Paging Active Time Control for Energy-Harvesting IoT Connectivity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing IoT devices face challenges in efficiently managing energy consumption and maintaining connectivity due to limited energy harvesting capabilities, leading to high power consumption and increased device size, especially in RRC idle or inactive modes, which is exacerbated by the variability of energy resources from natural sources.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a Mobile Initiated Connection Only (MICO) mode with an estimated active time (EAT) mechanism that adapts to the energy harvesting device's current energy levels, allowing dynamic adjustment of the active time based on harvested energy and signal characteristics, enabling efficient energy resource utilization and minimizing signaling overhead.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If energy harvesting devices operate in RRC idle or inactive modes to save power, then power consumption is reduced, but connectivity reliability deteriorates due to difficulty in reaching the device
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic adjustment of the active time parameter based on the device's energy harvesting status. The network can configure different active time values depending on whether the device is energy-constrained, allowing the system to adapt between power-saving and connectivity-reliable modes dynamically. This resolves the contradiction by making the operation mode flexible rather than fixed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an active time parameter that can be configured by the network based on the device's energy status. By changing this parameter, the network can control how long the device remains in active state to monitor paging messages, thereby balancing power consumption and connectivity reliability. Energy-harvesting devices can be configured with longer active times when energy is abundant, while conventional devices use shorter active times for power saving.
2Reliability
If the network frequently pages energy harvesting devices to ensure connectivity, then connectivity reliability is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The network dynamically adjusts the active time parameter based on real-time assessment of the device's energy harvesting capability. When the device reports sufficient energy, the network can page more frequently for better connectivity. When energy is limited, the network reduces paging frequency and extends active time appropriately. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction between connectivity reliability and energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the device reports its energy harvesting status to the network, and the network responds by adjusting the active time parameter and paging strategy. This closed-loop control allows the system to optimize the balance between connectivity reliability and energy consumption based on actual device conditions rather than using fixed parameters.
3Reliability
If the active time is extended to improve connectivity, then connectivity reliability is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent configures the active time parameter differently based on the device type and energy status. For energy-harvesting devices with sufficient energy, a longer active time is configured to improve connectivity. For devices with limited energy, a shorter active time is used to conserve power. This parameter adaptation based on device characteristics resolves the contradiction by applying different settings to different scenarios.
4Reliability
If the device monitors paging channel continuously to ensure immediate connectivity, then connectivity reliability is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuous monitoring, the device monitors the paging channel periodically during configured active time intervals. The network schedules paging messages within these active time windows, allowing the device to switch between monitoring and sleep states. This periodic monitoring approach resolves the contradiction by eliminating continuous power consumption while maintaining connectivity through scheduled check-ins.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for providing estimated active time for paging reception for energy harvesting devices are provided. For example, a method can include receiving a radio resource control release message from a network. The method can also include sending an acknowledgment message to the network in response to the release message. The acknowledgment message can include an estimated active time of the apparatus.