A lo rawan cross-region automatic roaming method and device, computer

Abstract

The present application belongs to the technical field of LoRaWAN communication, and relates to a LoRaWAN cross-region automatic roaming method and device and a computer. The LoRaWAN device cross-region automatic roaming method optimizes a resource-limited microcontroller (MCU) through GNSS positioning technology and offline map technology, so that the LoRaWAN device based on the MCU can automatically switch a frequency plan when crossing regions without manual intervention. The present application can realize the function of automatically switching the frequency plan of the LoRaWAN device when crossing regions, and can also solve the problem of cross-region roaming of the LoRaWAN device violating the radio laws and regulations.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of LoRaWAN communication, in particular to a LoRaWAN cross-region automatic roaming method and device and computer. BACKGROUND

[0002] This section is intended to provide background or context to the embodiments of the application recited in the claims. The description herein does not constitute admission that the prior art is prior art nor does it constitute an admission of any description in this section as prior art to the present application.

[0003] With the rapid development of the Internet of Things, sensors based on low-power wide-area network technology are constantly put into practical application, and their scale has reached a huge level. The current mainstream protocol is LoRaWAN, which includes complete link management, uplink and downlink control, and accesses the Internet of Things in the form of gateway plus node. Usually, the device is managed by a LoRaWAN operator, and data is stored and distributed. Due to different radio frequency regulations in different countries and regions, the frequency planning of LoRaWAN is divided according to different regions, so there are EU868, US915, AS923, AU915 and other frequency plans. Therefore, in different countries and regions, only the corresponding frequency plan can be used, otherwise it will violate the relevant radio control regulations of the country or region.

[0004] Nowadays, transnational LoRaWAN operators have appeared one after another, and LoRaWAN devices are no longer limited to fixed areas and can be used in different countries or continents. However, the evolved version of the existing LoRaWAN protocol does not support automatic roaming without human intervention, and manual re-networking is required when the LoRaWAN frequency plan changes. LoRaWAN automatic roaming has great prospects, taking into account low power consumption and long distance transmission, and can realize special applications such as international logistics tracking. The existing conventional LoRaWAN devices may violate the relevant radio control regulations when crossing LoRaWAN regions (regions with different frequency plans).

[0005] Therefore, the prior art still needs to be further developed. SUMMARY

[0006] The present application aims to solve the problem that the existing LoRaWAN device needs to be manually re-networked when crossing the LoRaWAN region and may violate the relevant regulations, and provides a LoRaWAN cross-region automatic roaming method and device and computer that can automatically roam and do not violate the regulations.

[0007] In order to achieve the above purpose, the technical scheme adopted by the present application is as follows.

[0008] On the one hand, the present application provides a LoRaWAN cross-region automatic roaming method, comprising:

[0009] loading offline maps;

[0010] obtaining real-time position of the device through the positioning chip;

[0011] obtaining corresponding map grid number in the storage module using the real-time position, and obtaining the frequency of the region corresponding to the grid number;

[0012] statistically obtaining the region frequency parameter of the real-time position, if the region frequency parameter continuously reaches a frequency value for a certain number of times, and the frequency value is different from the current frequency of the device, frequency switching is performed, and the frequency value is updated to the device, if the frequency value is the same as the current frequency of the device, no frequency switching is performed;

[0013] after the device receives the frequency value, stopping the current LoRaWAN frequency plan, re-entering the network according to the region parameter corresponding to the frequency value, and performing LoRaWAN communication according to the frequency plan corresponding to the frequency value.

[0014] As a further technical solution, the storage module stores offline maps, offline map data is read from external Flash to internal RAM through QSPI high-speed interface, compressed map data is restored to standard H3 grid index data, and the algorithm is used for searching.

[0015] As a further technical solution, the offline map data includes different index levels.

[0016] As a further technical solution, the offline map is loaded into the internal RAM in batches, and the batch loading mode is loading according to the same region data or loading according to a fixed length.

[0017] As a further technical solution, the use of the real-time position to obtain the corresponding map grid number in the storage module, and obtaining the frequency of the region corresponding to the grid number includes:

[0018] S1: converting the real-time position into a grid number;

[0019] S2: selecting an offline map of a region to load;

[0020] S3: searching whether there is a grid that meets the lowest index level in the selected offline map, if yes, returning success and obtaining the frequency of the region corresponding to the grid number, otherwise, returning failure and searching the map of the next index level;

[0021] S4: when all levels are searched and the corresponding number is still not found, returning to step S2 to select and load the next region map.

[0022] As a further technical solution, the method further comprises: realizing compression of the map data by compressing and simplifying the index numbers.

[0023] In another aspect, the application also provides a LoRaWAN cross-region automatic roaming device, comprising an MCU master control module, a transceiver module, a positioning module and a storage module, the storage module stores offline map data comprising a grid number, the positioning module is used to obtain the position of the device in real time, the MCU master control module is used to grid number the offline map, and match the offline map grid number corresponding to the device position obtained by the positioning module in the storage module to obtain the frequency of the region corresponding to the grid number, and perform frequency switching judgment and frequency switching.

[0024] As a further technical solution, the storage module stores offline map data, the offline map data is read from the external Flash to the internal RAM through the QSPI high-speed interface, and the compressed map data is restored to the standard H3 grid index data for algorithm searching.

[0025] As a further technical solution, the offline map data comprises different index levels.

[0026] In another aspect, the application also provides a computer device, comprising a memory, a processor and a computer program stored in the memory and executable on the processor, and the processor realizes the LoRaWAN cross-region automatic roaming method of the device when executing the computer program.

[0027] Compared with the prior art, the application has the following beneficial effects:

[0028] The LoRaWAN cross-region automatic roaming method of the device optimizes the resource-limited microcontroller (MCU) through GNSS positioning technology and offline map technology, so that the LoRaWAN device based on the MCU can automatically switch the frequency plan when crossing the region without manual intervention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0029] The drawings described herein are used to provide further understanding of the application, and form a part of the application, the schematic embodiments of the application and the description thereof are used to explain the application, and do not constitute an improper limitation on the application.

[0030] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the automatic roaming method of the embodiment of the application;

[0031] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a map grid according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0032] Figure 3 is another schematic diagram of a map grid according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0033] Figure 4 is still another schematic diagram of a map grid according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0034] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of offline map loading according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0035] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of mode switching of a positioning module according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0036] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of a grid matching process according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0037] Figure 8 is a schematic diagram of frequency switching according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0038] Figure 9 is a schematic diagram of a structure of a roaming device according to an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0039] In order to make the objects, technical solutions and advantages of the present application clearer, further detailed description will be given to the present application in combination with embodiments and drawings, and the schematic embodiments of the present application and the description thereof are only used to explain the present application, and not limit the present application. It should be noted that the present application has been in actual research and development stage.

[0040] In the description of the present application, it should be understood that the terms "upper", "lower", "front", "back", "left", "right", etc. indicate the orientation or positional relationship shown in the drawings, and are only used to facilitate the description of the present application, and do not indicate or imply that the devices or elements referred to must have a particular orientation, be constructed and operated in a particular orientation, and therefore cannot be understood as limiting the present application. In addition, the terms "first", "second", etc. in the present application are only used for differentiation and description, and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0041] It should be noted that when an element is referred to as "fixed to" or "provided on" another element, it can be directly on the other element or there can be a middle element. When an element is referred to as "connected to" another element, it can be directly connected to the other element or there can be a middle element. When an element is referred to as "provided with" another element, it can be provided on the surface or inside of the element.

[0042] Unless otherwise clearly indicated, throughout the specification and claims, the term "comprising" or variations such as "comprise" or "comprises" will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element or group of elements but not the exclusion of any other element or group of elements.

[0043] Embodiment 1

[0044] In one aspect, the embodiment provides a LoRaWAN cross-region automatic roaming method, which mainly includes the processes of acquiring real-time position, calculating region frequency, switching new frequency, etc., as shown in Figure 1 , and specifically includes:

[0045] Step 1: load offline map data;

[0046] Step 2: acquire real-time position of the device through a positioning chip;

[0047] Step 3: use the real-time position to acquire corresponding map grid number in the storage module, and acquire the frequency of the region corresponding to the grid number;

[0048] Step 4: count the region frequency parameter of the real-time position, if the region frequency parameter continuously reaches a frequency value for a certain number of times, and the frequency value is different from the current frequency of the device, frequency switching is performed, and the frequency value is updated to the device, if the frequency value is the same as the current frequency of the device, no frequency switching is performed;

[0049] Step 5: after the device receives the frequency value, stop the current LoRaWAN frequency plan, re-enter the network according to the region parameter corresponding to the frequency value, and perform LoRaWAN communication according to the frequency plan corresponding to the frequency value.

[0050] The offline map is stored in the storage module of the embodiment in advance, in which the longitude range (-180, 180) and the latitude range (-90, 90) represent a fixed point in geographical space, similar to the xy coordinates in a two-dimensional coordinate system. As shown in Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 4 , the geographical space is divided into fixed surfaces using H3 grid, a regular hexagon range is circled, and a unique index is corresponded. Given an H3 code, the geographical space it represents is also determined. As a data storage index, it can realize the range query of geographical space.

[0051] In some embodiments, the offline map data includes different index levels. Different index levels of H3 have different areas; the higher the index level, the smaller the grid area, the higher the corresponding accuracy, but the larger the data volume. The lower the index level, the larger the grid area, the lower the corresponding accuracy, and the smaller the data volume.

[0052] According to the LoRaWAN global frequency plan, the H3 grid index numbers of the same frequency plan corresponding area are combined to obtain the envelope map data of EU868, US915, AS923, AU915 and other areas. Then the map data is burned and stored in the external flash in binary mode for algorithm lookup. Since LoRaWAN devices are usually MCU processors, the memory space is small. The H3 map data is further compressed in this embodiment, and the 64-bit H3 index number is simplified to 32-bit. According to the different sensitivity requirements of automatic switching of the frequency plan, the H3 index number can be further compressed and simplified. Not only the storage space is saved, but also the efficiency of the search algorithm is improved.

[0053] In specific implementation, through step 1, offline map data is read from external flash to internal RAM through QSPI high-speed interface. Then the compressed map data is restored to standard H3 grid index data for algorithm lookup. Offline data is placed in internal RAM to improve the lookup speed of the algorithm. However, sometimes the offline map is too large to be loaded into RAM at one time. At this time, it needs to be loaded in batches. It can be loaded according to the same area data or according to the fixed length. This needs to be determined according to the size of the RAM space. In this embodiment, the same area data is loaded, that is, N times of loading of map data of N different areas is performed. Since the lower the index level of H3 index represents the larger the geographical range, the corresponding offline data is less; the higher the index level of the grid represents the smaller the geographical range, and the corresponding offline data is more. Therefore, the offline map data is divided according to the index level, and the lookup order from low level to high level can improve the efficiency of the algorithm, as shown in Figure 5 .

[0054] Specifically, when the device enters a cross-region, the map data stored in the storage module is directly loaded, the real-time position of the device is obtained through step 2, and the corresponding map grid number in the storage module is obtained using the real-time position, and the frequency of the region corresponding to the grid number is obtained.

[0055] As a further technical solution, the process of step 3 of using the real-time position to obtain the corresponding map grid number in the storage module and obtaining the frequency of the region corresponding to the grid number is specifically referred to Figure 7 , including:

[0056] S1: convert real-time position to grid number; the embodiment receives satellite signals provided by a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) through a positioning chip on a LoRaWAN device, and calculates the position (longitude, latitude, and altitude) using an accurate time signal. There are currently four global navigation satellite systems and two regional navigation satellite systems, and the global navigation systems are: the United States (GPS), Russia (GLONASS), China (BeiDou), and Europe (Galileo), and the regional navigation systems are: Japan (QZSS) and India (NavIC).

[0057] The main parameters for measuring positioning performance are: signal receiving bandwidth, receiving sensitivity, and running power consumption. The signal receiving bandwidth determines the amount of satellite system signal data that can be received, and more satellite signals have greater advantages for position calculation. The receiving sensitivity determines the weakest satellite signal that can be received, and higher sensitivity can receive satellite signals with higher quality, which is also helpful for position calculation. The running power consumption directly determines the use time of the device, and the lower the power consumption, the longer the working time. In order to save power, the positioning chip of the embodiment switches between sleep and operation, and only when position information is needed will satellite signal reception and calculation be performed. When position information is not needed, it enters sleep mode. This is very important for LoRaWAN low-power devices, and directly affects the service life of the device. In the working mode, the satellite messages output by the positioning chip are continuously received, and the real-time position is calculated. After obtaining the position information, the position data is compressed into the cache, and when the data is sufficient, the positioning chip enters sleep mode, as shown in Figure 6

[0058] S2: select an offline map of a region to load; first select to load the offline map of the first region, for example, US915;

[0059] S3: check whether there is a grid that meets the minimum index level in the selected offline map, if yes, return success and obtain the frequency of the region corresponding to the grid number, otherwise return failure and find the next index level map.

[0060] S4: when all levels are found, return to step S2 and select and load the next region map.

[0061] ​In order to improve the search efficiency, the search starts from the lowest level grid, if a matching grid can be found in the low-level grid, the low-level map data can save a lot of storage and computing power. If no matching grid is found in the low-level grid, search the next level area, for example, if no grid of level 0 is found, try to search from the grid of level 1, still no from the grid of level 2, all the grids of all levels are searched and still no, then change an area, and the above steps are the same, start searching from the low-level grid again, until the corresponding grid is found, enter step 4, and perform frequency switching.

[0062] In step 4, after obtaining the area frequency corresponding to the real-time position, in order to eliminate the position noise, the new area parameter is counted. In order to prevent frequency false reporting or interference of accidental signals, the embodiment needs to judge that the area frequency parameter reaches a certain frequency value continuously for a set number of times, that is, only when the new area parameter reaches the set number of times continuously, the frequency switching is performed. If the new frequency is the same as the current frequency, no action is taken, and if the new frequency is different from the current frequency, the new frequency is updated to the device. After the device receives the new frequency, the current LoRaWAN frequency plan is stopped, and the device is re-entered according to the new area parameter. After successful entry, the device normally performs LoRaWAN communication according to the new frequency plan, as shown in Figure 8 .

[0063] In another aspect, the embodiment also provides a LoRaWAN cross-area automatic roaming device, which includes an MCU main control module, a transceiver module, a positioning module and a storage module, as shown in Figure 9 , the storage module stores offline map data including grid numbers, the positioning module is used to obtain the position of the device in real time, the MCU main control module is used to grid number the offline map, and match the offline map grid number corresponding to the device position obtained by the positioning module in the storage module, to obtain the frequency of the area corresponding to the grid number, and perform frequency switching judgment and frequency switching.

[0064] Specifically, the automatic roaming device of the embodiment uses chip LR1110 as a LoRa physical layer transceiver, realizes LoRaWAN Class A protocol, supports different frequency plans such as EU868, US915, AS923, AU915; uses dual-band, high-sensitivity, low-power chip AG3335 as GNSS positioning basis, supports GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo and other systems; uses off-chip flash chip to store offline map data, uses QSPI high-speed interface, supports 32MHz*4 high-speed reading, and if the offline data is small, on-chip flash can also be used.

[0065] In some embodiments, the storage module stores offline maps, offline map data is read from an external Flash through a QSPI high-speed interface to an internal RAM, and compressed map data is restored to standard H3 grid index data for algorithm searching.

[0066] In some embodiments, the offline map data includes different index levels.

[0067] The automatic roaming method of the roaming device and the steps of the roaming method described in the above embodiments are not repeated here.

[0068] The embodiment also provides a computer device including a memory, a processor, and a computer program stored in the memory and executable on the processor, and the processor implements the automatic roaming method of the LoRaWAN device across areas when executing the computer program. The steps of the automatic roaming method of the LoRaWAN device across areas and the steps of the roaming method described in the above embodiments are not repeated here.

[0069] From the above description of the embodiments, those skilled in the art can clearly understand that the present application can be implemented by means of software and necessary general hardware, and of course can also be implemented by hardware, but in many cases the former is a better embodiment. Based on such understanding, the detection method technical solution of the present application or the part that contributes to the prior art can be embodied in the form of a software product, which can be stored in a computer readable storage medium, such as a floppy disk, a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a FLASH, a hard disk, or an optical disk, etc., including a plurality of instructions for causing a computer device (which can be a personal computer, a server, or a network device, etc.) to execute the method described above in various embodiments of the present application. The database involved in each embodiment provided by the present application can include at least one of a relational database and a non-relational database. The non-relational database can include a distributed database based on a blockchain, etc., without being limited thereto. The processor involved in each embodiment provided by the present application can be a general processor, a central processing unit, a graphics processing unit, a digital signal processor, a programmable logic device, a data processing logic device based on quantum computing, etc., without being limited thereto.

[0070] In the above embodiments of the present application, the description of each embodiment has its own focus, and the parts not described in detail in a certain embodiment can be referred to the relevant description of other embodiments.

[0071] It should be noted that, for the foregoing embodiments, the purposes of simple description, they are all expressed as a series of action combinations, but those skilled in the art should know that the application is not limited by the order of the described actions, because according to the application, certain steps can be performed in other orders or simultaneously. Secondly, those skilled in the art should know that the embodiments described in the specification are all preferred embodiments, and the actions and modules involved are not necessarily necessary for the application.

[0072] The above detailed description of the specific implementation, the purpose, technical scheme and beneficial effects of the application are further described in detail, and it should be understood that the above is only a specific implementation of the application, and is not used to limit the protection scope of the application. Any modification, equivalent replacement, improvement, etc. within the spirit and principles of the application should be included in the protection scope of the application.

Claims

1. A method for automatic cross-region roaming of LoRaWAN devices, characterized in that, include: Load offline map; The real-time location of the device is obtained through a positioning chip; The real-time location is used to obtain the corresponding map grid number in the storage module, and the frequency of the region corresponding to the grid number is obtained. If the regional frequency parameter of the real-time location is statistically analyzed, and the regional frequency parameter reaches a certain frequency value a set number of times consecutively, and the frequency value is different from the current frequency of the device, then frequency switching is performed to update the frequency value to the device; if the frequency value is the same as the current frequency of the device, then frequency switching is not performed. After receiving the frequency value, the device stops the current LoRaWAN frequency plan, re-enters the network according to the regional parameters corresponding to the frequency value, and performs LoRaWAN communication according to the frequency plan corresponding to the frequency value. The storage module stores offline maps. Through the QSPI high-speed interface, the offline map data is read from the external Flash into the internal RAM, and then the compressed map data is restored to standard H3 grid index data for the algorithm to search and use. The offline map data includes different index levels; The offline map is loaded into the internal RAM in batches, either by loading data from the same region or by loading data of a fixed length. The step of using the real-time location to obtain the corresponding map grid number in the storage module and obtaining the frequency of the region corresponding to the grid number includes: S1: Convert real-time location into grid number; S2: Select an offline map of a region to load; S3: Check if there is a grid that meets the minimum index level in the selected offline map. If there is, return success and get the frequency of the region corresponding to the grid number. Otherwise, return failure and search for the map of the next index level. S4: If the corresponding number is still not found after all levels have been searched, return to step S2, select and load the next region map; The method also includes compressing map data by compressing and simplifying the index numbers.

2. A LoRaWAN cross-regional automatic roaming device, characterized in that, The device includes an MCU main control module, a transceiver module, a positioning module, and a storage module. The storage module stores offline map data, including data assigned grid numbers. The positioning module is used to obtain the location of the device in real time. The MCU main control module is used to implement the LoRaWAN device cross-regional automatic roaming method as described in claim 1.

3. A computer device, comprising a memory, a processor, and a computer program stored in the memory and executable on the processor, characterized in that, When the processor executes the computer program, it implements the LoRaWAN device cross-regional automatic roaming method of claim 1.

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