Wireless Mesh Slave Device Asynchronous Sensor Data Aggregation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless mesh networks face challenges in efficiently collecting data from battery-operated sensor devices due to the need for precise timing and energy efficiency, leading to increased power consumption and potential routing failures.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a wireless mesh network where slave devices receive asynchronous sensor data from battery-operated sensor devices, store it, and aggregate it upon receiving an initiation message, transmitting the aggregated data during a TDMA acknowledgement frame without requiring the sensor devices to participate in the TDMA communications frame.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If battery-operated sensor devices participate in TDMA communications frame with precise timing, then data collection reliability is improved, but power consumption increases and timing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts battery-operated sensor devices from the TDMA communication framework. Instead of requiring sensors to participate in the time-division multiplexed communication frame, the system uses asynchronous wireless transmissions for sensor data collection, allowing sensors to operate independently of the TDMA schedule and thereby reducing their power consumption requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary communication mechanism between sensors and the TDMA network. Battery-operated sensor devices transmit data asynchronously through a separate channel, and the TDMA network collects and aggregates this data during its communication frames. This intermediary approach allows sensors to avoid direct participation in TDMA while still being integrated into the network.
2Reliability
If battery-operated sensor devices participate in TDMA communications frame, then data collection reliability is improved, but device complexity increases due to precise timing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the timing precision requirement from sensor devices by extracting them from the TDMA framework. Sensors transmit data asynchronously without needing to synchronize with TDMA frame boundaries, thereby eliminating complex timing mechanisms from the sensor side.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a static, scheduled communication model (TDMA) to a dynamic, event-driven model for sensor data transmission. Sensors transmit data when events occur or at their own pace, rather than adhering to fixed time slots, making the system more adaptable and less complex.
3Reliability
If TDMA frame duration is extended to accommodate all slave devices, then routing reliability is improved, but data collection time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the data collection process into two independent parts: (1) TDMA communication frames for reliable routing and control, and (2) asynchronous sensor data transmissions. This segmentation allows the TDMA frame to maintain its reliability function while sensor data collection occurs concurrently through asynchronous channels, reducing total data collection time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges asynchronous sensor data transmissions with the TDMA acknowledgment frames. Slave devices receive initiation messages during TDMA frames, process asynchronous sensor data, and transmit aggregated data back during the same TDMA acknowledgment phase, combining multiple functions into a single time-efficient process.
Data Source
AI summary
A wireless mesh network includes a controller in wireless communication with a plurality of slave devices where each slave device is assigned a virtual routing number that defines a time slot in a TDMA communications frame. The slave devices are configured to receive, out of band and/or separately from the TDMA communications frame, asynchronous transmissions of sensor data from battery operated sensor devices. The battery operated sensor devices transmit asynchronously and do not participate in the TDMA communications frame in order to save battery power. The slave devices store data received from the sensor devices until the data is requested by the controller through an initiation message. In response, the slave devices aggregate data received directly from asynchronous communications with data received from other slave devices during an accumulation process that passes the accumulated date back to the controller through the mesh network during a TDMA acknowledgement frame.