ZigBee Frequency Hopping Retransmission Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

ZigBee communication systems face interference issues with WiFi and Bluetooth, particularly at the 2.4 GHz frequency band, leading to poor penetration, sensitivity, and transmission distance, and in dense meter deployment scenarios, channel quality changes rapidly, making data interaction unreliable due to lack of adaptive frequency-hopping mechanisms.

Innovation Solution

A data transmission method that selects two channels as a prescribed and spare channel, divides the contention-free period into three sub-periods for re-transmission, and broadcasts a beacon frame with channel and timeslot information to enable flexible channel switching based on quality, ensuring timely response to interference.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If ZigBee operates at 2.4 GHz frequency band, then data transmission speed is maintained, but penetration and transmission distance deteriorate due to co-channel interference with WiFi and Bluetooth

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transmission speedVSAvoidpenetration and transmission distance
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the operating frequency parameter from 2.4 GHz to low frequency bands (433 MHz or 470-510 MHz) to avoid co-channel interference with WiFi and Bluetooth, thereby improving penetration and transmission distance while maintaining data transmission capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an adaptive frequency-hopping mechanism as an intermediary layer that dynamically selects optimal channels based on real-time channel quality detection, mediating between the need for stable transmission and avoidance of interference

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If channel scanning is performed according to GB/T15629.15-2010 standard, then channel quality is determined, but it cannot keep up with rapid changes in complex indoor electromagnetic environment

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechannel quality determinationVSAvoidresponse speed to channel changes
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary channel quality detection during the beacon period before the contention-free period begins, so that channel selection is already determined before data transmission starts, enabling rapid response to channel changes without delaying data collection

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the superframe into distinct functional periods (beacon period for channel detection, contention-free period for data transmission) to allow simultaneous channel quality monitoring and data collection without mutual interference

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If adaptive frequency-hopping with retransmission is implemented, then data transmission reliability is improved, but system complexity increases due to multiple channels and timeslot management

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata interaction reliabilityVSAvoidchannel and timeslot management
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the contention-free period into multiple sub-contention-free periods (SCFPs), each dedicated to specific retransmission functions, thereby organizing complex retransmission management into manageable segments with clear purposes

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamic channel selection where the coordinator and nodes adaptively switch between prescribed and spare channels based on real-time channel quality, allowing the system to dynamically respond to interference while maintaining organized timeslot structures

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

4Use of energy by moving object

If beacon interval is set to be relatively long with small duty cycle, then power consumption is reduced, but channel quality determination cannot keep up with rapid environmental changes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidchannel quality tracking
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs channel quality detection in advance during the beacon period, so that channel selection is determined before the contention-free period begins, enabling the system to maintain long beacon intervals for power savings while still tracking channel changes effectively

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2830251B1Data transmission method and device
Publication Date: 2018.07.11 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP2830251B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2830251B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2830251B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The disclosed is a data transmission method and apparatus configured to establish a frequency hopping-retransmission mechanism in a CPF of a superframe and switch a channel accordingly, which shortens a switching period and improves reliability of data interaction. The method provided by an embodiment of the present invention includes: selecting two channels as a prescribed channel and a spare channel; dividing a CFP of a superframe into three SCFPs, where a second SCFP is used to re-transmit data that a node fails to transmit in a first SCFP, a third SCFP is used to re-transmit data that the node fails to transmit in the second SCFP, and a timeslot position of each node in the first SCFP is the same as in the second SCFP; broadcasting a beacon frame on the prescribed channel in a beacon period of the superframe, where the beacon frame includes channel selection information and timeslot division information; receiving data from the node; and transmitting an acknowledgement frame.