Ambient IoT Random Access via Intermediate Node Relay
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing IoT devices face challenges with high power consumption and the need for manual battery replacement, which is costly and poses environmental and safety hazards, especially in applications like wireless sensors in the electric power and petroleum industry, while energy harvesters provide insufficient power for cellular devices.
Innovation Solution
An Ambient IoT (AIoT) system utilizing an intermediate node, such as a relay or UE, to communicate with AIoT devices, enabling bidirectional data and signaling, and employing access procedures like 2-step or 4-step random access procedures, with WTRU providing configuration parameters for AIoT devices to select the most appropriate access type based on system conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If battery-less IoT devices are used to reduce maintenance cost and environmental impact, then device complexity and power consumption are reduced, but the output power of energy harvester is limited to 1 μW to a few hundreds of μW which is insufficient for cellular devices
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the communication function by introducing an intermediate node (WTRU) that handles cellular communication, while the AIoT device only performs simple RFID-based communication with the intermediate node. This segmentation allows the AIoT device to remain battery-less with minimal power consumption while the intermediate node manages the power-intensive cellular connectivity.
Solution Approach 2:
An intermediate node (WTRU) is introduced as a mediator between the AIoT device and the base station. The intermediate node performs the power-consuming cellular communication functions, while the AIoT device only needs to communicate with the intermediate node via low-power RFID interface, thus resolving the power insufficiency problem.
2Adaptability or versatility
If existing cellular devices are used for IoT applications, then communication capability is provided, but peak power consumption is orders higher than 10 mW which is not compatible with energy harvester output
Solution Approach 1:
The communication function is segmented into two parts: the intermediate node handles power-intensive cellular communication, while the AIoT device performs only minimal RFID communication. This segmentation enables IoT devices to have cellular communication capability without consuming excessive power.
Solution Approach 2:
The intermediate node acts as a power buffer and communication bridge, absorbing the power consumption of cellular operations and presenting only minimal power requirements to the AIoT device, thus enabling cellular communication without high power consumption at the device level.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple access procedures are provided for AIoT devices to respond to requests, then system adaptability is improved, but the complexity of determining the most appropriate access type increases
Solution Approach 1:
The WTRU provides feedback information about system conditions (such as number of devices, channel conditions) to the AIoT device, enabling the device to autonomously select the most appropriate access procedure without complex decision-making logic. The feedback mechanism simplifies the device's complexity while maintaining system adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes parameters such as the number of access procedures, contention window sizes, and transmission powers based on current system conditions. This dynamic parameter adjustment allows the system to adapt to different scenarios without requiring complex selection logic at the device level.
Data Source
AI summary
A WTRU may be configured as an intermediate node. The WTRU may receive, from a network, device IDs for inventory. The WTRU may determine access occasions of first type reserved for devices using a first type of access procedure and access occasions of second type reserved for devices using a second type of access procedure. The WTRU may transmit an inventory initiation message to the devices, including information on the access occasions of first type and of second type. The WTRU may receive, during an access occasion of first type, a first message from a first device, including a first type of device ID. The WTRU may receive, during an access occasion of second type, a second message from a second device, including a second type of device ID. The first message may include data. The WTRU may assign a first type of device ID to the second device.