Wireless Communication Device Slot Reassignment Beacon Signal
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Solution Overview
Problem
In TDMA-based body area networks, nodes consume higher power due to the need to transmit in every assigned slot, and the increased length of beacon signals for slot assignment information leads to increased power consumption for both nodes and the hub.
Innovation Solution
A wireless communication device that transmits a beacon signal with reassignment information for slot reassignment, allowing nodes to use reassigned slots, reducing unnecessary transmissions and beacon signal length, and incorporating a mechanism for nodes to acknowledge slot assignment information to minimize processing load.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If nodes transmit in every assigned slot to avoid collision, then collision avoidance is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the existing beacon signal transmission from the hub to simultaneously convey slot assignment information and collision detection capability, eliminating the need for separate transmission protocols. Nodes self-manage their transmission decisions based on beacon signal reception status, reducing overall network power consumption while maintaining collision avoidance.
2Ease of operation
If beacon signal contains slot assignment information for each node, then slot assignment is improved, but beacon signal length increases
Solution Approach 1:
The beacon signal structure is segmented to include only essential slot assignment information for nodes that require slot changes, rather than containing complete assignment information for all nodes. This segmentation reduces beacon signal length while maintaining effective slot assignment functionality through targeted information delivery.
3Loss of information
If beacon signal length increases, then slot assignment information completeness is improved, but power consumption for receiving beacon signal increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the necessary slot assignment information from the complete beacon signal structure, removing redundant data. By taking out only the essential information needed for nodes to perform slot assignment, the beacon signal length is reduced, thereby decreasing the power consumption required for receiving and processing the beacon signal while maintaining information completeness for slot management.
Data Source
AI summary
According to one embodiment, a wireless communication device includes a transmitter configured to transmit a beacon signal including first information to specify a first wireless communication device to be reassigned a slot and a start timing to allow use of a reassigned slot, and transmit, after transmission of the first information, a first signal including second information to specify the reassigned slot, the first signal being a signal different from the beacon signal and a receiver configured to receive a signal.