R-WSLP Sensor Network Protocol Linear Configuration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional MAC protocols for sensor networks face challenges in minimizing energy consumption and network latency, particularly in large-scale networks, and lack mechanisms for prioritizing emergency data transmission and ensuring reliability.

Innovation Solution

The Real-Time Wireless Sensor Network Protocol (R-WSLP) employs a distributed TDMA technology with a low duty cycle, time-synchronized forwarding mechanism, and linear network configuration to minimize idle listening, reduce latency, and prioritize emergency data transmission, while ensuring reliability through self-organization and virtual line rearrangement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If conventional MAC protocols (S-MAC, T-MAC, B-MAC) are used to reduce energy consumption through duty cycling, then energy efficiency is improved, but network latency increases due to idle listening

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy consumptionVSAvoidnetwork latency

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements periodic active intervals and sleep intervals for sensor nodes, where nodes wake up at scheduled times to transmit or receive data, then return to sleep mode. This periodic operation reduces energy consumption while maintaining acceptable latency through optimized interval timing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent schedules data transmissions in advance using time synchronization, where nodes prepare and queue data for transmission during active intervals before entering sleep mode. This preliminary action ensures data is ready for immediate transmission upon waking, minimizing idle listening time

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Use of energy by moving object

If fixed duty cycle is used in S-MAC to save energy, then energy efficiency is improved in general scenarios, but energy efficiency decreases when nodes sense very small volume of data due to unnecessary idle listening

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy efficiencyVSAvoidadaptability to traffic volume

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent dynamically adjusts the duty cycle and active interval duration based on the volume of data sensed by nodes. When data volume is small, nodes extend sleep intervals to reduce unnecessary idle listening, while maintaining shorter intervals when data volume is high, thus adapting energy consumption to actual traffic conditions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Use of energy by moving object

If T-MAC uses flexible duty cycle to reduce unnecessary idle listening, then energy saving efficiency is improved, but energy is consumed for setting separate timer

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy saving efficiencyVSAvoidtimer mechanism complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements distributed autonomous operation where each sensor node independently determines its own active and sleep intervals based on local data volume measurements and pre-configured parameters. Nodes self-adjust their duty cycles without requiring centralized timer coordination or complex inter-node timer synchronization, reducing overall system complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

4Reliability

If S-MAC or T-MAC uses CSMA-CA type protocol, then collision avoidance is improved, but additional energy consumption is generated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecollision avoidanceVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes the CSMA-CA collision avoidance mechanism from the sensor network protocol, replacing it with scheduled time-slotted transmissions. By eliminating the need for carrier sensing, collision detection, and retry mechanisms, the patent significantly reduces energy consumption while maintaining reliable data transmission through time synchronization

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

5Use of energy by moving object

If B-MAC uses low power listening to reduce idle listening, then energy consumption is reduced, but energy is consumed for transmitting or receiving control packet or long preamble

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy consumptionVSAvoidcontrol packet overhead

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges data transmission with synchronization signaling by embedding data payloads directly into the time-slotted transmission frames. Control information and data are combined in a single transmission interval, eliminating the need for separate control packets and long preambles, thus reducing overall energy consumption and overhead

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS7885251B2Real-time wireless sensor network protocol having linear configuration

Publication Date: 2011.02.08 KOREA ELECTRONICS TECH INST

AI summary

A network configuration method of a sensor network configured to collect sensed data from a plurality of sensor nodes comprising: arranging linearly a path of respective node so as to enable all sensor nodes except for a sink node and a terminal node to have respectively a predecessor and a successor; and setting the time synchronization of whole network by fixing the each node take its own time synchronization on the basis of an operation section of the predecessor.