Synchronized Mesh Enrollment for Low-Power IoT Connectivity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing IoT devices face challenges in scaling due to complexity in organizing large networks, high power consumption, and limited battery life, especially when forming mesh networks with battery-operated devices.
Innovation Solution
A method for automatically enrolling devices into a synchronized mesh network using a synchronization message to determine transmission times, allowing devices to operate on a strict schedule and minimize radio-on-time, reducing power consumption and avoiding collisions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If devices communicate continuously to maintain mesh network connectivity, then network reliability is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Devices in the mesh network perform synchronized communications at periodic intervals rather than continuously. Each device has scheduled transmission times and listening windows, allowing them to enter low-power sleep modes between scheduled communications while maintaining network connectivity and reliability.
2Device complexity
If devices operate independently without synchronization, then device complexity is reduced, but network coordination efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Devices perform preliminary synchronization by listening for sync messages from parent devices before engaging in data transmissions. This preliminary action establishes predetermined transmission times and channel assignments, allowing devices to operate independently during data phases while maintaining overall network coordination efficiency.
3Manufacturing precision
If manual network organization is used, then network setup precision is improved, but installation time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mesh network implements self-organization through automatic enrollment procedures. When a new device joins the network, it automatically listens for sync messages, determines its position in the network hierarchy, selects available sub-channels, and configures its transmission schedule without manual intervention, achieving precise network organization while dramatically reducing setup time.
4Ease of manufacture
If battery-operated devices are used to reduce installation complexity, then ease of installation is improved, but device lifetime deteriorates due to power consumption
Solution Approach 1:
Battery-operated mesh devices utilize periodic synchronized communications with scheduled sleep intervals, dramatically reducing average power consumption compared to continuous operation. Devices wake at predetermined times to transmit or receive data, then return to low-power sleep mode, extending battery lifetime while maintaining network functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
Devices perform preliminary synchronization to establish predetermined transmission schedules and channel assignments before actual data communications begin. This allows battery-operated devices to know exactly when to activate their radios and when to sleep, minimizing power consumption while ensuring reliable communication when needed.
Data Source
AI summary
Various embodiments described herein relate to a method, apparatus, and a non-transitory machine-readable storage medium including one or more of the following: receiving a message that a sub-channel is available; receiving a message comprising N, H, a sub-channel duration and a sync sub-channel number; determining sync up channel number or down channel number using N, H, and sub-channel number; determining sync EMG using N, H, and sub-channel duration; sending a message to the sync down channel EMG indicating that the sensor device requests to be a child of the sub-channel; and receiving a response during the synch.