Single-Wire Interrupt Signaling for Adaptive Data Latency

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional 1-Wire communication protocols require additional MCUs in host devices, leading to increased cost and space usage, and do not adapt data transmission latency to user context, resulting in inefficient data transfer and user experience.

Innovation Solution

A method using interrupt signals with frequency and time differences over a single wire interface, eliminating the need for extra MCUs and allowing adaptive data transmission latency based on user context.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional 1-Wire communication uses polling-based method with dedicated MCU in host device, then data transmission reliability is improved, but device cost and space usage increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transmission reliabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the dedicated host MCU from the system by implementing interrupt-driven communication where the application processor directly handles interrupts from the peripheral device's MCU. This eliminates the need for an intermediate dedicated host MCU while maintaining reliable data transmission through interrupt-based notification mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The application processor is made multi-functional by enabling it to both handle high-priority tasks and process communication interrupts from the peripheral device. The same processor core serves multiple purposes: executing application code and handling communication protocols, thereby eliminating the need for separate dedicated communication hardware.

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

2Productivity

If conventional 1-Wire communication reduces data transmission rate, then host application processor has sufficient time to complete high priority tasks, but time consumption for communication increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehost processor productivityVSAvoidcommunication time consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements periodic interrupt signaling where the peripheral device's MCU sends interrupts at regular intervals to notify the application processor of data availability. This periodic interrupt mechanism allows the application processor to maintain high productivity by being notified only when necessary, rather than continuously polling or waiting, thus reducing communication time consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The interrupt-driven communication establishes a feedback mechanism where the peripheral device's MCU actively notifies the application processor when data is ready for transmission. This feedback approach ensures that the application processor responds only when needed, optimizing both processor productivity and communication efficiency without requiring rate reduction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Device complexity

If conventional 1-Wire communication uses fixed data transmission latency, then protocol simplicity is maintained, but user experience in context-specific applications deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotocol complexityVSAvoidcontext adaptability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces dynamic latency adjustment where the data transmission latency is adapted based on the running application context. The system monitors which application is active (e.g., gaming, calculator, messaging) and adjusts the interrupt response latency accordingly, allowing critical applications to receive faster response while maintaining protocol simplicity through a unified interrupt-driven architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the latency parameter dynamically based on application context. By monitoring the active application and adjusting the interrupt handling priority and response time, the system optimizes user experience for different contexts without requiring complex protocol changes, maintaining simplicity while achieving adaptability through parameter adjustment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4363987B1Method and electronic device for communication on single wire interface
Publication Date: 2025.12.10 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP4363987B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP4363987B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP4363987B1 patent drawingFigure 2A

AI summary

Provided are a first electronic device and a second electronic device communicating with the first electronic device on a single wire interface and methods thereof. In an embodiment, the first electronic device includes a memory, and a processor executing an application stored in the memory, the processor being configured to: receive, from the second electronic device, interrupt signals related with a frequency and a time space, over the single wire interface; decode an input data associated with the interrupt signals based on an interrupt protocol table; and provide the decoded input data to the application on the first electronic device.