V2V Cluster-Head Relaying for Multi-Hop Positioning in Traffic

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current V2V communication solutions face challenges in achieving high accuracy for relative positioning in urban environments due to limitations in GPS/GNSS accuracy and communication range, especially in high traffic scenarios, leading to issues with clustering and multi-hop communication.

Innovation Solution

An apparatus comprising a processor and a transceiver that enables V2V clustering and multi-hop communication by using a control channel for short messages to determine cluster heads and data messages for relative positioning, allowing communication beyond the basic safety message range, reducing communication time, and improving safety in high-speed scenarios.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If periodic broadcasts are used to perform inter-vehicle range estimation, then high degree of accuracy regarding relative positioning is obtained, but communication is limited by transmit power and group size changes in high traffic scenarios

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverelative positioning accuracyVSAvoidcommunication range adaptability
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces cluster heads as intermediary nodes that relay data messages between vehicles outside direct communication range. The host vehicle sends data messages to its cluster head, which forwards them to target vehicles beyond the basic safety message range, enabling extended communication while maintaining positioning accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent divides the vehicle communication network into multiple clusters, each managed by a cluster head. This segmentation allows the system to handle high traffic scenarios by distributing communication load across multiple cluster heads rather than requiring all vehicles to communicate directly, thus maintaining adaptability in dense traffic conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Length of stationary object

If cluster group size and members are changed when entering communication range, then communication range is maintained, but usefulness of communications is limited in high traffic scenarios

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication rangeVSAvoidcommunication effectiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of stationary objectVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent establishes cluster groups in advance before vehicles need to communicate beyond direct range. By pre-organizing vehicles into clusters with designated cluster heads, the system avoids the need to dynamically reconfigure groups when traffic conditions change, maintaining communication effectiveness in high-traffic scenarios.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Measurement precision

If GPS/GNSS is used for positioning, then positioning data is obtained, but sufficient degree of accuracy is not provided especially in urban conditions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidurban environment interference
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where vehicles exchange data messages containing positioning information and measured ranges with neighboring vehicles. This collaborative feedback loop allows the host vehicle to calculate relative positioning by comparing its own GPS data with data from multiple neighboring vehicles, compensating for urban environment interference and improving overall positioning accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3596947B1V2v clustering and multi-hop communication
Publication Date: 2024.01.17 ARRIVER SOFTWARE AB
  • EP3596947B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3596947B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3596947B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An apparatus comprising a processor and a transceiver. The processor may (i) receive messages from a plurality of vehicles and (ii) determine relative coordinates of the vehicles based on the messages. The transceiver may (i) communicate the messages using a first channel in a first range and (ii) communicate short messages using a second channel in a second range. Communicating using the second channel may consume more power than communicating using the first channel. The messages may be sent from the transceiver to a cluster head within the first range. The short messages may communicate less data than the messages. The short messages may be sent directly to a target vehicle outside of the first range to determine an associated cluster head for the target vehicle. The messages may be sent to the target vehicle from the associated cluster head via the cluster head within the first range.