Short-Range Network Triggering for Mobile Receiver Light Signals

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for generating light signals using mobile receiver units, such as in crowded events, face challenges with accurate location determination and high resolution, especially when individuals move, as they rely on fixed position assignment or GPS which is inaccurate and limited to open-air events.

Innovation Solution

A method where a trigger unit forms a short-range communication network with receiver units to determine their location through communication between units, using triangulation based on signal strength or transit time measurements, allowing for precise positioning and synchronized light signal generation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If GPS signals are used for location determination, then the method can be used for open-air events, but the positioning accuracy is only accurate to within a few meters

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveapplicability to open-air eventsVSAvoidpositioning accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system divides the area into multiple zones with defined boundaries and assigns receiver units to specific zones. Instead of relying on precise continuous positioning, the solution segments the space into discrete regions where receivers are allocated, thereby achieving sufficient positioning accuracy for the application without requiring high-precision GPS.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements zone-specific receiver assignment where different areas have different receiver allocations based on local requirements. Each zone has tailored receiver units assigned to it, optimizing the system for local conditions rather than using a uniform approach across the entire event area.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Device complexity

If fixed position assignment is used, then position determination is simple, but the system cannot handle moving crowds of people

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveposition determination simplicityVSAvoidhandling of moving crowds
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically reassigns receiver units to different zones based on real-time crowd movement and zone occupancy. When people move between zones, the system automatically updates receiver assignments to match the new spatial distribution, maintaining system effectiveness for mobile crowds while keeping the underlying position determination mechanism relatively simple.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors zone occupancy and receiver unit positions, using this feedback information to dynamically adjust receiver assignments. This feedback loop enables the system to adapt to moving crowds by reallocated receivers based on current spatial distribution without requiring complex predetermined positioning.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Manufacturing precision

If a large number of receiver units are used for high-resolution visual representation, then the quality of light phenomena improves, but the communication overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevisual representation resolutionVSAvoidcommunication overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system combines multiple receiver units into zone groups that can be controlled collectively. Instead of managing each receiver unit individually, the patent merges receivers within zones into coordinated groups, reducing communication overhead by sending control signals to zones rather than to each individual receiver, while still achieving high-resolution visual representations through the coordinated action of multiple receivers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3069160B1Method and system for outputting stimulated signals by means of receiver units
Publication Date: 2019.04.24 DEUTSCHE TELEKOM AG
  • EP3069160B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3069160B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3

AI summary

The invention relates to a method and to a system for outputting stimulated signals, in particular light signals, by means of, in particular, mobile receiver units (5), which are each designed to output stimulated signals in dependence on a received message, wherein a group of a plurality of receiver units (5) is associated with at least one trigger unit (3), which receiver units form a communication network (4) together with the at least one trigger unit (3), and messages are sent by the at least one trigger unit (3) to the receiver units (5) of the associated group, by means of which messages the output of signals is stimulated in the particular receiver units (5) receiving the message, in dependence on the positions of the particular receiver units (5), wherein the at least one trigger unit (3) forms a short-range communication network (4), in particular having a range less than 1000 m, preferably less than 100 m, together with the group of the plurality of associated receiver units (5), and the particular spatial position of the receiver units (5) of the group in relation to at least one trigger unit (3) is determined by communication between the units (3, 5) of said short-range network (4), in particular by communication between receiver units (5) and at least one trigger unit (3) and/or between a plurality of receiver units (5).