PRDCH/PDRCH Command Channels for Battery-Less IoT Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing demand for wireless data traffic and the proliferation of IoT devices pose challenges in efficiently powering and communicating commands to battery-less or low-energy devices, particularly in 5G and beyond systems, due to high maintenance costs and energy storage limitations.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method and apparatus for IoT devices to communicate using a physical reader-to-device channel (PRDCH) and a physical device-to-reader channel (PDRCH) with associated transmission parameters, enabling command execution and success/failure indications, leveraging energy harvesting and backscattering communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If battery-less or low-energy devices are used to support large number of IoT devices, then device complexity and maintenance costs are reduced, but the ability to execute commands and communicate reliably deteriorates due to energy harvesting limitations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the energy supply function from the device itself and relocates it to the reader side through energy harvesting. The reader provides both energy and commands, while the device only needs to receive and backscatter responses, eliminating the need for batteries or complex power management circuits in the IoT device.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces backscattering as an intermediary communication mechanism between the reader and the energy-harvesting device. Instead of requiring the device to generate its own signals, the device modulates the reader's transmitted signal through backscattering, enabling reliable communication with minimal energy consumption.
2Use of energy by moving object
If energy harvesting is used to power IoT devices, then energy storage needs are minimized, but the transmission of commands and responses requires efficient use of limited energy resources
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the command transmission and energy transfer functions into a single integrated process. The reader combines downlink reference signals with command information, allowing the device to harvest energy and receive commands simultaneously from the same signal source, thereby improving transmission efficiency without requiring additional energy resources.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs periodic reference signals and structured communication cycles where the reader transmits reference signals at regular intervals. This periodic transmission pattern allows energy-harvesting devices to operate intermittently, processing commands during energy-available periods and responding when powered, thus maintaining productivity while minimizing energy storage requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatuses and methods for indicating and executing a command between reader and devices. A method for an Internet of Things (IoT) device to communicate with a reader for executing a command is provided. The method includes receiving a physical reader-to-device channel (PRDCH). The PRDCH indicates information related to executing the command that indicates at least the command. Transmission parameters for the PRDCH are (i) associated with a preamble signal preceding the PRDCH or (ii) indicated by control information provided in the PRDCH. The method further includes determining transmission of a physical device-to-reader channel (PDRCH) based on reception of the PRDCH and transmitting the PDRCH, wherein the PDRCH includes information related to execution of the command including at least an indication on success or failure of executing the command.