US12618656 - Method of communication
The patent describes a method for communication in a blast system that synchronizes multiple detonator assemblies using timing signals from a master transceiver. Each local transceiver calculates a random value to determine when to transmit a reply signal, ensuring efficient communication without interference from other transceivers.
Claim 1
1 . A method of communicating in a blast system ( 10 ) which includes a blast site ( 12 ), a blast controller ( 22 ), a master transceiver ( 24 ) which is operable under the control of the blast controller ( 22 ), and a plurality of detonator assemblies ( 20 ) which are respectively deployed at the blast site ( 12 ), each detonator assembly ( 20 ) respectively including a processor ( 36 ), a unique identifier ( 38 ) which is stored in memory associated with the processor ( 36 ), and a local transceiver ( 34 ) which is operable under the control of the processor ( 36 ), wherein the method comprises the steps of: (a) transmitting timing signals ( 50 ) from the master transceiver ( 24 ) to the local transceivers ( 34 ) thereby to define a succession of frames ( 52 ) each of a known time duration (T2−T1) and to synchronise operation of the local transceivers ( 34 ) of the plurality of detonator assemblies ( 20 ) with the operation of the master transceiver ( 24 ), (b) dividing each frame ( 52 ) into a plurality of slots ( 56 ) each of which has a respective predetermined duration (TS), each slot ( 56 ) including a respective plurality of micro-slots each of which has a respective defined duration, (c) for each slot assigning a respective value (T) to each of a number of micro-slots ( 66 ) selected from said plurality of micro-slots in the slot, (d) calculating a size (BS) of a bin (B) which is respectively associated with each selected micro-slot ( 66 ), wherein the bin size (BS) is dependent on the value (T) assigned to said selected micro-slot, (e) transmitting a packet ( 74 ) from the master transceiver ( 24 ) to one or more local transceivers ( 34 ), wherein said packet ( 74 ) includes data, information or commands which are linked to at least one local transceiver ( 34 ) whereby said local transceiver ( 34 ) is prompted to send a respective reply signal ( 90 ) to the master transceiver ( 24 ), the reply signal ( 90 ) including the unique identifier ( 38 ) of the respective detonator assembly ( 20 ), and at said local transceiver ( 34 ), (f) using a uniform random number generator ( 78 ) to calculate a uniform random value ( 76 ), (g) identifying a bin (B) in which said uniform random value ( 76 ) is located, (h) identifying the micro-slot ( 66 ) which is associated with said identified bin (B), (i) during a defined interval ( 84 ) in the duration of said identified micro-slot ( 66 ), enabling the respective local transceiver ( 34 ) to be operative to detect transmission of a reply signal from any other local transceiver, and (j) if the detection in step (i) is negative, transmitting said reply signal ( 90 ) responsive to the packet ( 74 ) from the respective local transceiver ( 34 ) to the master transceiver ( 24 ). (a) transmitting timing signals ( 50 ) from the master transceiver ( 24 ) to the local transceivers ( 34 ) thereby to define a succession of frames ( 52 ) each of a known time duration (T2−T1) and to synchronise operation of the local transceivers ( 34 ) of the plurality of detonator assemblies ( 20 ) with the operation of the master transceiver ( 24 ), (b) dividing each frame ( 52 ) into a plurality of slots ( 56 ) each of which has a respective predetermined duration (TS), each slot ( 56 ) including a respective plurality of micro-slots each of which has a respective defined duration, (c) for each slot assigning a respective value (T) to each of a number of micro-slots ( 66 ) selected from said plurality of micro-slots in the slot, (d) calculating a size (BS) of a bin (B) which is respectively associated with each selected micro-slot ( 66 ), wherein the bin size (BS) is dependent on the value (T) assigned to said selected micro-slot, (e) transmitting a packet ( 74 ) from the master transceiver ( 24 ) to one or more local transceivers ( 34 ), wherein said packet ( 74 ) includes data, information or commands which are linked to at least one local transceiver ( 34 ) whereby said local transceiver ( 34 ) is prompted to send a respective reply signal ( 90 ) to the master transceiver ( 24 ), the reply signal ( 90 ) including the unique identifier ( 38 ) of the respective detonator assembly ( 20 ), and at said local transceiver ( 34 ), (f) using a uniform random number generator ( 78 ) to calculate a uniform random value ( 76 ), (g) identifying a bin (B) in which said uniform random value ( 76 ) is located, (h) identifying the micro-slot ( 66 ) which is associated with said identified bin (B), (i) during a defined interval ( 84 ) in the duration of said identified micro-slot ( 66 ), enabling the respective local transceiver ( 34 ) to be operative to detect transmission of a reply signal from any other local transceiver, and (j) if the detection in step (i) is negative, transmitting said reply signal ( 90 ) responsive to the packet ( 74 ) from the respective local transceiver ( 34 ) to the master transceiver ( 24 ).
Google Patents
https://patents.google.com/patent/US12618656
USPTO PDF
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