Super-node Floor Control for Simplex PTT Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
In PTT communication systems, the existing 'Floor Control' mechanism is unfair and inefficient due to high transmission latency between sub-networks, leading to delayed access times and potential disruptions in speech chronology, especially when sub-networks have varying latencies and high transmission delays.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method where a super-node device manages speaking requests by propagating them across sub-networks, using distribution laws to determine a time delay for buffer memory activation, ensuring that the probability of dismissing a terminal device from speaking is below a predefined threshold, and allowing simultaneous data receipt by listening devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the server waits for a long period to determine concurrent requests from all subnets, then fairness is improved, but access time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having the server send a preliminary inquiry message to all subnet supervisors before granting floor access. This allows the server to proactively check for concurrent requests across all subnets without waiting passively, thus maintaining fairness while reducing access time. The server performs the floor availability check in advance rather than waiting for the full latency period to elapse.
2Loss of time
If the server does not wait for long periods before deciding, then access time is reduced, but fairness deteriorates as nearby devices are favored
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces subnet supervisors as intermediaries between terminal devices and the central server. These supervisors collect floor requests from their respective subnets and relay information to the server, enabling the server to make fair decisions across distributed subnets without experiencing the full impact of variable transmission latencies. The intermediaries aggregate local information and coordinate with the central authority to ensure equitable access.
3Device complexity
If Floor Control is implemented centrally, then coordination is simplified, but transmission latency between subnets increases access delay
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the Floor Control system into distributed subnet supervisors and a central server. Each subnet supervisor independently manages floor requests within its local subnet, reducing the coordination burden on the central server and minimizing the impact of inter-subnet transmission latency. This segmentation allows parallel processing of floor requests across multiple subnets simultaneously.
4Reliability
If the system waits for timeout to ensure chronology, then speech chronology is maintained, but productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where subnet supervisors immediately report floor request status to the central server, and the server provides real-time decisions back to the supervisors and devices. This feedback loop allows the system to maintain speech chronology through active monitoring and coordination rather than passive timeout waiting, significantly improving talk access efficiency and overall system productivity.
Data Source
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Figure 5A
AI summary
The invention relates to a method in which, in the context of simplex calls in a communication network made up of a plurality of sub-networks and associated respectively with super-node devices (110, 120), a super-node device receiving (302) a request to speak: transmits (303) a speaking pre-authorisation message; determines (308) a timer duration in accordance with a time period distribution law ƒƬ (t) between a speaking release and a subsequent speaking turn, and a network latency distribution law ƒδ (d), such that the probability of subsequent dismissal of the speaking turn is lower than a predefined threshold; and broadcasts (318) the data transmitted in the context of the speaking turn, when said time has elapsed. When a request to speak with higher priority is detected before the timer has expired, said super-node device does not broadcast said data and notifies that the speaking turn has been ultimately rejected.