Wireless Path Selection Using Angular Separation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional wireless communication methods fail to ensure reliable data transmission when multiple paths are spatially close, as they are prone to concurrent interruption by obstacles, leading to transmission delays and disruptions in real-time data streams like video or audio.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus that select a combination of wireless communication paths with different directivities, considering angle differences and occupied timeslots, to ensure minimal delay and interruption, using adaptive modulation and antenna control to maintain data transmission reliability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If multiple communication paths with different directivities are selected, then data transmission reliability is improved, but the paths may be spatially approximate and concurrently interrupted by obstacles

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transmission reliabilityVSAvoidconcurrent interruption by obstacles
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from selecting multiple communication paths in the same spatial dimension to selecting paths that diverge in angular/directional dimension. By calculating angle differences between transmission directivities and ensuring they exceed a threshold, the system selects paths that traverse different spatial dimensions, thereby avoiding concurrent interruption by obstacles.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the selection criterion from merely different directivities to specifically different transmission angles (angle difference threshold). This parameter change ensures that selected communication paths have sufficient angular separation, making them spatially distinct and less susceptible to simultaneous obstruction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If data is retransmitted by switching communication path at the time of error occurrence, then error recovery is achieved, but data transmission delay increases and real-time playback is disrupted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveerror recoveryVSAvoiddata transmission delay
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary action by pre-calculating and storing angle differences between all possible communication path combinations before actual data transmission. When error occurs, the system can immediately switch to a pre-validated alternative path with sufficient angular separation, avoiding the time delay of real-time calculation and path switching.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent enables rapid path switching by pre-establishing the angular separation criteria and having multiple candidate paths ready. When an error occurs, the system skips the lengthy process of evaluating and calculating new paths, and directly transitions to a pre-validated alternative path, thus minimizing transmission delay and maintaining real-time playback continuity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #21Skipping (Rushing through)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If communication paths with large angle differences are selected, then spatial separation is improved and concurrent interruption is reduced, but the number of available path combinations decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespatial separationVSAvoidnumber of available path combinations
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the selection parameter from arbitrary path selection to path selection based on angle difference threshold. By setting a specific threshold for transmission angle differences, the system ensures sufficient spatial separation while systematically evaluating all path combinations, thus balancing spatial separation requirements with the availability of suitable path combinations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP2496036B1Wireless communication path selection method and selection apparatus
Publication Date: 2017.12.13 CANON KK
  • EP2496036B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2496036B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2496036B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Communication bands occupied by wireless communication paths extending from a source node to a destination node are determined, and a combination of wireless communication paths is selected based on spatial distances between wireless communication paths from combinations of wireless communication paths in each of which the number of communication bands with respect to a combination of wireless communication paths is smaller than a threshold.