LoRaWAN Radio Node Energy Management via Credit Point System

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Solution Overview

Problem

Battery-operated radio nodes in LoRaWAN networks face premature battery depletion due to uncontrollable energy consumption during downlink data receptions and processing, which shortens their intended service life of ten years.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a credit point system that manages energy usage by controlling uplink transmissions and downlink processing based on available energy credits, allowing the radio node to adjust its operations to conserve energy by reducing or postponing non-essential transmissions and processing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the radio node receives and processes all downlink transmissions, then complete data communication is achieved, but energy consumption increases causing premature battery depletion

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata communication completenessVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The radio node selectively processes only essential downlink transmissions based on predefined criteria, rather than processing all received transmissions. This partial action approach allows the node to maintain essential communication functionality while reducing energy consumption from processing non-essential data, directly resolving the contradiction between complete data communication and energy conservation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

2Reliability

If the radio node opens multiple receive windows for downlink reception, then data reception capability is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata reception capabilityVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The radio node dynamically adjusts the number and timing of receive windows based on current energy levels, transmission priorities, and network conditions. Instead of maintaining fixed multiple receive windows, the system adapts the receive window configuration to balance data reception requirements with energy conservation, resolving the contradiction between reception capability and energy consumption

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Productivity

If the radio node transmits uplink data frequently, then data transmission rate is improved, but battery life is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transmission rateVSAvoidbattery life
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The radio node implements periodic transmission intervals with variable frequencies based on energy availability and data priority. Instead of frequent fixed-interval transmissions, the system uses adaptive periodic transmission where the interval length adjusts according to battery status, allowing essential data to be transmitted while extending battery life by reducing unnecessary transmission frequency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentEP4478792A1Method for energy management of a battery-powered radio node
Publication Date: 2024.12.18 DIEHL METERING SYSTEMS GMBH
  • EP4478792A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4478792A1 patent drawingFigure 2~4
  • EP4478792A1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

Method for energy management of a battery-powered radio node for bidirectional data transmission in a Long Range Wide Area Network (LoRaWAN) between the radio node and a network server and/or an application server via at least one gateway, wherein the radio node switches to a transmit mode for an uplink transmission and to a receive mode for a downlink reception, wherein the radio node opens at least one receive window after an uplink transmission, and wherein, based on a credit point system, the current sending or non-sending of an uplink transmission and/or the current processing or non-processing of a downlink transmission is controlled during the operation of the radio node depending on the credit point status of the radio node.