LPWAN Network Server Segmentation for IoT Load Balancing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cellular radio access technologies lack capabilities for both long range and low power usage devices, and public LPWAN networks face challenges in balancing load, providing differentiated services, and managing roaming for IoT devices.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a network architecture with multiple network servers that distribute IoT devices across servers for load balancing, redundancy, and differentiated services, leveraging core network infrastructure to provide value-added control plane functionalities, and using LoRaWAN technology to manage end nodes with varying power consumption classes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If traditional cellular radio access technologies are used, then connectivity is provided, but long range and low power requirements cannot be met
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the network into multiple network servers that distribute IoT devices across different servers. This segmentation allows each server to manage a subset of devices, enabling load balancing and differentiated services while maintaining the LPWAN architecture's inherent low-power and long-range characteristics through the LoRaWAN physical layer
2Device complexity
If a single network server is used, then architecture is simple, but load balancing and redundancy are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the network server functionality into multiple separate network servers. Each server handles a portion of the IoT device population, which improves reliability through redundancy and enables load balancing. The segmentation is implemented at the server level while maintaining the existing LoRaWAN gateway and end node architecture
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a new dimension to the network architecture by adding multiple network servers alongside the existing single-server model. This dimensional expansion from one server to many servers enables parallel processing of device management tasks, improving both reliability and load distribution without fundamentally changing the LoRaWAN communication protocol
3Reliability
If multiple network servers are implemented, then load balancing and redundancy are improved, but architecture complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes each network server multi-functional by enabling them to perform all necessary functions (device management, authentication, data routing) that were previously concentrated in a single server. This universality allows the system to scale from one to many servers without increasing functional complexity, as each additional server is a complete functional unit
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements redundancy by copying the network server functionality across multiple instances. Each network server is essentially a copy of the others, capable of independently managing devices. This copying approach improves reliability through failover capabilities while keeping individual server implementations simple and identical
4Use of energy by moving object
If LPWAN technology is used, then long range and low power requirements are met, but differentiated services and roaming management are challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by enabling different network servers to provide differentiated services to different IoT devices based on their specific requirements. Each server can be configured with different service levels, priority treatments, and roaming policies, allowing the system to simultaneously support multiple service types while maintaining the low-power LPWAN physical layer
Data Source
AI summary
It is recognized herein that current cellular radio access technologies lack capabilities for both long range and low power usage devices. Public LPWAN networks are described herein that may use multiple network servers. Further, the network may distribute IoT devices (e.g., LoRa end nodes) across network servers. This may allow the public IoT networks to balance loads across network servers, to allow for redundancy of network servers, to provide differentiated services across network servers, and to permit roaming of end nodes across different public IoT networks, among other things.