Hierarchical Wireless Industrial Network Data Aggregation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless communication systems in industrial applications face inefficiencies due to high signaling overhead and unacceptably large time delays in data transmission, particularly in systems with multiple slave nodes, as they require complex hardware and additional frequency spectrum to manage multiple radio channels effectively.

Innovation Solution

A method is developed where multiple slave wireless nodes transmit data using independent channels, with varying time slots to minimize fixed overhead and optimize data aggregation, allowing the master node to receive data from intermediate nodes in a hierarchical structure, reducing the total time required for data transmission and eliminating the need for direct communication with each slave node.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If multiple independent radio channels are used to communicate with multiple slave wireless nodes, then data transmission capacity increases, but hardware complexity and frequency spectrum requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transmission capacityVSAvoidhardware complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the large network into hierarchical groups with master nodes at different levels. Each master node manages a subset of slave nodes, dividing the communication burden and allowing parallel operations across multiple groups without requiring all nodes to communicate simultaneously over multiple channels.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Intermediate master nodes act as mediators between slave nodes and the central controller. Data from slave nodes is first transmitted to their local master node, which then forwards aggregated data to the central controller, eliminating the need for direct communication between all slave nodes and the central controller over multiple independent channels.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If each slave wireless node transmits data directly to the master wireless node using fixed time slots, then communication structure is simple, but total communication time increases due to fixed overhead for each transmission

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication structure simplicityVSAvoidtotal communication time
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system merges multiple data transmissions into a single aggregated transmission. Slave nodes transmit data to their local master node, which combines data from multiple slaves into one consolidated message, reducing the total number of transmissions and eliminating redundant overhead for each individual slave-to-master communication.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

Data aggregation is performed preliminarily by intermediate master nodes before final transmission to the central controller. This preliminary consolidation of data reduces the volume of data that needs to be transmitted over the network and minimizes the total communication time by eliminating redundant overhead transmissions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Device complexity

If a large number of slave nodes are connected to a single master node, then network structure is simplified, but time delay between transmission slots increases to unacceptably large values

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork structureVSAvoidtime delay
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The network is segmented into multiple hierarchical levels with intermediate master nodes managing subsets of slave nodes. This segmentation reduces the number of slave nodes that any single master node must directly communicate with, thereby reducing time delays while maintaining a relatively simple overall network structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system adds a hierarchical dimension to the network structure, organizing nodes into multiple levels (slave nodes → intermediate master nodes → central controller). This dimensional change allows parallel communication paths to develop, reducing time delays by enabling simultaneous data collection from multiple hierarchical branches rather than sequential access to a single master node.

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

Data Source

PatentEP2974506B1Data aggregation method and network architecture for robust real-time wireless industrial communication
Publication Date: 2023.09.13 ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
  • EP2974506B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2974506B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2974506B1 patent drawingFigure 5A

AI summary

A wireless data network includes a master wireless node and a plurality of slave wireless nodes that are configured to transmit data using at least two independent channels. A first slave wireless node transmits data to a second slave wireless node using a first independent channel concurrently to a third slave wireless node transmitting data to the master wireless node using a second independent channel during a first time slot, the transmission from the third slave wireless node including a fixed overhead time. The second slave wireless node transmits the data from the first slave wireless node and additional data for the second slave wireless node to the master wireless node during a second time slot, the transmission from the second node including the fixed overhead time.