Visible Light Communication Coordinator Time Slot Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Visible light communication systems face challenges in maintaining continuous service and reducing inter-cell interference during terminal mobility, especially when cell size changes, leading to inefficiencies and increased hand-off issues.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that utilize a visible light communication terminal communicating with a coordinator, which assigns different time slots to manage terminal mobility by dynamically changing time slot resources based on the terminal's position, reducing interference by using unassigned time slots in adjacent cells.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If cell size is increased to reduce the number of cells and simplify network management, then system complexity is reduced, but inter-cell interference increases and hand-off efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the time domain into multiple time slots and assigns different time slot patterns to different cells. This allows cells to transmit data in different time periods, effectively segmenting the interference in the time domain while maintaining a reasonable cell size for coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic time slot assignment where the coordinator dynamically adjusts time slot resources based on terminal position and mobility state. When a terminal moves between cells, the system dynamically switches time slot patterns to maintain continuous service, making the system adaptive to changing conditions.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If cell size is decreased to reduce inter-cell interference, then interference is reduced, but the number of cells increases leading to more hand-offs and reduced service continuity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent prepares alternative time slot patterns in advance for different cell scenarios. When a terminal approaches a cell boundary, the system has pre-configured time slot patterns ready to switch to, ensuring seamless hand-off without service interruption. This preliminary preparation of time slot resources enables smooth transitions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent ensures continuous service by maintaining active time slot assignments during hand-off transitions. The coordinator manages time slot switching such that data transmission continues without interruption, even as the terminal moves between cells with different time slot patterns.
3Reliability
If time slot resources are dynamically changed based on terminal position, then service continuity during mobility is improved, but system complexity and coordination overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a coordinator as an intermediary entity that centralizes the management of time slot resources. The coordinator receives position information from terminals, determines the appropriate time slot pattern, and assigns resources accordingly. This centralization simplifies the complexity by providing a single point of control rather than distributed decision-making.
4Productivity
If unassigned time slots are used for hand-offs, then hand-off efficiency is improved and interference is reduced, but time slot utilization efficiency may decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent discards the conventional restriction that prevents reusing time slots in adjacent cells and recovers unused time slot resources by assigning them dynamically based on actual terminal position and hand-off needs. This allows previously wasted time slots to be utilized effectively, improving both hand-off efficiency and resource utilization.
Data Source
AI summary
A visible light communication method and terminal are provided for communicating with a visible light coordinator which discriminates between at least one communication area cell that includes at least one light source and a boundary area positioned between the communication area cell and another communication area cell adjacent to the communication cell area, and which provides time division visible light communication. Data of the visible light communication terminal is received from the visible light coordinator using a first time slot in a first communication area cell determined according to a position of the visible light communication terminal. The visible light coordinator is communicated with using a second time slot assigned from the visible light coordinator, when the visible light communication terminal is located in a boundary area of the first communication area cell. The second time slot has not been assigned to the visible light communication terminal.