Preemptive Maintenance for Masquerading IoT Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current IoT communication protocols face limitations in range, power efficiency, and cost due to regulatory constraints, interference, and the need for high-data-speed transmissions, which restrict their applicability, especially in RF-noisy environments and long-range communication scenarios.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for controlling remote devices using reduced packets over a long-range radio communication link, allowing remote devices to generate status response packets, with fault reports transmitted to a control server, optimizing communication by reducing data transmission and power consumption while maintaining connectivity across extended distances.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If high-speed protocols such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and Zigbee are used, then data transmission speed is improved, but communication range is reduced due to unnecessary data speed requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the data transmission process by separating control information (headers) from actual device data (payload). The control information is transmitted at high speed using standard protocols, while the device data is transmitted at lower speed using energy-efficient long-range protocols. This segmentation allows the system to achieve both fast control response and long-range communication without compromising either aspect.
2Length of stationary object
If protocols transmit at maximum power levels, then transmission range is improved, but power consumption increases and battery life is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic power adjustment by allowing different devices in the network to operate at different transmission power levels based on their specific needs. The system dynamically adapts the transmission power for each device rather than requiring all devices to transmit at maximum power, thereby extending battery life while maintaining adequate communication range for each device's operational requirements.
3Loss of information
If processing entire data packets is performed, then data completeness is ensured, but power drain increases and transmission speed decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and processes only the control information (headers) separately from the device data (payload). The control information is processed to determine routing and priority, while the device data is transmitted efficiently without requiring processing of the entire packet at each node. This extraction approach ensures data completeness through proper header processing while reducing power consumption by avoiding unnecessary processing of large payloads at intermediate nodes.
4Length of stationary object
If multiple hubs and devices are meshed to extend network range, then communication range is improved, but network cost increases with only marginal improvements in range
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a gateway as an intermediary component that bridges different communication protocols. The gateway translates between high-speed protocols (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth) and low-power long-range protocols (LoRa, Sigfox), allowing heterogeneous devices to communicate without requiring complex mesh networking. This intermediary approach simplifies network architecture while enabling extended range through protocol translation rather than requiring multiple mesh hubs.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for controlling communication between a remote device and a control server includes sending, over a long range radio communication link, to a number of remote devices, a number of reduced packets, each of the number of reduced packets causing each of the number of remote devices to generate a reduced response packet, the reduced response packet indicating a status of each of the number of remote devices, receiving, from a number of responding remote devices, a number of actual reduced response packets to identify when a remote device is in a report state, examining status data related to each of the number of remote devices, the status data comprising a number of attributes include a remote device reduced packet, a remote device reduced response packet, and a number of remote device attributes, when a fault is detected, generating a remote devices fault report, and transmitting, to a control server, a remote device fault report.