Wireless Device Power-Aware Traffic Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wireless sensor networks face limitations due to the finite battery life of untethered sensor nodes, which can lead to reduced communication efficiency and increased costs for battery replacement, especially when using smaller energy sources like coin cell batteries that provide time-varying output voltages.
Innovation Solution
A wireless device with a power monitor and traffic controller that dynamically adjusts packet length and transmission intervals based on the energy source's output voltage, ensuring reliable communication and extending the device's operational life by managing traffic according to the energy source's capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a smaller energy source like a coin cell battery is used to enable untethered sensor deployment, then the device portability and ease of deployment are improved, but the output voltage becomes time-varying and insufficient, causing communication errors and reducing reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic adjustment of packet transmission parameters based on real-time monitoring of energy source output voltage. The traffic controller continuously adapts packet length and transmission timing to match the instantaneous power availability, transforming the static transmission approach into a dynamic one that responds to changing power conditions. This resolves the contradiction by enabling reliable communication with small batteries through adaptive parameter adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes transmission parameters (packet length, inter-packet intervals) based on the measured state of the energy source. By monitoring voltage levels and adjusting communication parameters accordingly, the system optimizes power usage and ensures reliable transmission even when using small, time-varying voltage energy sources like coin cell batteries.
2Device complexity
If standard fixed-length packet transmission is used, then the communication protocol simplicity is maintained, but packet errors occur due to power reduction during long packet reception, increasing retransmissions and energy consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by transmitting only the necessary portion of data in each packet based on available power, rather than attempting to transmit complete fixed-length packets. This approach reduces energy consumption by avoiding retransmissions while maintaining protocol simplicity through straightforward packet length adjustment based on power monitoring.
3Reliability
If larger batteries are used to ensure sufficient power for complete packet reception, then the power availability is improved, but the device size and replacement cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables the energy source to effectively serve itself by monitoring its own output characteristics and having the traffic controller adapt transmission parameters accordingly. This self-service mechanism allows small batteries to provide sufficient power for communication by dynamically adjusting packet parameters to match available power, eliminating the need for larger batteries.
Data Source
AI summary
A wireless device that tailors communications based on power parameters of the device. In one embodiment, a wireless device includes an energy source, a power monitor coupled to the energy source, a wireless transceiver, and a traffic controller coupled to the power monitor and the wireless transceiver. The power monitor is configured to measure a parameter of the energy source. The wireless transceiver is configured to wirelessly communicate via a wireless network. The traffic controller is configured to dynamically provide traffic management based on a prediction of wireless device capabilities using the present state of the energy source.