Hubless Wireless Network Wake-Up for Low-Power Action Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless networks with on-site control hubs face challenges in managing power consumption and communication efficiency, particularly for battery-powered devices that do not have wired connections, when action devices are not the ones that detect events.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a networked system without a local control hub, where a remote server manages device functionality, and devices communicate using low-power wireless protocols like Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) for wake-up signals and higher-power protocols like GSM or Wi-Fi for remote communication, allowing devices to switch between low-power and high-power modes efficiently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If devices use low-power mode with periodic listening, then power consumption is reduced, but response time to wake-up signals increases
Solution Approach 1:
The communications module operates in periodic cycles, switching between powered down (non-listening) and powered up (listening) states. During non-listening periods, the module is completely powered down to minimize energy consumption. During listening periods, the module is powered up to detect wake-up signals. This periodic operation resolves the contradiction by accepting longer average response times in exchange for dramatically reduced power consumption.
2Reliability
If the communications module continuously monitors for wake-up signals, then response time is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuous monitoring, the communications module uses periodic listening intervals. The module powers up at predetermined intervals to check for wake-up signals, then powers down immediately after. This approach maintains adequate wake-up signal detection capability while dramatically reducing average power consumption compared to continuous monitoring.
3Ease of operation
If a control hub is installed at the site, then device coordination is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control hub functionality is extracted from the local site and relocated to a remote server. The sensing devices and action devices communicate directly with each other and with the remote server, eliminating the need for a physical control hub at the installation site. This reduces on-site system complexity while maintaining coordination capabilities through cloud-based management.
Solution Approach 2:
A remote server acts as an intermediary between sensing devices and action devices. Instead of requiring direct peer-to-peer communication or a local control hub, the remote server mediates all communications, receiving data from sensing devices and transmitting control signals to action devices. This simplifies the local system architecture while maintaining full coordination functionality.
Data Source
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AI summary
A system comprising a plurality of devices configured for use at a site. The plurality of devices comprise one or more sensing devices; and one or more other devices for performing an action commanded by a remote computing system Each sensing device comprises a sensor for sensing an event and a communications system for communicating a wireless signal for at least one of the other devices of the plurality of devices at the site to perform a wakeup response comprising exiting from a low power mode. Each device of the other devices is configured to exit from the low power mode responsive to receiving at least part of a wireless signal for the device to perform the wakeup response from a device of said sensing devices. The plurality of devices may each periodically transmit proof- of- alive signals to the remote computing system Related devices, methods and computer programs are also disclosed.