Vehicle Communication Edge Computing Latency

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication systems face challenges in efficiently supporting autonomous driving vehicles by experiencing high latency and scalability issues due to the distance between roadside computing devices and edge computing units, which affects the distribution of messages and updates about changing environments.

Innovation Solution

Implementing Mobile Edge Computing (MEC) capabilities in conjunction with Dedicated Short Range Communications (DSRC) protocols to reduce latency and enhance scalability by bringing application servers closer to the edge, enabling concurrent connectivity through cellular, Ethernet, or optical links, and leveraging distributed MEC servers to facilitate communication between vehicles and roadside units.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If roadside computing devices are placed closer to vehicles to reduce latency, then communication speed improves, but device complexity and infrastructure cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication speedVSAvoidinfrastructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a multi-dimensional communication architecture by adding cellular network connectivity as a second dimension alongside DSRC. This allows the system to bypass physical distance limitations of roadside units by routing communications through remote edge computing devices via cellular networks, effectively solving the latency problem without requiring dense deployment of roadside infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs edge computing devices as intermediaries between vehicles and centralized servers. These edge devices receive and process V2X communications locally, reducing the need for vehicles to directly connect to distant infrastructure. The intermediary edge computing layer distributes processing responsibilities, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining fast communication.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If more roadside computing devices are deployed to improve connectivity coverage, then communication reliability improves, but manufacturing and deployment cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnectivity reliabilityVSAvoiddeployment cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes roadside units multi-functional by enabling them to operate in two modes: direct communication with vehicles using DSRC, and backhaul communication with edge computing devices using cellular networks. This universality allows the same hardware infrastructure to provide both local low-latency communication and wide-area connectivity, eliminating the need for separate infrastructure deployments for different coverage scenarios.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements dynamic connectivity where roadside units and vehicles can switch between direct DSRC communication and cellular-network-mediated communication based on availability and requirements. This dynamic approach ensures reliable connectivity without requiring permanent, fixed infrastructure at every location, reducing deployment costs while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Loss of time

If distributed edge computing devices are used to reduce latency, then message distribution speed improves, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovelatencyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the computing function across multiple levels: vehicle onboard units, roadside units, edge computing devices, and centralized servers. Each segment handles specific processing tasks appropriate to its capabilities and location, distributing the computational burden and reducing latency for time-critical functions while maintaining overall system manageability through clear functional boundaries.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS11172343B2Vehicle communication
Publication Date: 2021.11.09 INTEL CORP
  • US11172343B2 patent drawing
  • US11172343B2 patent drawing
  • US11172343B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A system and method for vehicle communication, including a computing device communicatively coupled with a roadside computing device disposed along a road, wherein the computing device is disposed remote from the road. The roadside computing device to communicate with a vehicle computing system of a vehicle on the road.