AMP Wireless Access Scheduling for Low-Power Reliable Uplinks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ambient power (AMP) devices face challenges in reliable communication due to low and unpredictable power levels, making them inefficient for large-distance data transmission and extensive tagging applications, particularly in WLAN systems.
Innovation Solution
The anchor wireless devices manage channel contention and scheduling for AMP devices, using different RF bands for downlink and uplink transmissions, and minimize data transmission requirements to conserve power, with pre-authentication and reduced handshake protocols.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If AMP devices transmit data over large distances or transmit extensive data, then communication capability is improved, but power consumption increases making operation unreliable
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs pre-authentication of AMP devices before actual data transmission. The anchor device establishes authentication credentials with AMP devices in advance, so that when data transmission is needed, the devices can communicate immediately without lengthy authentication handshakes, thus reducing power consumption while maintaining reliable communication
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements reduced handshake protocols where only essential authentication steps are performed. Instead of complete mutual authentication and capability exchange, the system performs partial authentication sufficient for the tracking application, reducing the energy required for communication establishment while maintaining security and reliability
2Reliability
If complete authentication and handshake protocols are used, then communication security is improved, but power consumption and communication time increase
Solution Approach 1:
Authentication credentials are established in advance during device initialization or previous communication sessions. The anchor device stores authentication information for multiple AMP devices, allowing immediate communication without real-time authentication handshakes, thus eliminating handshake time while maintaining security through pre-established credentials
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and separates the authentication function from the data transmission process. Authentication is performed once in advance and stored, while data transmission can occur independently without repeating the authentication handshake, thus removing the time penalty of repeated authentication while maintaining security through the extracted authentication mechanism
3Ease of manufacture
If AMP devices operate with low power, then cost effectiveness is improved, but communication distance and data transmission capability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The communication process is segmented into authentication phase (performed once in advance with higher power) and data transmission phase (performed repeatedly with minimal power). The anchor device handles most processing locally, segmenting the computational burden from the power-constrained AMP devices, allowing extended communication distance and capability while maintaining low operational power consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The anchor device acts as an intermediary that performs complex authentication and data processing operations. AMP devices with limited power and range communicate through the anchor device, which has full power and processing capability, thus extending the effective communication distance and data transmission capability of the overall system while allowing AMP devices to operate at low power
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach reduces power consumption and enhances communication reliability for AMP devices, enabling efficient tracking and data transmission in WLAN systems.
Implementation Method 1
a client wireless device that harvests energy from an environment of the client wireless device
Data Source
AI summary
A method includes transmitting, by an anchor wireless device, a beacon frame signal to client wireless devices, which are ambient power (AMP) devices. The beacon frame signal advertises at least a first service period during which at least a subset of the client wireless devices are to transmit. The method includes transmitting, by the anchor wireless device, during the first service period, a first wireless signal including a data packet with a command frame to activate the subset of the client wireless devices into a transmission mode. The method includes receiving, from the subset of the client wireless devices in response to detecting the command frame, second wireless signals each including a response data packet. The second wireless signals are received according to a pre-programmed schedule that deconflict transmissions by the subset of the client wireless devices.