Radio MAC with Atomic Clocks for Low-Power Scheduling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication networks face challenges in energy conservation, accommodation of node additions, failures, and absences, and security against attacks, primarily due to the high power consumption and size requirements of traditional synchronization methods.
Innovation Solution
A media access control method utilizing highly stable chip scale atomic clocks and a randomized time domain scheduling algorithm to reduce the need for strict synchronization, minimizing over-the-air energy transmission and allowing radios to power off during non-transmit periods, thereby reducing energy consumption and enhancing security.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional synchronization methods are used to achieve time synchronized media access, then collision-free data transfers are achieved, but power consumption increases and device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-planning transmission times through a scheduling algorithm that determines transmit opportunities before data transmission occurs. Each radio is assigned specific time slots in advance, eliminating the need for continuous synchronization signaling and allowing collision-free transfers without the power consumption of traditional on-demand synchronization methods.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements self-service through highly stable on-board clocks (such as chip scale atomic clocks) that enable each radio to independently maintain accurate time without requiring continuous synchronization with other nodes. This self-contained timekeeping eliminates the need for power-consuming synchronization transmissions while ensuring reliable collision-free data transfers.
2Reliability
If traditional synchronization methods are used to achieve time synchronized media access, then collision-free data transfers are achieved, but device footprint and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Each radio is equipped with highly stable on-board clocks that provide self-contained timekeeping capability, eliminating the need for large synchronization hardware or continuous external synchronization infrastructure. This self-service approach maintains reliable collision-free transfers while significantly reducing device footprint.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs chip scale atomic clocks that provide high stability at a fraction of the size and cost of traditional synchronization hardware. These compact, inexpensive clock devices enable reliable time-synchronized media access without the large footprint of conventional synchronization systems.
3Stability of the object's composition
If continuous synchronization signaling is transmitted to maintain time coherence, then time synchronization is maintained, but energy is wasted and transmissions become more detectable
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuous synchronization signaling, the patent uses periodic transmission opportunities determined by a scheduling algorithm. Radios transmit data only at their assigned time slots, maintaining time coherence through pre-planned periodic transmissions rather than continuous signaling, thereby eliminating wasted energy while preserving synchronization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the synchronization function from continuous over-the-air signaling and replaces it with highly stable on-board clocks that maintain time coherence locally. This extraction eliminates the need for continuous energy-consuming synchronization transmissions while maintaining time coherence across the network.
4Reliability
If strict synchronization is implemented to ensure time coherence, then collision-free transfers are achieved, but the system becomes more vulnerable to detection and disruption
Solution Approach 1:
The scheduling algorithm performs preliminary action by pre-planning transmission times and assigning specific time slots to each radio before transmission occurs. This advance planning ensures collision-free transfers without requiring detectable continuous synchronization signaling, making the system more secure against detection and disruption while maintaining reliability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach significantly reduces power consumption, makes transmissions harder to detect and disrupt, and allows radios to operate independently of GPS timing signals, while maintaining time coherence and security.
Implementation Method 1
highly stable clocks for time coherence and uses a scheduling algorithm to pre-plan transmission times
Data Source
AI summary
A method of synchronizing the transmission and receipt of messages by radios within a wireless communications network. It is assumed that the radios have chip scale atomic clocks, which are externally synchronized, such as by GPS, but only at the beginning of a mission. Each radio defaults to a sleep mode, in which its receive and transmit circuitry is inactive. Each radio stores a channel plan of pre-determined base transmit times, and calculates a worst case time drift between clocks and a propagation delay value between combinations of radios. At each base transmit time, if a radio has an outgoing message to transmit, it subtracts propagation delay from the base transmit time, and transmits only at that time. Also, for each base transmit time, each radio subtracts time drift, thereby determining a receive time window during which it listens for messages from other radios.