Backscatter Modulation Conversion for BLE-to-WiFi IoT Gateways
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current IoT gateways are limited by the need for external power supply, high cost, and vendor-specific standards, hindering outdoor deployment and mobility.
Innovation Solution
A modulation scheme conversion device that includes a backscattering tag and a tag signal generation unit to convert radio signals from a first modulation scheme to a second modulation scheme without data interpretation, enabling low-power, low-cost, and vendor-agnostic Internet connectivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If gateways are equipped with multi-radio interface to provide Internet connectivity, then Internet connectivity capability is improved, but power consumption increases and outdoor deployment is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The backscattering tag harvests power from incident radio waves to generate the tag signal, eliminating the need for external power supply. This self-powered operation enables outdoor deployment and mobility while maintaining Internet connectivity capability through the gateway.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the traditional active radio transmission mechanism with passive backscattering. Instead of generating radio signals actively, the tag modulates incident waves by controlling its impedance, substituting mechanical/electrical power consumption with electromagnetic field interaction.
2Adaptability or versatility
If gateways use standard multi-radio architecture, then Internet connectivity is provided, but device cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The backscattering tag is designed as a low-cost, simple device that can be deployed widely. By using passive backscattering instead of active multi-radio components, the manufacturing cost is significantly reduced while maintaining Internet connectivity functionality through the gateway infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The gateway maintains multi-radio interface capability to support various modulation schemes, while the simple backscattering tag can be universally deployed with different IoT devices. This universal tag design reduces overall system cost while preserving connectivity versatility.
3Reliability
If gateways follow vendor-specific standards, then device performance is optimized, but compatibility and widespread deployment are hindered
Solution Approach 1:
The gateway is designed to support multiple modulation schemes and vendor-specific standards simultaneously. The backscattering tag uses universal OOK modulation that can be decoded by gateways configured for different vendors, achieving both performance optimization and wide compatibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The gateway acts as an intermediary that translates between the universal backscattering tag signals and vendor-specific protocols. This mediator approach allows the simple tag to work with multiple vendor platforms while maintaining optimized performance for each.
4Adaptability or versatility
If signal conversion is performed at higher layers with data interpretation, then protocol compatibility is achieved, but security is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs modulation scheme conversion at the physical layer through signal multiplication and reshaping, avoiding data interpretation at higher layers. This physical layer approach maintains security by not exposing data content, while still achieving protocol compatibility through modulation transformation.
Solution Approach 2:
The conversion process changes physical signal parameters (modulation scheme, waveform characteristics) without altering the underlying data. By modifying only the physical layer parameters through mathematical transformation, the system achieves protocol compatibility while preserving data security and integrity.
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
The solution provides high security and flexible Internet connectivity by converting signals in the physical layer, allowing IoT devices to access the Internet without modulation scheme limitations.
Implementation Method 1
a backscattering tag to which a tag signal is provided
Implementation Method 2
The modulation scheme conversion device multiplies a radio signal, which has been modulated with a first modulation scheme, and the tag signal to reshape the multiplied signal using a second modulation scheme
Data Source
AI summary
A gateway includes a modulation scheme conversion device which includes a backscattering tag and a tag signal generation unit configured to provide a tag signal to the backscattering tag. The modulation scheme conversion device multiplies a radio signal based on a Bluetooth low energy (BLE) protocol, which has been modulated with a first modulation scheme, and the tag signal to produce a multiplied signal and to reshape the multiplied signal using a second modulation scheme to produce a reshaped signal and backscatters the reshaped signal. The multiplied signal, which is reshaped with the second modulation scheme and backscattered, is provided to a receiver of second modulation scheme signals and then provided to the Internet. The signal modulated with the second modulation scheme is a WiFi signal based on an IEEE 802.11b protocol.