Mote Positioning via Impulse Signal Timing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Locating and maintaining the precise position of multiple mote devices within a network is challenging due to their small size, distributed nature, and often inaccessible locations, which complicates energy management and operational reliability.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an impulse-mote-position-indication method allows mote devices to generate and transmit positional information, enabling other devices to derive their geographic location, and a power converter system to enhance energy levels within the mote devices, facilitating precise positioning and extended operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If mote devices are made small and distributed widely, then network coverage and sensing capability are improved, but locating and maintaining precise position becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary locating device that acts as a mediator between mote devices and the network. This device receives impulse signals from motes, processes the timing information, and calculates precise positions using time difference of arrival (TDOA) methods. The intermediary handles the complex localization computations, allowing small distributed motes to achieve accurate positioning without requiring sophisticated onboard processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces physical mechanical positioning systems with an electromagnetic signal-based approach. Instead of using mechanical markers or physical reference structures, the system uses impulse radio signals and temporal measurements to determine mote positions. This substitution enables precise location determination through signal processing rather than mechanical means, suitable for small distributed devices.
2Reliability
If mote devices are deployed in inaccessible locations, then monitoring capability is improved, but maintenance and energy management become challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service mechanisms where mote devices automatically manage their own energy resources. The devices monitor their battery levels, transmit status information when needed, and can be remotely identified for maintenance. This allows deployed devices to service themselves without human intervention for routine operations, while still enabling targeted maintenance when issues arise.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where mote devices continuously monitor their operational status and energy levels, then transmit this information to the network. The locating device receives these status reports and can identify devices that need maintenance based on their positions and reported conditions. This feedback loop enables proactive maintenance scheduling without requiring constant human monitoring of inaccessible devices.
3Use of energy by moving object
If impulse radio is used for low-power communication, then energy consumption is reduced, but signal processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the signal processing complexity into segments distributed between different components. The mote devices perform only simple impulse transmission and basic status reporting. The complex signal processing, including TDOA calculations and position determination, is performed by the dedicated locating device with more processing capability. This segmentation allows low-power motes to communicate effectively while maintaining accurate positioning without requiring complex processing in each device.
Data Source
AI summary
One aspect of the present disclosure relates to receiving by at least one mote device a request to provide an impulse-mote-position-indication; and indicating at least partially using the impulse-mote-position-indication of the at least one mote device positional information about the at least one mote device at least partially in response to the request to provide the impulse-mote-position-indication. Another aspect of the disclosure related to receiving by a communication device an impulse-mote-position-indication of at least one mote device; and deriving a geographic location of the at least one mote device at least partially in response to the receiving by the communication device the impulse-mote-position-indication of the at least one mote device.