Sensor Relay Apparatus Batch Transmission Overhead

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional sensor relay systems experience increased overhead time and reduced data transmission rates due to the sequential transmission of sensor data from multiple sensor terminals, leading to inefficiencies as the number of terminals increases.

Innovation Solution

A sensor relay system with a communication control unit that compares transmission data amounts from sensor terminals to a preset threshold, enabling or disabling data transmission only when the amount exceeds the threshold, and accumulating data for batch transmission, thereby reducing the frequency of communication method switches between terminals and relay modules.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If sensor data are relayed and transferred sequentially from multiple sensor terminals, then each terminal can be connected and transmitted individually, but the overhead time increases and transmission data rate degrades as the number of terminals increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveIndividual terminal connectionVSAvoidOverhead time
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple sensor data transmissions into a single batch transmission. The sensor relay apparatus accumulates data from multiple sensor terminals and transmits them together in one operation, rather than handling each terminal separately. This merging approach reduces the number of communication link establishment operations and maintains connection states, thereby reducing overhead time while preserving the ability to handle individual terminals.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Ease of operation

If sensor data are relayed and transferred sequentially from multiple sensor terminals, then each terminal can be connected and transmitted individually, but the transmission data rate degrades as the number of terminals increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveIndividual terminal connectionVSAvoidTransmission data rate
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple sensor data transmissions into a single batch transmission. The sensor relay apparatus accumulates data from multiple sensor terminals and transmits them together in one operation, rather than handling each terminal separately. This merging approach reduces the number of communication link establishment operations and maintains connection states, thereby reducing overhead time while preserving the ability to handle individual terminals.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Speed

If communication link is established via the communication network upon delivery of sensor data, then data can be transmitted in real-time, but the activation/sleep state of the wireless module increases overhead time

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveReal-time data transmissionVSAvoidActivation/sleep state time
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary actions by establishing communication links in advance and maintaining them in an active state. The sensor relay apparatus maintains connection states with sensor terminals before actual data transmission occurs, so that when data needs to be transmitted, the communication infrastructure is already ready. This eliminates the need for repeated activation cycles and reduces the overhead associated with activation/sleep state transitions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3828861B1Sensor relay apparatus and sensor relay system
Publication Date: 2023.09.27 NIPPON TELEGRAPH & TELEPHONE CORP
  • EP3828861B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3828861B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3828861B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

In a sensor relay apparatus (10), a communication control unit (13) receives sensor data from a sensor terminal (ST) via a terminal module (11) when a transmission data amount related to the sensor data to be transmitted from the sensor terminal (ST) is equal to or greater than a determination threshold. This can reduce the overhead time taken at the time of the transmission of the sensor data.