Transport Network Access for Predicted Connectivity Loss

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Transport vehicles often experience diminished or lost data services in certain areas, leading to disruptions in navigation and safety services, necessitating a method to anticipate and mitigate these service losses.

Innovation Solution

A system that predicts when a transport will lose data network connectivity based on its route plan and sends an emergency signal to a third party when no alternate path is available, allowing for preemptive measures such as downloading data segments for playback during network downtime and invoking an off-network transport mode.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the transport enters an area with no data network coverage, then the transport can operate independently without network dependency, but data services and safety monitoring are lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata service availabilityVSAvoidnetwork connection loss

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by downloading data segments and invoking off-network transport mode before the transport enters the no-coverage area. The server determines the target time when connection will be lost and prepares data segments in advance, so that data services can continue during the period without network coverage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system applies preliminary anti-action by sending emergency signals to third parties before the transport loses connection, and by pre-downloading necessary data segments. This counteracts the harmful effect of network loss by having compensatory measures ready in advance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

2Reliability

If the system downloads and stores data segments before network loss, then data services can continue during offline periods, but storage space and energy are consumed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice continuityVSAvoidstorage space consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies partial action by downloading only the necessary data segments that will be needed during the offline period, rather than downloading all possible data. The server determines the exact duration of network loss and downloads corresponding data segments proportionally, avoiding excessive storage consumption while maintaining service continuity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Reliability

If the system sends emergency signals to third parties when connection is lost, then safety monitoring is maintained, but communication resources are used during critical periods

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesafety monitoringVSAvoidcommunication delay

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system sends emergency signals to third parties in advance or at the moment of connection loss rather than waiting for the offline period to begin. This preliminary action ensures that safety monitoring is immediately activated, and third parties are notified before the transport fully enters the no-coverage area, reducing communication delays.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS11792873B2Managing transport network data access

Publication Date: 2023.10.17 TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA INC

AI summary

An example operation may include one or more of determining an amount of time a transport will lose a data network connection when the transport is predicted to enter an area associated with the loss of the data network connection, and sending an emergency signal to a third party when the amount of time has passed since the transport has entered the area and there is no alternate path out of the area.