Hierarchical Clustering Wireless Mobile Network Energy Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing solutions for large-scale wireless sensor networks in open areas with high mobility and signal interference are not energy-efficient, as they do not effectively manage Bluetooth and Wi-Fi communication, leading to increased energy consumption and interference.

Innovation Solution

A two-level hierarchical clustering method is introduced, where nodes are assigned as slave members, masters, or super masters, with only super masters using Wi-Fi for long-range communication and internal communications handled via Bluetooth, minimizing the number of clusters and distances to reduce energy consumption and interference.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If continuous GPS and Wi-Fi usage is used for tracking, then positioning accuracy is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The network is segmented into hierarchical clusters with super-masters, masters, and members. Only super-masters use energy-consuming Wi-Fi for server communication, while members use low-energy Bluetooth for local communication, reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining tracking capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Cluster members communicate through intermediate nodes (masters and super-masters) rather than directly to the server. This multi-hop approach allows members to use energy-efficient Bluetooth for most communications, reserving Wi-Fi for necessary long-range transmissions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Use of energy by moving object

If single-level Bluetooth clustering is used, then energy consumption is reduced, but network capacity and coverage are limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy consumptionVSAvoidnetwork capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The network structure transitions from a single-level cluster to a two-dimensional hierarchical structure with super-clusters containing multiple clusters. This adds a spatial dimension to the network organization, enabling exponential growth in network capacity while maintaining low energy consumption for most nodes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Area of stationary object

If cluster size is increased, then network coverage is improved, but channel access congestion and interference increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork coverageVSAvoidchannel access congestion

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Large networks are segmented into multiple small clusters, each with its own master. This segmentation reduces the number of nodes competing for channel access within each cluster, minimizing congestion and interference while maintaining wide overall coverage through the super-cluster structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Each cluster operates with local autonomy under its master, making independent channel access decisions. This local quality control prevents global congestion from propagating throughout the entire network, allowing dense network deployment without proportional increase in interference

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

4Speed

If more nodes use Wi-Fi for communication, then long-range communication capability is improved, but energy consumption and interference increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication rangeVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Wi-Fi communication is used only by super-masters as intermediaries to relay data between Bluetooth clusters and the server. This intermediary approach enables long-range communication capability while limiting Wi-Fi usage to necessary nodes only, minimizing energy consumption and interference

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

Super-masters perform multiple functions: they act as Wi-Fi interfaces to the server, Bluetooth masters to their clusters, and relay nodes between levels. This multi-functionality allows the system to achieve long-range capability without requiring all nodes to have active Wi-Fi, reducing overall energy consumption

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS11412039B2System and method for hierarchical clustering of wireless mobile network

Publication Date: 2022.08.09 KING FAHD UNIVERSITY OF PETROLEUM AND MINERALS

AI summary

A method, network system, and non-transitory computer readable medium that arrange a set of wireless mobile devices into a two-level clustering structure including a cluster in a first-level and a cluster in the second-level, based on node status registered and algorithm preinstalled in a back-end server, where each of the set of wireless mobile devices is assigned either one of a slave member of a cluster in the first-level, a master of a cluster in the first-level where the master is also a member of a cluster in the second-level, or a super master of a cluster in the second-level where a master of a cluster in the first-level is assigned as the super master. The two-level clustering structure is periodically updated. Only the super-masters are configured to communicate with the back-end server via a long-range connection to WLAN, while a short-range wireless interface is used for internal communications.