol. In this way, a second electronic apparatus can obtain data from the first sensor from a first electronic apparatus. This helps avoid redundant sensor configuration.