Multi-Periodic GTS Allocation for MBAN Sensor Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
The IEEE 802.15.4 GTS scheme is inefficient for low duty cycle medical body area network (MBAN) applications, leading to excessive battery consumption and inefficient time slot usage due to reserved time slots being exclusively allocated, even when devices do not need to communicate frequently.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a multi-periodic guaranteed time slot (GTS) allocation scheme, where time slots are reserved only at specified intervals based on the device's data traffic, allowing for time-sharing among devices and reducing unnecessary wake-ups, with modifications to the IEEE 802.15.4 standard to support this through new request and descriptor formats.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If time slots are exclusively allocated to a device in every superframe, then the device can communicate with guaranteed bandwidth, but battery consumption increases and time slot usage becomes inefficient for low duty cycle applications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements multi-periodic GTS allocation where time slots are allocated periodically at specified intervals (e.g., every Nth superframe) rather than in every superframe. This allows devices to wake up only when necessary for data transmission, reducing battery consumption while maintaining reliable communication when data is actually generated.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic GTS allocation where the allocation parameters (period, starting frame, slot number) can be adjusted based on actual traffic patterns. The system transitions from static exclusive allocation to dynamic shared allocation, allowing time slots to be reassigned to different devices in different superframes based on current needs.
2Reliability
If time slots are exclusively allocated to a device in every superframe, then the device has dedicated communication resources, but time slot usage becomes inefficient when devices do not need to communicate frequently
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes time slots universal by allowing the same time slot to be allocated to different devices in different superframes. A time slot can serve multiple devices sequentially, increasing overall system productivity. The GTS descriptor includes device address, starting frame, and period information, enabling flexible reassignment.
Solution Approach 2:
By allocating time slots periodically rather than continuously, the system ensures that each device gets dedicated resources when needed while allowing other devices to use the same resources when not needed, thereby improving overall time slot usage efficiency.
3Ease of operation
If the IEEE 802.15.4 GTS scheme is used for low duty cycle applications, then devices can communicate periodically, but battery consumption is excessive due to frequent wake-ups
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extends periodic action by allowing devices to sleep through multiple superframes and wake up only at their allocated GTS intervals. The GTS request command includes a period parameter that specifies how often the device should wake up, enabling optimization for very low duty cycle applications where devices may wake up only once every several hundred superframes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters of GTS allocation by introducing multi-periodic scheduling with configurable periods and starting frames. This allows the system to adapt to different duty cycles by adjusting the period parameter, thereby reducing battery consumption for low duty cycle applications while maintaining ease of periodic communication.
Data Source
AI summary
A personal area network (PAN) coordinator (26) of a medical body area network (MBAN) (36) allocates multi-periodic guaranteed time slots (GTSs) to sensor devices (12, 14) of the MBAN (36). The PAN coordinator (26) includes a controller (40) configured to receive a request for a multi-periodic GTS from a sensor device (12, 14) of the MBAN (36). The request includes a period indicating a periodicity with which the multi-periodic GTS is requested. In response to the request, the controller (40) determines a GTS allocation including a starting frame and transmits a descriptor to the sensor device (12, 14). The descriptor includes information to identify the starting frame.