Tool Beacon Tracking With Dual-Interval Wireless Transmission
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems face challenges in efficiently tracking the location of tools and devices while optimizing battery life and user experience through effective communication protocols.
Innovation Solution
A beacon transmitter system that alternates between transmitting a first beacon signal using a short repeat interval and a second advertising beacon signal using a longer repeat interval, employing different protocols to reduce power consumption and enhance location logging efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the beacon transmitter repeatedly transmits beacon signals at short intervals to maintain continuous communication and accurate location tracking, then location tracking accuracy and communication reliability are improved, but battery life and energy efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The beacon transmitter operates in periodic cycles, alternating between an advertising phase with frequent transmissions at short intervals to establish connection and a scanning phase with infrequent transmissions at long intervals to maintain location tracking. This periodic action pattern allows the system to achieve reliable communication during critical phases while conserving battery life during maintenance phases.
Solution Approach 2:
The transmission interval is made dynamic rather than static. The system adjusts the transmission frequency based on the operational phase: using short intervals during the advertising phase when connection establishment is critical, and switching to long intervals during the scanning phase when energy conservation is prioritized. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between communication reliability and battery life.
2Measurement precision
If the beacon transmitter uses frequent transmissions to ensure accurate location tracking, then location tracking accuracy is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic action by alternating between frequent transmissions during the advertising phase (when location accuracy is most critical for connection establishment) and infrequent transmissions during the scanning phase (when location tracking is maintained with lower power consumption). This periodic pattern enables accurate location tracking without continuous high power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies partial action by transmitting beacon signals only during specific phases (advertising and scanning) rather than continuously. During the advertising phase, frequent transmissions provide excessive action to ensure accurate connection establishment, while during the scanning phase, transmissions are limited to the minimum necessary for location tracking, reducing overall power consumption.
3Device complexity
If the beacon transmitter uses a single transmission protocol to simplify the system, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability to different receiving devices and protocols deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The communication protocol is segmented into two distinct phases: an advertising phase using a first protocol with frequent transmissions for connection establishment, and a scanning phase using a second protocol with infrequent transmissions for location tracking. This segmentation allows the system to optimize for different objectives in different phases while managing complexity through structured protocol separation.
Solution Approach 2:
The beacon transmitter implements multi-functionality by supporting multiple transmission protocols within a single device. The advertising phase protocol enables compatibility with various receiving devices for connection establishment, while the scanning phase protocol maintains adaptability for different tracking scenarios. This multi-functional design resolves the contradiction between simplicity and adaptability.
Data Source
AI summary
A wireless transmission system logs and communicates a location of an object. The wireless transmission system includes a wireless antenna configured to transmit a first beacon signal and a second advertising beacon signal. The system also includes a processor and a memory that stores instructions executable by the processor. The instructions cause the wireless antenna to repeatedly transmit the first beacon signal through a first number of transmission repetitions spaced at a first repeat interval. After completing the first number of transmission repetitions, the wireless antenna withholds transmission during a transition interval. After the transition interval, the wireless antenna repeatedly transmits the second advertising beacon signal through a second number of transmission repetitions at a second repeat interval. The wireless antenna, memory, and processor may be integrated in to a mountable housing and attached to an object or integrated with the tool.