Soldier PAN Middleware for Multi-Protocol Power Data Sharing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing message-oriented middleware systems are designed for TCP-IP networks and require knowledge of hardware and electronics details, making them inadequate for multi-protocol soldier personal area networks (PANs) that need to communicate across various devices and applications without specific device knowledge.

Innovation Solution

A middleware messaging system, called the Bridge system, operates at the application layer, using bridge service modules to convert messages into a middleware message format and distribute them across multiple communication protocols like USB, Intra-Soldier Wireless, and Bluetooth, enabling communication between Android applications and devices regardless of the network protocol, with enhanced security through encryption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If message-oriented middleware is designed for TCP-IP networks with hardware-specific knowledge, then device-specific communication can be achieved, but adaptability to multi-protocol soldier PANs is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to multi-protocol soldier PANsVSAvoidhardware and electronics details knowledge
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a middleware layer that acts as an intermediary between hardware devices and applications. This middleware translates and standardizes communication protocols, allowing applications to communicate across multiple protocols (USB, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, etc.) without needing to know hardware-specific details. The middleware handles protocol conversion, message routing, and device abstraction, thereby resolving the contradiction between adaptability and complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The middleware is designed with universal functionality to handle multiple communication protocols and device types through a unified interface. It provides a single standardized message format and communication framework that works across diverse hardware platforms, eliminating the need for separate hardware-specific middleware implementations and enabling broad adaptability without increasing application-level complexity.

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

2Ease of operation

If device-specific solutions are implemented at hardware layer, then communication accuracy can be achieved, but ease of operation is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegeneric solution for multiple devicesVSAvoidcommunication accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The middleware serves as a reliable intermediary that ensures accurate communication by implementing standardized message formats, validation rules, and protocol translation mechanisms. It maintains communication reliability through error handling, message queuing, and guaranteed delivery protocols while presenting a simple, unified interface to applications, thus achieving both ease of operation and communication accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback mechanisms through the middleware that monitor communication status, message delivery confirmation, and error conditions. This feedback loop ensures reliable communication by automatically handling retransmissions, error correction, and status reporting, maintaining high reliability while keeping the operation simple for end users through automated error management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP4280547A1Soldier network middleware and power tracking using the same
Publication Date: 2023.11.22 GALVION LTD
  • EP4280547A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4280547A1 patent drawingFigure 2A
  • EP4280547A1 patent drawingFigure 2B

AI summary

A bridge system includes messaging middleware that is configured to operate on a multi-protocol soldier personal area network (PAN) and to enable sharing of data with multiple applications in an Android OS. The bridge system is implemented on smart and semi-smart multi-protocol hubs and is used to support sharing of live power data between PAN components. The data is displayed to a user on a user interface and is used by components of the system to model and predict power requirements and power usage of the PAN components.