Battery Pack Mesh Networking for Equipment Fleet Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems lack efficient and scalable methods for managing and monitoring outdoor and indoor equipment, particularly battery-powered and engine-powered equipment, to facilitate data communication and management across a network.
Innovation Solution
A mesh network system integrating IoT modules with battery packs and equipment, enabling communication over multiple frequencies and protocols, allowing for data exchange and management of equipment operations, including battery status and equipment performance, through a cloud-based system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional single-frequency communication systems are used for equipment management, then device complexity is reduced, but communication reliability and network coverage deteriorate in outdoor and indoor equipment fleets
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by implementing multi-frequency communication capability in IoT modules. The system transitions from single-frequency to multi-frequency operation, allowing equipment to communicate across different frequency bands (e.g., 915 MHz, 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz) to improve communication reliability in various environmental conditions while managing device complexity through integrated transceivers
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements universality by designing IoT modules with multi-functional communication capabilities. The same IoT module can operate across multiple frequency bands and support different communication protocols, making the system adaptable to various equipment types and environmental conditions without requiring separate dedicated hardware for each frequency band
2Productivity
If comprehensive equipment monitoring and data collection systems are implemented across large equipment fleets, then management efficiency improves, but system complexity and infrastructure requirements worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the equipment management system into distributed IoT modules deployed on individual equipment units. Each module independently collects and processes local data, then communicates with central management systems through the mesh network, eliminating the need for a single complex centralized monitoring infrastructure
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements intermediary functionality through gateway devices and mesh network nodes that facilitate communication between equipment IoT modules and central management systems. These intermediaries handle data routing, protocol translation, and network management, reducing the complexity burden on both individual equipment units and central systems
3Reliability
If mesh network communication with multiple frequencies is implemented for equipment fleets, then network coverage and reliability improve, but energy consumption and device complexity worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by implementing adaptive frequency selection and dynamic power management in IoT modules. The system dynamically adjusts operating frequency and transmission power based on network conditions, device role (router or end device), and environmental factors, ensuring reliable mesh network communication while optimizing energy consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic action through scheduled data transmissions and sleep-wake cycles in battery-powered equipment. IoT modules transmit data at intervals rather than continuously, and equipment can enter low-power sleep modes between transmissions, maintaining network reliability through periodic updates while significantly reducing overall energy consumption across the equipment fleet
Data Source
AI summary
A battery pack includes a housing, a plurality of battery cells received within the housing, a positive power terminal, a negative power terminal, a data terminal, a network interface, a tag reader arranged within the housing and configured to detect identifying information for a piece of power equipment from a tag, and a battery management system The battery management system is configured to receive the identifying information from the tag reader, receive operational data for the piece of power equipment from the data terminal, package the identifying information and the operational data into packaged data, and send the packaged data to the network interface so that the network interface transmits the packaged data to a cloud-based network.