Wireless Link Selection via Control Signal Verification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication technologies struggle to quickly detect and switch to a usable radio link in environments where wireless communication quality abruptly varies, such as in factories with moving robots.
Innovation Solution
A wireless communication apparatus that selects a first candidate radio link based on communication quality, transmits a control signal to indicate its status, and then selects a second candidate radio link based on the success of the control signal transmission and acknowledgment status, allowing for swift switching to a functional radio link.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If communication quality is measured by packet transmission, then communication quality can be evaluated, but it is impossible to detect failure occurring after measurement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by transmitting a control signal through the selected radio link before actual data transmission to verify link status. The control signal includes a link status indication that is sent in advance to confirm the link is functional, preventing transmission of data through failed links.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by having the transmitting apparatus send control signals with link status indications and receiving acknowledgment signals from the receiving apparatus. This feedback mechanism allows the transmitting apparatus to detect whether the radio link is actually functional after selection, enabling real-time verification and reselection if necessary.
2Productivity
If a radio link is selected based on communication quality, then link selection can be optimized, but the selected link may become unusable due to abrupt quality variations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent verifies link status by transmitting control signals before committing to data transmission. This preliminary verification ensures that the selected radio link is actually functional at the moment of use, preventing waste of transmission resources on failed links while maintaining efficient use of available links.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically adapts to changing wireless conditions by continuously monitoring link status through control signal transmission and acknowledgment. When a selected link fails, the system can quickly detect the failure and switch to alternative links, maintaining communication reliability despite abrupt quality variations caused by moving objects or environmental changes.
3Measurement precision
If multiple radio links are monitored for quality, then link selection can be improved, but detection speed may be reduced due to measurement time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs link verification through control signal transmission immediately after link selection but before actual data transmission. This timing optimizes the balance between measurement precision and time loss, as the control signal verification is brief and prevents unnecessary data transmission attempts on failed links.
Data Source
AI summary
To make it possible to speedily detect a radio link via which communication is possible, even in a case where the quality of wireless communication abruptly varies, a selecting means (12) is configured to control a communicating means (14) such that the communicating means (14) transmits a control signal which indicates the status of a first candidate radio link via the first candidate radio link. A second selecting means (13) is configured to select a second candidate radio link from among a plurality of radio links according to at least one selected from the group consisting of whether the control signal is successfully transmitted by the communicating means (14) and the status of an acknowledgment of the control signal, the second candidate radio link being a candidate to which a switch is made from a radio link used for communication.