Battery-Powered Device Passive Discovery Listening Window Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Battery-powered smart meters and devices face limitations in functionality and connectivity due to increased power demands, as battery technologies have not kept pace with the growing capabilities of smart meters, leading to shorter battery life and restricted functionality compared to mains-powered devices.
Innovation Solution
The techniques described involve minimizing electricity consumption by efficiently passively discovering and communicating with other devices within range, adjusting listening schedules, and determining communication channels, allowing battery-powered devices to perform functions and connect to networks in ways previously not possible, such as through advanced metering infrastructure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If battery-powered smart meters adopt new capabilities and increased functionality, then device versatility is improved, but battery life deteriorates due to increased power demands
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic listening windows where battery-powered devices wake up at scheduled intervals to discover and communicate with other devices, then return to sleep mode. This periodic action allows the device to perform network discovery and communication functions while minimizing power consumption by keeping the radio off for most of the time, thus maintaining extended battery life while enabling advanced functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs dynamic listening schedules that can be adjusted based on network conditions, device priorities, and power availability. The listening windows are not fixed but can be modified to optimize between power consumption and network participation, allowing battery-powered devices to adapt their operation to balance functionality and battery life.
2Reliability
If battery-powered devices continuously monitor and communicate on the network, then network connectivity is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic listening windows where battery-powered devices wake up at scheduled intervals to discover and communicate with other devices, then return to sleep mode. This periodic action allows the device to perform network discovery and communication functions while minimizing power consumption by keeping the radio off for most of the time, thus maintaining extended battery life while enabling advanced functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables battery-powered devices to autonomously determine their own listening schedules and adjust their operation based on power constraints. The devices self-manage their power consumption by independently deciding when to wake up and listen for network communications, eliminating the need for continuous monitoring while maintaining network connectivity.
3Loss of energy
If battery-powered devices use passive discovery techniques with adjusted listening schedules, then power efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal passive discovery mechanism that can be implemented by any battery-powered device in the network regardless of device type or manufacturer. The standardized listening window approach and beacon transmission protocol allow diverse devices to interoperate using the same power-efficient discovery method, managing complexity through standardization rather than device-specific implementations.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are techniques to minimize the electricity consumption of battery powered devices during network discovery and other phases of network operation. Example techniques include efficiently listening for other mains powered and battery powered devices within communication range of the battery powered device by, for example, shortening its listening window depending on how close the time reference maintained by the battery powered device is estimated to be to the time reference used by the other mains powered and battery powered devices within communication range. Other techniques include slowing the rate of listening by the battery powered device when the battery powered device is unlikely to be able to receive discovery messages or is already connected to the network. Other techniques include using knowledge of the network to listen for discovery messages on a channel or channels on which other devices are likely to be transmitting.