IoT Device Power Cutoff Message Handling via Segmented Transmission

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Communication devices in local networks often lose connection due to power supply cutoffs, leading to outdated status information on remote servers, as they cannot continue operating without power and thus fail to update their status, affecting the reliability of information in IoT networks.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a power cutoff detection module and energy storage module in communication devices to enable them to operate in a power cutoff mode, allowing them to send a 'last message' to the remote server and maintain network efficiency by segmenting message transmission based on hopping distance, thereby preventing message collisions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If communication devices operate without power cutoff detection and energy storage, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability of status information on remote server deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereliability of status informationVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The power cutoff detection module detects power loss in advance, and the energy storage module pre-stores energy, enabling the communication device to send a last status message before power is completely lost. This preliminary action ensures the remote server receives updated status information even when power failure occurs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The energy storage module acts as an intermediary between the power supply and the communication device, providing a buffer that allows the device to continue operating and communicating for a limited time after power cutoff, thereby maintaining reliability of status information.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If all communication devices send messages simultaneously after power cutoff, then all devices can update their status, but message collisions increase and network efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestatus update accuracyVSAvoidnetwork efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the message transmission process by introducing time slots based on hopping distance. Devices are divided into groups according to their distance from the gateway, and each group transmits in designated time slots, preventing simultaneous transmissions and message collisions while ensuring all devices can update their status.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the transmission parameter of time slot assignment based on the hopping distance parameter. Devices at different distances are assigned different transmission times, transforming the simultaneous transmission problem into a sequential process that maintains both status update accuracy and network efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If communication devices continue operating after power cutoff using energy storage, then status information reliability is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestatus information reliabilityVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of continuously operating indefinitely, the communication device performs a partial action by sending only the essential last status message before power is exhausted. This ensures critical information is transmitted while minimizing energy consumption, balancing reliability improvement with energy conservation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The power cutoff detection module enables the device to autonomously detect power loss and trigger the energy storage mechanism, allowing the system to self-manage the transition to backup power and execute the last message transmission without external intervention, thereby improving reliability while controlling energy usage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Ensures that communication devices can send a last message after power cutoff, maintaining accurate status updates on remote servers and improving network reliability by optimizing energy usage and reducing message collisions.

Implementation Method 1

each one of the second communication devices comprises an energy storage module

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEnergy storage: Accumulator (energy)

Data Source

PatentUS20230224184A1Power Cutoff Message Handling

Publication Date: 2023.07.13 SCHREDER SA

AI summary

Set of devices adapted to form a local network (3), the set comprising at least one first communication device (1) and multiple second communication devices (2), wherein the first and the second communication devices comprise a short-range communication module (4) to communicate in the local network (3) via a hopping mechanism, and wherein the first communication device additionally comprises a long-distance communication module (5) to communicate with a remote server (6), wherein each one of the second communication devices (2) comprises a memory adapted to store a hopping distance to the first communication device wherein the second communication device is configured to execute actions based on said hopping distance in said power cutoff mode.