Energy-Harvesting Wireless Link Scheduling for Variable Power Levels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Energy harvesting wireless devices face challenges in maintaining communication due to varying energy levels and efficiency, leading to potential disconnection and increased energy consumption, especially in devices with limited battery capacity and those operating in remote or hard-to-reach locations.
Innovation Solution
A method where network nodes and energy harvesting wireless devices exchange messages about current energy storage levels and harvesting efficiency, allowing for adaptive communication configurations, such as adjusting time-gaps between communication periods, to ensure sufficient energy harvesting and reduce energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If energy harvesting wireless devices communicate frequently with the network node, then communication reliability is improved, but energy consumption increases and the device may become unavailable when energy is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic communication configuration where the network node adjusts communication parameters (time-gaps, scheduling intervals) based on real-time energy storage levels and harvesting efficiency reported by the wireless device. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to optimize between communication reliability and energy consumption by scaling communication activity to match available energy resources.
Solution Approach 2:
The wireless device provides feedback to the network node about its energy storage level and harvesting efficiency. The network node uses this feedback to adaptively adjust communication configurations, creating a closed-loop system that balances communication needs with energy availability, thereby maintaining reliability while managing energy consumption.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the network node uses standard communication configurations, then communication protocol simplicity is maintained, but the device cannot adapt to varying energy levels leading to disconnection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes communication parameters (time-gaps between communications, scheduling intervals, resource allocation) based on the device's energy storage level and harvesting efficiency. This parameter adaptation enables the system to adjust to varying energy conditions without requiring fundamental changes to the communication protocol architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The wireless device proactively reports its energy storage level and harvesting efficiency to the network node before communication occurs. This preliminary information allows the network node to pre-adjust communication configurations to match the device's energy capacity, preventing disconnections before they occur.
3Loss of time
If communication time-gaps are reduced to increase communication frequency, then communication latency is improved, but the device has insufficient time to harvest energy leading to energy depletion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent dynamically adjusts time-gaps between communication events based on the device's energy harvesting efficiency and stored energy levels. When energy is abundant, time-gaps are reduced to minimize latency; when energy is limited, time-gaps are extended to allow sufficient harvesting time, thus dynamically balancing latency and energy sufficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
A method is disclosed, performed in a network node, for handling energy conditions of an energy harvesting wireless device, WD. The method comprises receiving, from the WD, a message indicative of a present energy storage level and a present energy harvesting efficiency of the WD. The method comprises communicating, with the WD, based on the received message.