Sensor Management Unit Data Traffic Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional technologies face challenges in reducing data traffic for transmitting sensing data and metadata without compromising their usability, as generating metadata every time sensing data is obtained increases data traffic, and omitting metadata reduces usability.

Innovation Solution

A sensor management unit that transmits identification codes (sensing data ID and metadata ID) instead of the actual data, allowing external devices to retrieve corresponding sensing data and metadata as needed, thereby reducing data traffic while maintaining usability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If metadata is generated every time sensing data is obtained, then the usability of metadata is maintained, but data traffic for transmitting sensing data increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveusability of metadataVSAvoiddata traffic
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the data transmission into two separate channels: one for sensing data and another for metadata. By segmenting the transmission, the system can control the frequency and volume of metadata transmission independently from sensing data, thereby reducing overall data traffic while ensuring metadata availability when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of generating and transmitting metadata continuously or with every sensing data acquisition, the patent implements periodic generation and transmission of metadata at predetermined intervals. This periodic action reduces the frequency of metadata transmission, thereby decreasing data traffic while still maintaining metadata usability for analysis.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

2Quantity of substance

If metadata generation is omitted at regular or irregular timings, then data traffic is reduced, but usability of metadata is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata trafficVSAvoidusability of metadata
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary actions by generating and transmitting metadata at predetermined timings before it is actually needed for analysis. This advance preparation ensures that metadata is available when required, maintaining usability while allowing for optimized transmission scheduling that reduces overall data traffic compared to continuous generation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Quantity of substance

If sensing data and metadata are interchanged, then data traffic reduction is difficult without losing usability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata trafficVSAvoidusability of sensing data and metadata
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by separating sensing data and metadata into distinct transmission streams with different transmission schedules. Sensing data is transmitted according to sensing requirements, while metadata is transmitted periodically or at predetermined timings. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each data type's transmission, reducing total data traffic while preserving the usability of both sensing data and metadata.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3667252B1Sensor management unit, sensor device, sensor management method, and sensor management program
Publication Date: 2023.01.25 OMRON CORP
  • EP3667252B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3667252B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3667252B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A sensor management unit according to an aspect of the present invention includes: a sensing data acquisition portion configured to acquire sensing data obtained by a sensor observing a target; a metadata generating portion configured to generate, for the acquired sensing data, metadata indicating an attribute of the sensor; an identification code generating portion configured to generate a first identification code for identifying the sensing data, and a second identification code for identifying the metadata; and a communicating portion configured to transmit, to an external device, at least one of the sensing data to which the second identification code is added and the metadata to which the first identification code is added.