Vehicle Power Line Relay Communication for Small Packet Reliability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Power line communication (PLC) networks in vehicles face challenges such as signal attenuation, noise, and interference, particularly with small packet sizes used in vehicular sensors, which are not well suited for PLC or physical layer feedback, and impulsive noise during vehicle operations.
Innovation Solution
Implementing relay devices in the PLC network to monitor communications traffic, perform packet aggregation and duplication, and use tone mapping to improve packet relay efficiency, with robust modes like high speed robust mode (HS-ROBO) for increased decoding reliability, and XOR operations to enhance decoding efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If power line communication is used in vehicles, then existing power infrastructure can be utilized for data communication, but signal attenuation and noise interfere with communication reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces intermediary devices (relays, repeaters, noise filters) connected to the power line network to mediate signal transmission. These intermediaries amplify, regenerate, and clean signals to overcome attenuation and noise while utilizing the existing power infrastructure for communication.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs signal copying and redundancy techniques where critical data is transmitted multiple times or through multiple paths on the power line network. This ensures reliable delivery despite signal degradation, allowing utilization of existing infrastructure while maintaining communication reliability.
2Productivity
If small packet sizes are used for vehicular sensors, then data transmission efficiency is improved, but PLC networks are not well suited for small packets leading to increased overhead
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple small sensor packets into larger aggregated data units for transmission over the PLC network. This merging reduces the relative overhead of protocol framing and transmission initiation, thereby improving overall data transmission efficiency while maintaining the benefit of small packet generation at the sensor level.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments large data streams into manageable chunks that can be efficiently transmitted as small packets over PLC. This segmentation allows optimal utilization of PLC characteristics for small packet transmission while reducing unnecessary overhead through intelligent packet sizing and batching strategies.
3Reliability
If relay devices perform packet aggregation and duplication, then communication reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs relay devices with multi-functionality, combining packet aggregation, duplication, filtering, and regeneration capabilities in single units distributed throughout the power line network. This universality improves communication reliability through multiple functions while avoiding the complexity of separate specialized devices for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements self-configuring relay devices that automatically detect their position in the network, determine optimal aggregation and duplication strategies, and adjust their operation autonomously. This self-service capability improves communication reliability through adaptive relay functions while minimizing the complexity of manual configuration and control systems.
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects of the present disclosure relate to communication systems, and more particularly, to techniques for power line communication (PLC). Some aspects include a method for data communication. The method generally includes: monitoring, via a first device, communications traffic on a power line to receive a first payload originating from a second device and targeted to a third device; generating a data unit including the first payload to relay the first payload to the third device; and sending the data unit on the power line.