Multi-Channel Wireless Sensor Network Coordination
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Solution Overview
Problem
In wireless sensor networks, especially in IoT environments, the limited available network spectrum leads to increased contention and access delays as more devices attempt to connect, particularly when using popular bands like the 2.4 GHz Industrial, Scientific and Medical Radio Band, where devices using the same standard must share channels, resulting in inefficient use of spectrum and reduced network density.
Innovation Solution
A transceiver radio with an RF front end receiver capable of capturing, demodulating, and decoding a pre-defined band, combined with a medium access algorithm that allows multiple devices to access non-overlapping channels concurrently, reducing the need for multiple RF front ends and enabling efficient spectrum use by sorting and assigning available channels to minimize contention among neighboring nodes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple devices use the same wireless band (e.g., 2.4 GHz ISM band) with the same standard, then devices can communicate using a unified protocol, but spectrum contention increases and access delays worsen as more devices attempt to connect
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the 2.4 GHz ISM band into multiple non-overlapping channels (e.g., channels 1, 6, and 13) and assigns different channels to different devices or device groups. This segmentation allows simultaneous transmissions without interference, reducing spectrum contention and access delays while maintaining protocol compatibility across all devices in the network.
2Productivity
If devices switch channels to avoid collisions (frequency agility), then spectrum sharing between different standards improves, but device complexity increases due to multiple RF front ends or channel switching mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary channel assignment during device initialization or network setup, where a coordinator device assigns specific non-overlapping channels to different devices before actual data transmission begins. This preliminary action eliminates the need for runtime channel switching or frequency agility mechanisms, reducing device complexity while maintaining high spectrum utilization through coordinated multi-channel operation.
3Device complexity
If a single RF front end is used to capture multiple channels, then device complexity is reduced, but the ability to simultaneously capture non-overlapping channels is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a coordinator device or central controller as an intermediary that manages channel assignment and coordination among devices. The coordinator receives channel status information from devices, determines optimal channel assignments, and directs devices to use specific channels. This intermediary enables a single RF front end per device to effectively access multiple non-overlapping channels through time-division multiplexing and coordinated scheduling, achieving concurrent channel capacity without requiring multiple RF front ends at each device.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments relate generally to method, system and apparatus for wireless communications between multiple wireless sensor nodes for wireless sensor networks. More specifically, disclosed are system and method that enable wireless communications between devices using different wireless transmission protocols, via one or more multi-channel intermediate devices.