Wireless Modular Network Topology for Time-Synchronized Sensor Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current monitoring devices are limited by their ability to collect data from a single location, and existing systems lack efficient methods for time synchronization across multiple devices without the need for absolute clocks, making it cumbersome to set up and analyze data from multiple sensors.
Innovation Solution
A wireless modular network system that connects multiple slave monitoring devices in a star topology to a master device for efficient time synchronization using Bluetooth or Bluetooth Low Energy protocols, allowing for local data storage and timestamping without requiring continuous communication with the master device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple monitoring devices are used to collect data from multiple locations, then analytical capability is improved, but device complexity and setup difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides monitoring functionality into separate modular devices (master and slave units) that can be independently deployed at different locations. Each slave device operates autonomously but synchronizes with the master device, allowing flexible deployment without requiring a single complex centralized system.
Solution Approach 2:
The master device serves as an intermediary that coordinates time synchronization and data collection across multiple slave devices. This mediator enables the system to manage multiple devices without requiring each device to have full synchronization capabilities, reducing individual device complexity while maintaining system-wide coordination.
2Device complexity
If internal clocks are used for time synchronization, then device simplicity is maintained, but measurement precision deteriorates due to clock drift
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where the master device continuously provides time synchronization signals to slave devices. This feedback loop compensates for clock drift in individual devices by constantly adjusting their timing based on the master clock, maintaining precision without requiring each device to have a perfectly accurate internal clock.
Solution Approach 2:
The system merges the timekeeping function across multiple devices by establishing a common time reference through the master device. Instead of relying on separate internal clocks that drift independently, all devices synchronize to a single time source, combining their timing accuracy to achieve precise synchronization without requiring each device to be individually precise.
3Measurement precision
If continuous communication with master device is maintained, then time synchronization precision is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of maintaining continuous communication, the system uses periodic time synchronization signals from the master device to slave devices. The master device transmits synchronization information at intervals rather than continuously, allowing slave devices to maintain accurate timing without constant communication, thereby reducing energy consumption while preserving synchronization precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The master device performs preliminary time synchronization actions by establishing and broadcasting the time reference in advance. Once synchronized, slave devices can operate autonomously using the provided time information without requiring continuous communication, reducing energy consumption while maintaining precision through the pre-established time reference.
Data Source
AI summary
An activity monitoring system comprising a plurality of wireless units wherein a first wireless unit comprises a wireless transceiver to broadcast at least one timing signal; a second wireless unit comprises: a wireless transceiver to receive at least one signal; a monitoring device that generates monitoring data; a memory to store the monitoring data; a processor to synchronize a time with the corresponding monitoring data; and wherein the second wireless unit: processes the received timing signal from the first wireless unit; synchronizes the monitoring data with the timing signal resulting in a time-synchronized data stream.