Passive IoT Attachment via Reader Assignment and Energy-Aware Paging

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Solution Overview

Problem

Passive IoT devices with limited energy capabilities, such as those using energy harvesting, face challenges in unreliable network attachment and inefficient data transmission due to unpredictable energy availability and poor signal quality, leading to increased energy consumption and reduced reliability.

Innovation Solution

A radio access network (RAN) node system that assigns energy-harvesting IoT devices to reader nodes based on energy levels and signal quality metrics, optimizing energy usage and attachment procedures to improve data transmission reliability and efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If passive IoT devices transmit data to the network, then data transmission occurs, but energy consumption increases and attachment reliability decreases due to unpredictable energy availability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata transmissionVSAvoidnetwork attachment reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by having the network initiate attachment procedures before the passive IoT device is ready to transmit. The network sends paging messages and establishes connections proactively, so when the device accumulates sufficient energy, the attachment infrastructure is already in place and ready for immediate data transmission without requiring the device to initiate complex attachment sequences.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent inverts the traditional attachment model where the device initiates connection. Instead, the network initiates attachment by sending paging messages and establishing connections to passive IoT devices. This reversal allows the network to control the attachment timing and reduces the energy burden on passive devices, as they only need to respond to network-initiated attachment rather than actively seeking connections.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Ease of operation

If passive IoT devices initiate network attachment, then communication is established, but energy consumption increases due to device-initiated transmission requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork attachmentVSAvoiddevice energy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent fundamentally inverts the attachment initiation role from the device to the network. Passive IoT devices do not transmit attachment requests; instead, the network sends paging messages and initiates attachment procedures. This inversion dramatically reduces device energy consumption as passive devices only need to monitor for and respond to network-initiated attachment rather than actively generating attachment signals.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The network serves itself by initiating and managing attachment procedures for passive IoT devices without requiring active device participation. The network autonomously sends paging messages, establishes connections, and manages attachment state, allowing passive devices to benefit from network services without expending energy on attachment initiation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Device complexity

If passive IoT devices operate without energy harvesting, then device complexity is reduced, but device life cycle decreases and maintenance requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice structureVSAvoiddevice life cycle

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the passive IoT device structure universally applicable to multiple energy harvesting types without requiring device-specific design variations. The same basic passive device architecture can work with solar, RF, thermal, or other energy harvesting sources, extending device life cycle by allowing flexible energy source selection and future upgrades without redesigning the core device.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent enables device life cycle extension by allowing parameter changes in the energy harvesting component while maintaining the same passive device structure. The device can adapt to different energy availability conditions and harvesting rates, adjusting operational parameters rather than requiring structural changes, thereby extending operational life without increasing complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4358599A1Attachment procedure for passive IoT device communication with ambient energy source

Publication Date: 2024.04.24 NOKIA TECHNOLOGIES OY

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AI summary

In a system, apparatus, method, and non-transitory computer readable medium related to attachment procedures for passive Internet of Things (IoT) device communication with ambient energy sources, wherein a radio access network (RAN) node is caused to, receive an association request message transmitted by an energy-harvesting (EH) user equipment (UE) device based on an energy level of the EH UE device, assign a reader node from a plurality of reader nodes to the EH UE device based on the association request message, transmit an association response message to the EH UE device and the assigned reader node, the association response message including attachment information associated with the EH UE device and the assigned reader node, and receive an attachment acknowledgement message from the assigned reader node in response to the association response message.