Slave Unit Channel Scanning for Control Signal Efficiency

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Solution Overview

Problem

In radio communication control systems, idle time occurs due to prolonged preamble signals, channel scanning latency, and latency in master and slave units, leading to inefficient signal transmission and processing.

Innovation Solution

A method where a slave unit analyzes a received signal to identify a specific preamble type, resumes scanning on other channels after a predefined time interval, and returns to the specific channel to process the payload, optimizing channel usage and reducing idle time by allowing further analysis and data processing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a slave unit waits for a prolonged preamble signal before resuming channel scanning, then the signal reception is reliable, but the idle time increases and channel efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignal reception reliabilityVSAvoididle time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The slave unit performs preliminary analysis of the preamble signal to determine its type and duration. By identifying the preamble type in advance, the slave unit can calculate when the payload will be transmitted and resume channel scanning during the remaining preamble period, rather than waiting passively for the entire preamble to complete.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The slave unit maintains continuous channel scanning operation by resuming the scan on other channels during the preamble period. This eliminates idle waiting time and ensures the slave unit continuously monitors available channels, maximizing the utilization of the communication system resources.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

2Reliability

If a slave unit scans all channels continuously to detect signals, then channel detection is comprehensive, but the processing time for payload increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechannel detection completenessVSAvoidpayload processing time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The slave unit performs preliminary identification of the preamble type and calculates the expected payload transmission time in advance. This allows the unit to resume channel scanning during the preamble period without missing the payload, thereby reducing the total time required for complete signal processing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The slave unit dynamically adjusts its scanning behavior based on the detected preamble type. Upon identifying a type 1 preamble, the unit automatically resumes scanning on other channels for the remaining preamble duration, then returns to the specific channel for payload reception. This dynamic adaptation optimizes the balance between comprehensive channel monitoring and timely payload processing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If the preamble signal is transmitted for a longer duration to ensure slave unit detection, then detection reliability improves, but the channel occupancy time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection reliabilityVSAvoidchannel occupancy time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The slave unit performs preliminary analysis of the preamble signal characteristics to identify its type and determine the expected payload transmission time. This preliminary action enables the slave unit to make informed decisions about when to resume channel scanning, ensuring reliable detection while optimizing channel usage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The slave unit maintains continuous operation by resuming channel scanning during the preamble transmission on other channels. This eliminates idle waiting time and ensures that the slave unit is ready to receive the payload as soon as it is transmitted, thereby reducing the effective channel occupancy time despite the prolonged preamble duration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentEP2394254B1A method of transmitting signals in a control system and a control system therefore
Publication Date: 2017.08.09 VKR HOLDING AS
  • EP2394254B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2394254B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2394254B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Method and system for transmitting signals such as control signals, request signals, interrogation signals etc. in a control system, which comprises at least two units, wherein at least one of the units is designed to operate as a master unit and at least one of the units is designed to operate as a slave unit. A plurality of channels are available for transmission and a master unit transmits a signal via one of said plurality of channels. At least one slave unit performs the step of scanning the channels for transmitted signals and a signal that is received on a specific channel is analyzed to specify a preamble type. When the preamble type is a first type (PTl), the scanning is resumed by the at least one slave unit on the other channels and the at least one slave unit returns to the specific channel after a predefined time interval (Tl). Hereby, an enhanced efficiency is achieved and furthermore a faster manner of scanning and analyzing signals on a plurality of channels is achieved. An enlarged amount of data can be processed, hereby making the use of the available channels more efficient.