Body Area Network Backscatter Scheduling for Low-Power Sensor Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
Body area networks face challenges in achieving low power consumption while maintaining data rate and latency requirements, especially in medical applications, where stringent data security and interoperability are necessary, and there is a lack of standards for personalized applications.
Innovation Solution
The configuration of a body area network involves scheduling backscatter devices to transmit sensor data in individually-assigned time slots, using a data collector device to receive sensor data messages, and employing wireless backscatter communication to optimize power usage and system capacity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If backscatter devices transmit sensor data continuously, then data rate is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic transmission by scheduling backscatter devices to transmit sensor data in individually-assigned time slots rather than continuously. The data collector device sends configuration messages that schedule each backscatter device to transmit at specific periodic intervals, enabling the system to maintain data rate requirements while significantly reducing power consumption during idle periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the transmission medium into individually-assigned time slots for different backscatter devices. By dividing the communication resource (time) into discrete segments allocated to specific devices, the system enables multiple devices to share the channel efficiently, maintaining overall data rate while allowing each device to remain in low-power state between its assigned transmission slots.
2Productivity
If multiple backscatter devices transmit simultaneously, then system capacity is improved, but signal interference increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses periodic time-slot scheduling to allow multiple backscatter devices to transmit sequentially rather than simultaneously. Each device is assigned specific time slots for transmission, creating a periodic pattern that enables multiple devices to share the channel without interference, thereby maintaining system capacity while eliminating harmful signal collisions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent resolves spatial interference by introducing a temporal dimension to the transmission medium. Instead of allowing simultaneous transmissions in the same time-frequency space, the system allocates different time slots to different devices, effectively adding the time dimension as a resource allocation parameter and enabling multiple devices to coexist without interference.
3Use of energy by moving object
If backscatter devices use individually-assigned time slots, then power consumption is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces the data collector device as an intermediary that centralizes the scheduling function. Rather than requiring complex distributed coordination between multiple backscatter devices, the data collector device sends configuration messages that assign time slots to each device, simplifying the overall system complexity while maintaining the power-saving benefits of time-slot allocation.
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 results in significant power savings and efficient data transfer, supporting quality of service requirements and addressing the limitations of existing technologies in body area networks, particularly in medical and personalized applications.
Implementation Method 1
employing wireless backscatter communication to optimize power usage and system capacity
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3A~3C
AI summary
Configuring and utilizing a body area network (BAN) is provided. In a configuration phase, configuration messages are sent for scheduling a plurality of backscatter devices such that during a data collection phase each of the plurality of backscatter devices is configured to transmit in an individually-assigned time slot. In the data collection phase, a data collector device receives, from the plurality of backscatter devices, sensor data messages including sensor data from the backscatter devices, the sensor data messages being scheduled according to the configuration phase.