Sensor Management Unit Background Noise Reliability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sensor networks lack a reliable method to determine the state of sensor devices, leading to potential distribution of unreliable sensing data between providers and users, as the state of the sensor device, such as its installation position and operational status, is unknown to the user.

Innovation Solution

A sensor management unit analyzes background noise data to assess the reliability of sensing data, providing an index of reliability to users by comparing it with thresholds and utilizing nearby sensor devices for validation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If sensor devices are deployed to distribute sensing data between provider and user, then data availability and coverage are improved, but reliability of sensing data deteriorates because user cannot know the state of sensor device

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata availabilityVSAvoidsensing data reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback by having the sensor management unit continuously monitor background noise from sensor devices and communicate reliability information back to users. The system collects background noise data, compares it against thresholds, and provides feedback about sensor device state and data reliability to the user, enabling informed decisions about data quality without compromising data availability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The sensor management unit acts as an intermediary between the sensor device and the user. It receives background noise data from the sensor device, processes this information through noise comparison and reliability determination, and provides reliability information to the user. This intermediary role allows the system to maintain data availability while filtering and evaluating reliability through a intermediate processing layer.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If background noise analysis is performed to determine sensor device state, then sensing data reliability is improved, but system complexity increases due to additional processing requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesensing data reliabilityVSAvoidsensor management complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts background noise data from the sensing data as a separate component for analysis. By isolating the background noise portion from the overall sensing data, the system can analyze sensor device state without processing the entire data set, reducing computational complexity while maintaining reliability assessment capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes parameters by comparing background noise levels against predetermined thresholds rather than performing complex analytical procedures. This parameter-based approach (comparing noise values to threshold values) simplifies the determination process while effectively assessing sensor device state and data reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Speed

If threshold comparison method is used for background noise analysis, then processing speed is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to simplified evaluation criteria

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereliability determination speedVSAvoidnoise level detection precision

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial action by using threshold comparison only for background noise evaluation rather than performing comprehensive analysis on all sensing data. This selective approach achieves sufficient precision for reliability determination (detecting abnormal noise levels) while maintaining high processing speed, without the need for exhaustive analytical methods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP3664057B1Sensor management unit, sensing data distribution system, sensing data evaluation method, and sensing data evaluation program

Publication Date: 2023.05.10 OMRON CORP

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AI summary

A sensor management unit receives, from at least one sensor device installed external to the sensor management unit, sensing data generated by the sensor device monitoring a target. The sensing data includes background noise data representing noise from a cause other than the target. The sensor management unit includes a background noise data obtaining unit that obtains the background noise data, a reliability determination unit that determines a reliability of the sensing data based on the background noise data, and a determination result output unit that outputs a result of the determination by the reliability determination unit.