Backscatter Header Offloading for Low-Energy IP Transmission
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Solution Overview
Problem
Backscattering devices are severely energy constrained, making it impractical for them to transmit full-size legacy frames due to the limited energy supply, as each byte of data transmission consumes energy.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method where an access point determines and generates headers for backscattering devices, including an IP address, and communicates these headers in an energizing frame, allowing the backscattering device to conserve energy by avoiding the need to generate headers and perform DHCP processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If backscattering devices transmit full-size legacy frames, then data transmission completeness is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the header portion from the traditional data frame, creating a headerless frame format. The access point generates and transmits headers separately in energizing frames, allowing backscattering devices to transmit data without including headers in their frames, thereby reducing transmission size and energy consumption while maintaining data completeness
Solution Approach 2:
The access point performs preliminary actions by generating, validating, and transmitting headers to backscattering devices in advance through energizing frames. This allows devices to receive pre-configured headers that they can use without performing DHCP processes or generating headers themselves, reducing their computational and transmission energy requirements
2Reliability
If backscattering devices generate and transmit headers, then communication protocol compliance is improved, but computational load increases
Solution Approach 1:
The access point acts as an intermediary that generates and manages headers on behalf of backscattering devices. The access point validates device identifiers, assigns IP addresses, creates appropriate headers, and transmits them to devices through energizing frames. This intermediary approach ensures protocol compliance while eliminating the need for devices to perform complex header generation and DHCP processes
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a form of self-service where the access point automatically generates and configures headers for each backscattering device based on received identifiers, eliminating the need for devices to manually configure themselves. The access point performs the DHCP-like functionality automatically, assigning IP addresses and creating headers without device intervention
3Reliability
If backscattering devices perform DHCP processes, then IP address assignment is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the DHCP process functionality from the backscattering devices and relocates it to the access point. The access point performs IP address assignment, validation, and header generation centrally, eliminating the need for devices to engage in multi-message DHCP exchanges. This extraction reduces device energy consumption while maintaining reliable IP address assignment
Solution Approach 2:
The access point performs IP address assignment and header configuration in advance through energizing frames before devices need to transmit data. This preliminary action eliminates the need for devices to perform DHCP processes at runtime, reducing their energy consumption while ensuring proper IP address assignment is completed beforehand
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure describes an apparatus that generates headers for backscattering devices. The apparatus includes one or more memories and one or more processors communicatively coupled to the one or more memories. A combination of the one or more processors determined an Internet protocol (IP) address for a backscattering device, generates a header that includes the IP address, and communicates a first energizing frame to the backscattering device. The first energizing frame includes the header. The combination of the one or more processors also receives a message from the backscattering device. The message includes the header.