IoT State Transitions for Energy-Harvesting Reader Communication
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing demand for wireless data traffic and the proliferation of IoT devices pose challenges in efficiently managing device operation states, particularly for battery-less or low-energy devices that require efficient energy harvesting and reduced maintenance, which existing technologies have not adequately addressed.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of IoT devices and readers with transceivers and processing circuitry that manage operation states based on timers and energy levels, transitioning between ON, OFF, and power-saving states to optimize energy use and communication efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If IoT devices operate continuously in ON state to maintain memory and communicate with reader, then communication reliability is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic state transitions where IoT devices can switch between ON, OFF, and PS states based on real-time communication needs and energy levels. The device transitions to ON state when communication is required, to PS state when memory maintenance is needed but full transmission is not required, and to OFF state when neither is needed, thereby dynamically optimizing the balance between reliability and energy consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters of the IoT device by introducing multiple states with different energy consumption characteristics. The ON state provides full functionality for both transmission and memory maintenance, while the PS state reduces transmission activity but maintains memory, and the OFF state minimizes both. This parameter change allows the system to adapt energy consumption levels to actual communication requirements
2Use of energy by moving object
If IoT devices transition to PS state to save energy, then energy consumption is reduced, but transmission capability is limited
Solution Approach 1:
In the PS state, the IoT device performs partial actions by maintaining memory functionality while limiting full transmission capabilities. This partial action approach allows the device to preserve essential data (memory maintenance) while reducing energy-intensive transmission operations, thereby achieving energy savings without completely sacrificing functionality when needed
3Ease of operation
If IoT devices use timers to manage state transitions, then operation control is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service operation control where the IoT device autonomously manages its own state transitions based on internal timers and energy level monitoring. The device automatically transitions between states without external intervention, using timers to track operational duration and energy thresholds to trigger state changes, thereby simplifying operation control while avoiding the need for complex external management systems
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatuses and methods for device operation state transition. A method performed by an Internet of Things (IoT) device includes, in accordance with operation states of the IoT device, transmitting, to a reader, a channel or signal and receiving, from the reader, a channel or signal, and determining an operation state, from the operation states, to transition the IoT device to based on one or more timers or a device energy level. The operation states include an ON state, an OFF state, and a power saving (PS) state. The IoT device, in the OFF state, is not expected to transmit to or receive from the reader and not maintain a memory, in the ON state, is expected to transmit to or receive from the reader and maintain the memory, and, in the PS state, is not expected to transmit to or receive from the reader and maintain the memory.