Work Machine Data Transmission Control Under Low Communication Speed

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing technologies fail to account for changes in communication speed due to weather-related and work machine state changes, leading to potential failures in transmitting work machine information to managing apparatuses.

Innovation Solution

A work machine with a controller that measures communication speed and applies functional restrictions on data transmission, reinforcing these restrictions when communication speed is low or the machine is in an operation state, using methods like data reduction, buffering, and transmission suspension.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If data transmission is continued at normal speed regardless of communication conditions, then communication efficiency is maintained under good conditions, but data transmission reliability deteriorates when communication speed lowers due to weather or machine state

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transmission reliabilityVSAvoidcommunication efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent dynamically adjusts the data transmission process based on real-time communication speed measurements and work machine states. The controller modifies transmission parameters (such as data division granularity, appending of attribute information, and transmission timing) according to the current communication conditions and machine operation state, enabling the system to adapt transmission behavior to varying conditions and thereby maintain reliability without sacrificing excessive efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes transmission parameters based on communication speed and machine state. When communication speed is insufficient or the machine is in operation state, the system modifies parameters such as dividing data into smaller units, appending attribute information for prioritized transmission, and adjusting transmission intervals. These parameter changes enable reliable data transmission under varying communication conditions while minimizing impact on productivity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If data is divided and attribute information is appended for each piece, then data transmission reliability is improved under low communication speed, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transmission reliabilityVSAvoiddata processing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments work machine data into multiple divided data units when communication speed is insufficient or the machine is in operation state. Each divided data unit has a smaller data amount that can be transmitted more reliably under constrained communication conditions. The segmentation is performed dynamically based on communication speed measurements, balancing the need for reliable transmission with the overhead of processing multiple smaller units

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system measures communication speed and uses this feedback to determine whether to divide data and append attribute information. The controller continuously monitors communication conditions and adjusts the data division strategy accordingly, only applying the more complex division and attribute appending process when necessary, thereby reducing overall system complexity while maintaining reliability when needed

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If functional restriction is reinforced during operation state, then critical machine control functions are protected, but information transmission completeness may be reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemachine control reliabilityVSAvoidinformation transmission completeness
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different transmission strategies to different types of data based on the work machine state. During operation state, the system prioritizes transmission of critical control information while reducing or suspending non-critical information transmission. The controller identifies and prioritizes essential data (such as real-time operational parameters and control signals) versus optional data (such as detailed operational logs), ensuring that critical information is transmitted reliably while accepting reduced completeness for non-essential information

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses attribute information as an intermediary mechanism to prioritize data transmission. When communication speed is low or the machine is in operation state, the controller appends attribute information that indicates the priority and importance of each data unit. This intermediary layer enables the receiving system to process and prioritize incoming data, ensuring that critical machine control information is transmitted and processed first, thereby protecting control reliability while minimizing information loss for lower-priority data

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP4317600B1Work machine
Publication Date: 2026.02.04 HITACHI CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY CO LTD
  • EP4317600B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4317600B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4317600B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A work machine includes a body, a work implement attached to the body, and a controller that executes a transmission process of transmitting data to an external apparatus installed outside the body. The controller measures a speed of communication with the external apparatus, places a functional restriction on the transmission process when the speed of communication is lower than a predetermined required speed, reinforces the functional restriction on the transmission process as the speed of communication lowers, and reinforces the functional restriction on the transmission process when a state of the work machine is an operation state, as compared to a case where the state of the work machine is not the operation state.