Flexible Channel Structure for Wireless Smart Meter Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Battery-powered smart meters face limitations in functionality and connectivity due to increased energy demands, as battery technologies have not kept pace with the growing energy requirements of smart meters, leading to shorter battery life and restricted capabilities compared to mains-powered devices.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of flexible information elements that minimize data transmission, such as channel structure, schedule, seed, and timing information, allows devices to communicate efficiently, conserve battery life, and enable functionality previously not possible, including flexible communication schedules and network discovery processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If smart meters adopt new capabilities and increased functionality, then device capabilities are improved, but energy consumption increases and battery life decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic channel hopping where devices transition between different communication channels at scheduled intervals. This periodic action allows battery-powered devices to remain inactive on most channels while periodically checking for communications, significantly reducing energy consumption while maintaining the ability to receive updates and commands.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts communication behavior based on device type and network conditions. Full function devices can operate continuously on dedicated channels while limited function devices use periodic channel hopping. This dynamic adaptation allows the network to optimize energy usage based on each device's capabilities and power availability.
2Reliability
If battery-powered devices use more energy for communication, then network connectivity is improved, but battery life is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the communication network into different channel groups and assigns devices to specific segments based on their functional requirements. Full function devices are assigned dedicated channels for continuous communication, while limited function devices are assigned to share channels periodically. This segmentation allows battery-powered devices to maintain network connectivity while minimizing their energy expenditure by only being active on their assigned channels at scheduled times.
3Productivity
If data transmission is increased for network communication, then communication effectiveness is improved, but network resource usage and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and separates control plane traffic from data plane traffic by implementing a dedicated control channel that operates independently from regular data channels. Control messages, acknowledgments, and network management traffic are transmitted on this separate control channel, while bulk data transfers occur on dedicated data channels. This extraction allows the system to maintain effective communication by ensuring control traffic is always available while reducing overall network resource usage by optimizing data transmission paths.
Data Source
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AI summary
Techniques for communicating channel data regarding a channel plan are described herein. For example, a device may communicate a channel information element that includes a tag indicating a first operating context to which to apply channel data regarding a channel plan. The channel information element may also include a reference tag to indicate whether the channel data is contained in the channel information element or has been previously received and/or to identify a second operating context associated with previously received channel data. If the reference tag indicates that the channel data is contained in the channel information element, the channel data may be extracted from the channel information element and applied to the first operating context. If the reference tag indicates that the channel data has been previously received, the previously received channel data may be accessed and applied to the first operating context.