Capillary Network Gateway Selection for Mixed Availability
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Solution Overview
Problem
In capillary networks, there is a tradeoff between ensuring high communication reliability and reducing costs, as machine devices (MDs) need to be connected to capillary network gateways (CGWs) while minimizing energy consumption and the number of CGWs, especially since some CGWs are battery-operated and have varying availability levels.
Innovation Solution
A method for selecting a capillary network gateway that allows MDs to associate with CGWs having different availability levels, enabling the use of a high-availability CGW for critical messages and a battery-operated CGW for non-critical messages, thereby extending battery life and reducing operational costs by allowing some CGWs to have longer sleep periods.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the number of CGWs is increased to ensure all MDs can reach a CGW with sufficient channel quality, then communication reliability is improved, but network costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by enabling CGWs to dynamically switch between active and sleep states based on traffic conditions and availability requirements. CGWs can transition from a always-on state to a sleep state to save energy, while still maintaining the ability to serve MDs when needed. This dynamic behavior allows the network to reduce the effective number of active CGWs at any given time while maintaining reliability for critical communications.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the availability parameter of CGWs from a fixed state to a variable state. By allowing CGWs to operate with different availability levels (e.g., high availability for critical traffic, low availability for non-critical traffic), the system can reduce the total number of CGWs needed while maintaining communication reliability for priority traffic. The availability parameter becomes a controllable variable rather than a static property.
2Quantity of substance
If transmission power is increased to enable MDs to reach CGWs located further away, then the number of required CGWs is reduced, but energy consumption of MDs increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating the availability characteristics of different CGWs based on their roles and traffic requirements. High-availability CGWs are positioned to serve critical traffic, while low-availability CGWs handle non-critical traffic. This allows MDs to use lower transmission power when communicating with nearby low-availability CGWs for non-critical data, while high-availability CGWs are strategically placed or activated to handle critical communications, optimizing the overall energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts which CGWs are active based on traffic patterns and availability requirements. Instead of having all CGWs continuously active, the system activates only the necessary CGWs at any given time, allowing MDs to connect to the nearest available CGW with appropriate availability level, thereby reducing transmission power requirements.
3Reliability
If all CGWs are kept always available to ensure constant connectivity, then communication reliability is improved, but operational costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action by allowing CGWs to alternate between active and sleep states in a periodic manner. Low-availability CGWs can enter sleep periods to save energy, while high-availability CGWs remain active to maintain connectivity for critical traffic. This periodic activation pattern reduces the overall energy consumption of the CGW network while maintaining the required level of service availability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the CGW population into different availability categories (high availability and low availability). This segmentation allows the system to apply different operational modes to different CGWs based on their assigned roles. High-availability CGWs maintain constant operation for critical communications, while low-availability CGWs operate periodically or on-demand for non-critical traffic, thereby reducing total operational costs.
4Quantity of substance
If battery-operated CGWs are used to reduce deployment costs, then network costs are reduced, but availability and reliability decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by assigning different availability requirements to different traffic types and matching them with appropriately configured CGWs. Battery-operated CGWs with lower availability are assigned to handle non-critical traffic where intermittent connectivity is acceptable, while critical traffic is routed through high-availability CGWs (which may be mains-powered or have larger batteries). This differentiation allows the use of cost-effective battery-operated CGWs while maintaining reliability for essential communications.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically manages the availability of battery-operated CGWs based on their charge levels and traffic conditions. When battery-operated CGWs have sufficient charge, they can operate at higher availability levels. When charge is low, they transition to sleep mode or lower availability mode, and traffic is redirected to other available CGWs. This dynamic management allows the use of battery-operated CGWs without permanently compromising reliability.
Data Source
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AI summary
The disclosure relates to a method (30) for selecting a capillary network gateway (141,142) for a machine device (121)of a capillary network (11), wherein the machine device (121) is capable of being associated (31) with at least a first and a second capillary network gateway (141, 142), wherein the first capillary network gateway (141) has a first level of availability and the second capillary network gateway (142) has a second level of availability. The method (30) comprises selecting (32), for the machine device (121), the first capillary network gateway (141 for communication of a first type of data and the second capillary network gateway (141) for communication of a second type of data. The disclosure also relates to methods in a node (141, 21), to machine device, node, computer programs and computer program codes.