Terminal Device Positioning via Heterogeneous Protocol Translation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing IoT systems face challenges in providing services between electronic devices using heterogeneous communication protocols, where devices with different communication protocols cannot effectively exchange information, limiting the provision of IoT services.
Innovation Solution
A method and device for determining the position of a searching object device using a heterogeneous communication protocol, where a terminal device broadcasts pre-defined search signals and analyzes response signals to identify the object device, allowing communication between devices using different protocols, such as Bluetooth and WiFi, to determine the device's position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the same communication protocol is used for IoT service between electronic devices, then communication reliability is improved, but device compatibility and adaptability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a terminal device as an intermediary that translates between heterogeneous communication protocols. The terminal device receives search requests from one protocol type, converts them to the appropriate protocol for the target electronic device, and relays responses back. This mediator approach enables reliable communication between devices using different protocols without requiring each device to support multiple protocols directly.
Solution Approach 2:
The terminal device performs multiple functions: it acts as a search initiator, a protocol translator, and a response coordinator. By consolidating these functions in a single device that supports multiple communication protocols, the system achieves universal compatibility across heterogeneous device types while maintaining protocol-specific reliability for each communication pair.
2Adaptability or versatility
If heterogeneous communication protocols are used between electronic devices, then device adaptability and versatility are improved, but communication compatibility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The terminal device serves as a protocol mediation layer that receives search requests, identifies the appropriate protocol for the target electronic device, and translates the request accordingly. This intermediary approach allows electronic devices to maintain their native protocols while achieving cross-protocol compatibility through the terminal device's translation capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes communication protocol parameters based on the target device type. The terminal device detects the electronic device's protocol requirements and adjusts its communication parameters (protocol type, message format, transmission mode) to match, enabling seamless interaction between heterogeneous devices without requiring changes to the electronic devices themselves.
3Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If search signals are broadcasted to all external devices, then device identification capability is improved, but energy consumption and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the search process into targeted phases: the terminal device first identifies a specific electronic device as the search target, then broadcasts search signals only to that specific device or a limited group. This segmentation avoids unnecessary broad broadcasting to all external devices, reducing energy consumption while maintaining effective device identification capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The terminal device performs preliminary actions by pre-identifying the target electronic device and determining its communication protocol before broadcasting the search signal. This preliminary identification step ensures that search signals are transmitted only to relevant devices, avoiding wasted energy on devices that cannot respond to the search request.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a
Figure 2b
AI summary
A controlling method of an electronic device is provided. The method includes receiving a search request for a searching object device from a terminal device, broadcasting a pre-defined search signal in response to the search request, in response to a response signal being received from an external device in response to the pre-defined search signal, analyzing a pattern of the received response signal and determining whether the external device is the searching object device, and in response to the external device being determined as the searching object device, transmitting intensity information of the received response signal to the terminal device to determine a position of the external device which is determined as the searching object device.