Group Membership Detection for Coordinated IoT Connectivity
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Solution Overview
Problem
IoT devices face challenges in extending operational battery life while reducing network congestion, especially in scenarios with large quantities of closely located mobile assets, which compete for cellular connectivity and generate high network load.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a system that detects group membership for coordinated connectivity, where a central device manager identifies and groups IoT devices, assigning communication schedules to reduce the number of communications and stagger timing, and allowing devices to locally verify their group membership using PAN communications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If IoT devices communicate frequently to report sensor data and maintain connectivity, then network responsiveness and data freshness are improved, but power consumption increases and battery life decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic communication schedules where IoT devices transmit sensor data at predetermined intervals rather than continuously. The network access manager coordinates these periodic transmissions to ensure timely data reporting while allowing devices to enter low-power states between transmission cycles, thus balancing network responsiveness with power conservation
Solution Approach 2:
The network access manager pre-coordinates communication schedules and timing for multiple IoT devices before they transmit data. By establishing predetermined transmission windows and coordinating group communications in advance, devices can plan their wake-up and transmission activities, avoiding unnecessary prolonged active states and reducing overall power consumption while maintaining network responsiveness
2Quantity of substance
If large quantities of IoT devices communicate simultaneously over cellular networks, then comprehensive data collection is improved, but network congestion increases and connectivity efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the large population of IoT devices into multiple groups managed by different network access managers or different cellular base stations. Each group communicates on dedicated time slots or frequency resources, preventing simultaneous transmissions from overwhelming the network. This segmentation allows comprehensive data collection from all devices while maintaining connectivity efficiency through distributed resource management
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements coordinated periodic transmission schedules where different groups of IoT devices transmit data at staggered time intervals. The network access manager assigns specific transmission windows to different device groups, ensuring that data collection from all devices occurs systematically over time without causing network congestion from simultaneous transmissions
3Duration of action of stationary object
If IoT devices use low power communication modes to extend battery life, then power consumption is reduced and battery life is extended, but network responsiveness and data transmission speed decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The network access manager preliminarily coordinates communication schedules and pre-synchronizes multiple IoT devices before data transmission. By establishing predetermined transmission timing and coordinating wake-up schedules in advance, devices can efficiently transition from low-power states to active transmission states at precisely scheduled moments, minimizing the duration of high-power operation while ensuring timely data delivery
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges communications from multiple IoT devices into coordinated group transmissions. Instead of each device transmitting individually at high power, the system combines data from multiple devices and transmits in synchronized groups, reducing the cumulative power consumption while maintaining data transmission speed and network responsiveness through aggregated efficient transmissions
4Adaptability or versatility
If IoT devices independently manage their communication schedules, then device autonomy and operational flexibility are improved, but network coordination efficiency decreases and connectivity conflicts increase
Solution Approach 1:
The network access manager serves as an intermediary between the cellular network and groups of IoT devices. It receives high-level scheduling instructions from the RAN, translates them into device-specific communication schedules, and coordinates transmissions within each group. This intermediary layer maintains device autonomy for local sensor operations while ensuring efficient network coordination and preventing transmission conflicts
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the network management function by distributing coordination responsibilities across multiple network access managers, each managing a specific group of IoT devices. This segmentation allows devices to maintain autonomy within their assigned groups while the distributed network access managers collectively ensure efficient network-wide coordination, preventing single-point bottlenecks and transmission conflicts
Data Source
AI summary
One or more computing devices, systems, and/or methods are provided. In an example, a group member list is received in a device, and a group reporting schedule is received in the device. Reporting data is communicated by the device using the group reporting schedule. A group exit message is sent by the device responsive to determining a group exit condition associated with failing to detect communications from group members specified in the group member list.