LoRaWAN Relay Battery Life via Pseudo-Random Channel Selection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
LoRaWAN networks face challenges with temporary or permanent transmission interruptions due to environmental changes and obstacles, leading to energy inefficiencies and reduced battery life in relay devices, as class A end-devices need to constantly transmit at random times and channels to avoid interference.
Innovation Solution
A method that uses location information to pre-designate and configure battery-powered relays to communicate with end-devices at specific frequency channels and times, selected using a pseudo-random function, reducing interference and energy consumption by predicting seasonal losses and optimizing relay placement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If class A end-devices transmit at random times and random frequency channels to avoid interference, then interference risk is reduced, but energy consumption increases and battery life decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring relays with location information before transmission interruptions occur. The network server stores location data of end-devices and relays in advance, enabling proactive relay designation when communication loss is detected, rather than reacting after interference or battery depletion occurs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces relays as intermediary devices between end-devices and gateways. These relays extend the network coverage to devices in blind spots and facilitate communication without requiring end-devices to continuously transmit at random channels, thereby reducing their energy consumption while maintaining interference avoidance.
2Reliability
If relays are used to extend gateway range and improve connectivity, then transmission stability improves, but battery consumption in relay devices increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by using location information as a key parameter to optimize relay selection and configuration. The network server uses stored location data to designate appropriate relays based on their spatial relationship with end-devices and gateways, enabling more efficient relay operation that reduces unnecessary battery consumption while maintaining transmission stability.
3Reliability
If network reconfiguration is performed to address communication fading, then transmission reliability improves, but network complexity and operational difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-storing location information of all end-devices and relays in the network server before communication issues arise. This advance preparation enables automatic relay designation based on location data when fading or communication loss occurs, eliminating the need for complex manual network reconfiguration while maintaining transmission reliability.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention concerns a method of transmitting data in LoRaWAN radio network having a LoRaWAN Network Server (NS1), at least one gateway (G1, G2, G3) at least one relay (R1) and at least one end-device (ED1, ED2, ED3, ED4, ED5, ED6, ED7, ED8). The method comprises an activation of the at least one end-device (ED1), an activation of the at least one relay (R1), and transmitting at least one data frame from an end-device (ED1), to the LoRaWAN Network Server (NS1), via the relay (R1) and the gateway (G1). The at least one relay (R1) is battery powered and the relay (R1) and the end-device (ED1) are configured to communicate at frequency channels and predetermined times with offsets selected with pseudo random function fed with at least one fixed parameter unique for the end-device and at least one variable parameter common for both end-device and (ED1) and relay (R1). The invention further concerns a relay, a computer program product therefore, and end-device and computer program product therefore.