Communication Control Apparatus for Vehicle Information Collection
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing inter-vehicle communication techniques fail to collect information from vehicles that cannot communicate with others within a communicable region, leading to incomplete data collection and increased communication traffic.
Innovation Solution
A communication control apparatus that distinguishes between first-type and second-type wireless communication units, enabling wireless communication with specific units to collect vehicle information, even if some vehicles cannot perform ad hoc communications, while maintaining low communication traffic.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If all vehicles use ad hoc wireless communication to form groups for information collection, then communication traffic is reduced, but information collection becomes incomplete when some vehicles cannot communicate with others
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments vehicles into two categories: those equipped with ad hoc communication capabilities (first type) and those without (second type). This segmentation allows the system to handle information collection differently for each group, ensuring complete coverage while maintaining the efficiency benefits of ad hoc communication for capable vehicles.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a centralized communication mechanism as an intermediary for second-type vehicles that cannot perform ad hoc communication. These vehicles communicate their information through centralized channels, acting as a mediator that ensures their data reaches the information collection center without requiring direct peer-to-peer communication capabilities.
2Loss of information
If each vehicle individually sends information to the information collection center, then information collection is complete, but communication traffic increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges information collection approaches by combining ad hoc communication for first-type vehicles with centralized communication for second-type vehicles. This hybrid approach consolidates the efficient group-based collection method with the reliable individual collection method, achieving both traffic efficiency and completeness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a dynamic communication strategy where vehicles adapt their communication method based on their capabilities. First-type vehicles dynamically participate in ad hoc group communications when possible, while second-type vehicles use centralized communication, allowing the system to optimize traffic patterns based on real-time vehicle composition and communication conditions.
3Loss of information
If a hybrid communication system supports both ad hoc and centralized communication, then information collection completeness improves, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by assigning different communication characteristics to different vehicle types based on their specific capabilities. First-type vehicles operate with ad hoc communication properties while second-type vehicles use centralized communication properties, allowing each subset to be optimized independently while maintaining overall system functionality.
Data Source
AI summary
In a communication control apparatus wirelessly communicable with a plurality of wireless communication units respectively installed in a plurality of vehicles, a first determiner determines at least one wireless communication unit in a number of wireless communication units in the plurality of wireless communication units as a first enabling unit that enables wireless communications with the communication control apparatus if information transmitted from the at least one wireless communication unit is second type information including a piece of vehicle information that includes at least the identifier of the corresponding vehicle. A second determiner determines a wireless communication unit in the remaining one or more wireless communication units as a second enabling unit, which enables wireless communications with the communication control apparatus, if information transmitted from the wireless communication unit is not included in the information transmitted from the first enabling unit.