Beamformed AMP Tag Communication for Dense WLAN Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
High-density concentrations of ambient power (AMP) devices in wireless local area networks (WLANs) pose challenges due to limitations in bandwidth, power consumption, and the ability of anchor wireless devices to communicate with multiple AMP devices simultaneously, leading to reliability issues and inefficiencies in data transmission.
Innovation Solution
Anchor wireless devices employ beamforming techniques to communicate with a subset of AMP devices at a time, using directed beams and varying RF bands for downlink and uplink transmissions to minimize power consumption and reduce channel contention, allowing for efficient data exchange with a large number of AMP devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If ambient power devices are deployed in high-density concentration for cost-effective tagging, then the quantity of devices increases and cost decreases, but reliability deteriorates due to bandwidth limits and power constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the communication process by dividing AMP devices into multiple groups based on their geographic locations. Each anchor wireless device is assigned to communicate with a specific group of AMP devices, preventing bandwidth overload at any single anchor device and improving overall system reliability through distributed communication load.
2Productivity
If multiple AMP devices transmit responses simultaneously to an anchor wireless device, then data collection efficiency increases, but channel contention increases causing collisions and data loss
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action through time-division multiplexing, where AMP devices in different groups transmit responses during different time slots. This periodic scheduling eliminates simultaneous transmissions that cause channel contention, while still achieving efficient data collection by systematically cycling through all AMP device groups.
3Device complexity
If the same RF band is used for both downlink and uplink transmissions, then device complexity decreases, but frequency conflicts occur causing interference
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves frequency conflicts by introducing a frequency dimension separation, using different RF bands for downlink and uplink transmissions. This frequency division duplexing approach eliminates self-interference while maintaining manageable device complexity through standardized RF configuration procedures.
4Speed
If anchor wireless devices communicate with all AMP devices concurrently, then data collection speed increases, but power consumption increases beyond AMP device capabilities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the communication workload by dividing AMP devices into multiple groups that are addressed sequentially rather than concurrently. This segmentation allows data collection to proceed at high effective speed by cycling through groups rapidly, while each individual AMP device remains in low-power state between its assigned transmission slots, staying within power constraints.
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 enables effective communication with a high-density concentration of AMP devices, overcoming bandwidth and power limitations, while minimizing power consumption and avoiding frequency conflicts, thus enhancing the reliability and efficiency of data transmission in WLAN tracking systems.
Implementation Method 1
An array of antennas coupled to an access point is controllable to generate a directed beam of radio frequency radiation
Data Source
AI summary
A system includes an array of antennas that are controllable to generate a directed beam of radio frequency (RF) radiation and an anchor wireless device coupled to the array of antennas. The anchor wireless device transmits, via the array of antennas, a first wireless signal as a first directed beam at a first azimuth towards first identification (ID) tags. The first ID tags are ambient power (AMP) devices that harvests environmental energy. The first wireless signal includes a data packet requesting information. The anchor wireless device further receives, via the array of antennas, second wireless signals from the ID tags, each second wireless signal including a second data packet responding with the requested information for a corresponding ID tag of the ID tags.