Self-Organizing IoT Hierarchy Reduces Airwave Congestion

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Solution Overview

Problem

As wireless IoT device networks grow in size, they experience airwave congestion, leading to interference, long latencies, and battery life concerns due to open communications between numerous wireless nodes.

Innovation Solution

A self-organizing hierarchical system where wireless nodes identify as child or parent nodes, with child nodes broadcasting their role and receiving a communication schedule from parent nodes to communicate during assigned time slots, reducing unnecessary transmissions and optimizing network efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If open communications are used between wireless nodes, then ease of operation is improved, but airwave congestion and interference increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication simplicityVSAvoidairwave congestion

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements scheduled communications where parent nodes and child nodes communicate at specific time intervals rather than continuously. Parent nodes transmit data to child nodes at scheduled times, and child nodes report sensor data at assigned time slots, reducing airwave congestion while maintaining operational simplicity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent divides the wireless network into hierarchical segments with parent nodes and child nodes. Each segment operates semi-independently with assigned communication schedules, allowing the overall system to maintain ease of operation while reducing interference through structured segmentation of communication channels

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If open communications are used between wireless nodes, then ease of operation is improved, but latency increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication simplicityVSAvoidcommunication latency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent establishes communication schedules in advance between parent and child nodes. Time slots are pre-assigned for data transmission and reporting, eliminating the need for nodes to wait for available communication windows and thereby reducing latency while maintaining operational simplicity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If open communications are used between wireless nodes, then ease of operation is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication simplicityVSAvoidbattery consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements periodic communication schedules where child nodes transmit sensor data at assigned time slots rather than continuously monitoring and transmitting. This allows battery-powered child nodes to remain in low-power states between scheduled communications, significantly reducing energy consumption while maintaining ease of operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent enables child nodes to autonomously operate according to their assigned schedules without requiring continuous network coordination. Each child node independently manages its communication timing based on pre-assigned time slots, reducing the need for active network management and lowering overall energy consumption

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

4Object-affected harmful factors

If hierarchical organization is implemented, then airwave congestion is reduced, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveairwave congestionVSAvoidnetwork structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the wireless network into parent nodes and child nodes with clearly defined roles. Parent nodes handle data collection and scheduling, while child nodes focus on sensor monitoring and scheduled reporting. This segmentation reduces airwave congestion through structured communication while keeping individual node complexity manageable through role specialization

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS12200672B1Self-organizing hierarchy for an internet of things network

Publication Date: 2025.01.14 TRACKONOMY SYSTEMS INC

AI summary

A self-organizing hierarchical system of wireless nodes includes a first plurality of wireless nodes that self-identify as child nodes and includes a second plurality of wireless nodes that self-identify as parent nodes. Each wireless node is configured to wirelessly communicate with other wireless nodes of the system. Each child node broadcasts a respective identifier and its role as a child node to one or more parent nodes in an environment of the respective child node. Each parent node scans a respective environment for available child nodes and transmits to each available child node in the environment a schedule for communication between the respective available child node and the respective parent node. Each child node communicates with a respective parent node during time slots that are assigned to the child node based on the received schedule for the child node from the respective parent node.