IoT Tag Interference Reduction via Power Level Mapping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing IoT communication systems face challenges in efficiently managing interference between multiple IoT devices (tags) within the activation range of an activator, leading to high tag-to-tag interference and reduced signal quality for readers.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution involves configuring IoT devices with specific power levels for transmitting activation signals and creating a map to identify which tag identifiers respond at each power level, allowing for targeted activation and reduced interference through power ramping and capability management (RespOnce and ActMax) of tags.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If multiple IoT devices (tags) are activated within the activation range of an activator, then more tags can be detected, but tag-to-tag interference increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the activation process into multiple power levels. Instead of activating all tags simultaneously at full power, the system divides tags into groups based on their response characteristics at different power levels. This segmentation allows selective activation of tags at specific power levels, reducing interference while maintaining detection capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating treatment for different tags based on their individual response characteristics. Each tag is assigned a specific power level based on its detected response behavior, allowing nearby tags to be activated at lower power while distant tags use higher power, thus reducing overall interference.
2Reliability
If activation signal power is increased to ensure tag detection, then detection reliability improves, but signal quality for readers deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic power adjustment where the activation signal power is not fixed but varies based on the specific tag being activated. The system determines the optimal power level for each tag based on its response characteristics, allowing the system to adapt power levels dynamically to minimize interference while ensuring reliable detection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the power level parameter based on tag-specific characteristics. By determining the minimum power level required for each tag to respond reliably, the system adjusts the power parameter individually for each tag, preventing excessive power from degrading reader signal quality while maintaining detection reliability.
3Speed
If all tags are activated simultaneously, then detection speed increases, but interference management becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments tags into multiple groups based on their power level responses. Instead of treating all tags uniformly, the system creates distinct groups that can be activated at different power levels. This segmentation simplifies interference management by allowing the system to target specific groups rather than managing all tags simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary actions by first determining the response characteristics of tags at different power levels before actual detection occurs. This preliminary power level determination allows the system to pre-organize tags into appropriate groups, simplifying the subsequent detection process and reducing real-time interference management complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus comprising: means for configuring a first device with one or more power levels for transmitting an activation signal to at least one tag; means for sending, to a second device, the one or more power levels and a tag identifier for each of the at least one tag; means for receiving, from the second device, an indication of which tag identifier provides a response to the second device at each power level of the one or more power levels of the activation signal from the first device; means for creating a map comprising an indication of which tag identifier provides a response to the second device at each power level of the one or more power levels of the activation signal from the first device.