Low-Power Wireless Vehicle Locating Unit Protocol
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicle location units (VLU) require high power consumption and wired connections to communicate with peripheral devices, limiting their battery life and ability to connect with multiple devices simultaneously.
Innovation Solution
A wireless communication protocol that enables VLUs to establish simultaneous connections with multiple peripheral devices using discrete timing information, prolonged preambles, and unique data transfer periods, reducing power consumption and latency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a wired serial port is used for communication between VLU and peripheral devices, then reliable data transfer is achieved, but the VLU cannot connect to multiple devices simultaneously and requires hard wiring
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical wired serial port connection with a wireless communication system. The VLU and peripheral devices communicate via wireless signals, eliminating the need for physical connectors and cables. This substitution enables the VLU to connect to multiple peripheral devices simultaneously without the structural complexity of multiple wired connections.
2Ease of operation
If a wireless transceiver is added to enable wireless communication, then ease of connection is improved, but the transceiver cannot communicate with multiple peripheral devices simultaneously and increases power consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic listening intervals where the VLU alternates between active listening for transmission signals and sleep mode. The receiver portion listens for transmission signals from peripheral devices during specific time intervals, then enters a low-power state. This periodic operation reduces average power consumption while maintaining the ability to communicate with multiple peripheral devices wirelessly.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs dynamic power management where the VLU's receiver portion is activated only when needed to listen for transmission signals from peripheral devices. The system dynamically transitions between active and sleep states based on communication requirements, optimizing power consumption while maintaining wireless connectivity with multiple devices.
3Speed
If the VLU continuously listens for transmission signals from peripheral devices, then data transfer speed is improved, but power consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic listening intervals where the VLU alternates between active listening for transmission signals and sleep mode. The receiver portion listens for transmission signals from peripheral devices during specific time intervals, then enters a low-power state. This periodic operation reduces average power consumption while maintaining the ability to communicate with multiple peripheral devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses prolonged preambles in transmission signals that allow the VLU to detect and wake up in time to receive the upcoming data transmission. The peripheral device transmits a prolonged preamble signal before the actual data, giving the VLU's receiver portion advance notice to activate and prepare for reception, thereby reducing latency without requiring continuous listening.
Data Source
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AI summary
Methods of, systems for, and articles of manufacture for wireless communication between a vehicle locating unit and peripheral devices that are disposed on or in the same object, the method including the steps of adapting the peripheral devices to generate transmission signals to be received by the vehicle locating unit; generating transmission signals by at least one of the peripheral devices; adapting the vehicle locating unit to listen for the transmission signals for a first period of time during a second period of time that is longer than the first period of time; acknowledging detected transmission signals from any of the peripheral devices; upon acknowledgement, establishing a communication link between the vehicle locating unit and a corresponding source of the detected transmission signals; and communicating data between the vehicle locating unit and the corresponding source of the detected transmission signals in accordance with discrete timing information.