Building-Powered Node Mediates Radio Wake-Up Signals

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Solution Overview

Problem

Home automation systems face battery longevity issues due to high energy consumption in transmitting wake-up signals, which affects the autonomy of communication nodes powered by batteries.

Innovation Solution

A method where communication nodes powered by batteries periodically activate their radio modules, while a node connected to the building's electrical supply network permanently activates its radio module to transmit wake-up signals, reducing energy consumption and extending battery life.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If battery-powered communication nodes transmit wake-up signals periodically, then they can detect and receive data frames, but their battery consumption increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveability to detect and receive data framesVSAvoidbattery consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

An electrically-powered communication node acts as an intermediary that receives data frames from battery-powered nodes and transmits wake-up signals to wake up other battery-powered nodes. This mediator approach allows battery-powered nodes to avoid the high energy cost of transmitting wake-up signals while maintaining their ability to receive data frames.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The electrically-powered node receives data frames and transmits wake-up signals that contain or represent the essential information. Other battery-powered nodes can wake up and receive this transmitted information without needing to continuously monitor the radio channel themselves, thus reducing their energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

2Reliability

If battery-powered communication nodes activate their radio module frequently to transmit data frames, then communication reliability improves, but battery lifespan decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication reliabilityVSAvoidbattery lifespan
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The electrically-powered communication node serves as a mediator that handles the energy-intensive task of transmitting data frames. Battery-powered nodes can send data to this intermediary node, which then manages the actual transmission and wake-up signaling, reducing the energy burden on battery-powered nodes while maintaining communication reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Loss of energy

If all communication nodes use periodic activation to save energy, then overall system energy consumption decreases, but the system complexity increases due to coordination requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoverall system energy consumptionVSAvoidcoordination complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Different communication nodes have different activation characteristics: battery-powered nodes use periodic activation to conserve energy, while the electrically-powered node remains permanently active to handle wake-up signaling and data frame transmission. This local differentiation optimizes energy consumption without requiring complex coordination protocols across the entire network.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3836640A1Method and system for transmission of data frames in a radio communication network of a building
Publication Date: 2021.06.16 DELTA DORE SA
  • EP3836640A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3836640A1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3836640A1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The invention relates to a method and system for transmitting data frames in a building's radio communication network. The radio communication network comprises battery-powered communication nodes that periodically activate their radio communication modules, and at least one communication node powered by the building's electrical supply network that permanently activates its radio communication module. According to the invention: - a battery-powered communication node transmits a data frame on the radio communication network to at least one other node; - the communication node powered by the building's electrical supply network receives (E50) the data frame, transmits (E52) a predetermined signal on the radio communication network, and transmits (E53) the received data frame.