Time Slot Communication System Synchronization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing radio tag communication systems face inefficiencies due to the need for all tags to be in an active state simultaneously and the high data volume associated with preambles used for synchronization, which increases energy consumption and complexity.
Innovation Solution
A system where radio tags operate in a time slot communication process with distinct time slots, using a synchronization data signal to change from a sleep state to an active state only when necessary, allowing each tag to determine its next wakeup instant based on a unique time slot symbol, reducing the need for simultaneous active states and complex data processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If all radio tags are kept in active state simultaneously to receive preambles for synchronization, then synchronization between communication station and radio tags is maintained, but energy consumption increases and system efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The communication system divides time into distinct time slots, with each radio tag assigned to specific time slots. Tags only wake up during their assigned time slots to receive synchronization data, rather than all tags being active simultaneously. This temporal segmentation allows synchronization to be maintained while dramatically reducing energy consumption by keeping tags in sleep state during non-assigned time slots.
Solution Approach 2:
Radio tags operate in periodic cycles, alternating between sleep state and active state. Each tag wakes up periodically at its assigned time slot to receive synchronization data and then returns to sleep state. This periodic operation pattern maintains synchronization reliability while minimizing energy consumption by limiting active periods to only when necessary.
2Measurement precision
If preambles with multiple data packets indicating time deviation are used for synchronization, then synchronization accuracy is improved, but data volume increases and processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts only the essential synchronization information (time slot symbol) from the preamble, removing unnecessary data packets that indicate time deviation. Instead of transmitting multiple data packets with detailed timing information, the system transmits a compact time slot symbol that radio tags can use to identify their assigned time slot and maintain synchronization, significantly reducing data volume while preserving synchronization accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses a simplified representation (time slot symbol) that copies only the essential identification information needed for synchronization, rather than transmitting complete timing deviation data. This symbolic representation maintains the necessary synchronization functionality while reducing the data volume to a minimum.
3Reliability
If preambles with multiple data packets are transmitted for synchronization, then synchronization information is more complete, but processing complexity at radio tags increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and transmits only the critical time slot symbol information that radio tags need for synchronization, removing complex time deviation data packets. This simplification reduces the processing complexity at radio tags, as they only need to identify their assigned time slot based on the received symbol rather than calculating time deviations from multiple data packets.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of having radio tags calculate time deviations from multiple data packets in the preamble, the system inverts the approach by directly providing the time slot identification symbol. This reverses the processing burden from complex calculations at the tag to simple symbol identification, significantly reducing device complexity while maintaining synchronization reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
A system, exhibiting a communication station for communicating with a number of radio tags in a time slot communication process, in which a number of time slots per time slot cycle in a repeating sequence are available for communication, and each time slot is characterized by a distinct time slot symbol, wherein the communication station is designed to send out a synchronization data signal exhibiting the time slot symbol for the currently present time slot, and wherein a radio tag is designed for changing from a sleep state into an active state at a wakeup instant, and for receiving the synchronization data signal in the active state and, if the received time slot symbol indicates a time slot intended for it, for defining a new wakeup instant corresponding to the next appearance of the time slot intended for it in a time slot cycle that follows the currently present time slot cycle.