Endpoint Message Rate Control for Smart Meter Battery Life
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Solution Overview
Problem
Battery-powered smart meters and other devices face challenges in maintaining battery life due to increased energy demands from advanced capabilities, leading to reduced operational longevity.
Innovation Solution
Adjusting message size and transmission rates based on criteria such as battery level, data transmission acknowledgment, and time since activation to conserve battery life and reduce network traffic.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If smart meters continuously transmit data at high rates to maintain communication reliability, then communication quality is improved, but battery life deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic transmission rate adjustment where the smart meter adapts its communication rate based on real-time battery status. When battery level is high, the meter transmits at higher rates to ensure reliable communication. When battery level drops below thresholds, the meter automatically reduces transmission rates to conserve energy, thus resolving the contradiction between communication reliability and battery consumption through dynamic parameter adjustment
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the transmission rate parameter based on battery status conditions. By monitoring battery level and adjusting the transmission rate parameter accordingly (high rate when battery is充足, low rate when battery is low), the system optimizes the balance between communication quality and energy consumption, directly addressing the technical contradiction
2Adaptability or versatility
If smart meters adopt advanced capabilities to improve functionality, then device versatility is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by selectively enabling advanced capabilities based on battery status. When battery level is sufficient, the smart meter can utilize full advanced capabilities for enhanced functionality. When battery level drops, the meter partially disables or reduces usage of energy-intensive capabilities while maintaining core functions, thus preserving versatility when possible while managing energy consumption
3Loss of information
If transmission rate is increased to reduce data loss, then information completeness is improved, but battery life deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts transmission rate based on battery status to optimize the balance between data completeness and operational duration. When battery is充足, higher transmission rates ensure complete data transmission. When battery is low, the system reduces transmission rates to extend operational life, accepting potentially reduced data transmission frequency while maintaining critical communications
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed are techniques to conserve battery of an endpoint device. Example techniques include adjusting the size of messages transmitted by an endpoint device and/or adjusting the transmission rate of an endpoint device. In some configurations, the one or more criteria are used by an endpoint device to determine what data fields to include within a message and/or adjust a transmission rate associated with the transmission of messages by the endpoint device. For instance, the one or more criteria may include the battery level of the device, the time of year, whether the data has already been transmitted by the endpoint device, whether the data has been acknowledged as received by another device, whether the endpoint device has been instructed by another device to reduce the message size and/or adjust the transmission rate, and the like.