Wireless Sensor Network Alert Mode for Synchronization Failures

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Solution Overview

Problem

Wireless sensor networks face operational disruptions due to time synchronization failures, which can occur from environmental changes, clock drifts, or other adverse conditions, leading to communication breakdowns and reduced network lifetime.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a protocol that partitions the network into 'hot' and 'normal' regions, allowing devices in the 'hot' region to transition into an alert mode, fully activate their radios, and use a pre-defined common channel for communication, enabling continued data transmission even during synchronization failures.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If devices operate in normal mode with periodic radio activation for time synchronization, then power consumption is minimized, but communication reliability deteriorates during synchronization failures

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidcommunication reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically transitions devices between normal mode and alert mode based on synchronization status. In normal mode, radios activate periodically for synchronization. When synchronization failure is detected, devices transition to alert mode where radios remain continuously active, ensuring reliable communication while minimizing power consumption during normal operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the operational parameters of the radio from periodic activation (normal mode) to continuous activation (alert mode) based on synchronization conditions. This parameter change allows the system to adapt to adverse conditions while managing power consumption effectively

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Use of energy by moving object

If devices remain in normal mode during synchronization failures, then power consumption remains low, but data transmission capability is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoiddata transmission capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts radio operation based on synchronization status. When synchronization failure occurs, devices transition to alert mode with continuous radio activation, enabling data transmission while maintaining low power consumption during normal synchronized operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

Devices pre-configure alert mode with continuous radio activation and pre-defined common channels before synchronization failures occur. This preliminary preparation ensures immediate data transmission capability when synchronization failures happen, without requiring mode reconfiguration

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If devices activate radios continuously to maintain communication during synchronization failures, then communication reliability is maintained, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication reliabilityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The network is segmented into devices operating in normal mode (synchronized) and alert mode (desynchronized). This segmentation allows continuous radio activation only for devices experiencing synchronization failures, maintaining communication reliability for affected devices while preserving low power consumption for the majority of the network

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different operational modes are applied to different devices based on their synchronization status. Devices in alert mode use continuous radio activation and pre-defined common channels, while devices in normal mode use periodic activation, optimizing the balance between reliability and power consumption locally for each device

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

4Speed

If devices use pre-defined common channels in alert mode, then communication establishment speed increases during synchronization failures, but channel utilization efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication establishment speedVSAvoidchannel utilization efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

Common channels are pre-defined and configured in advance for alert mode operation. When synchronization failures occur, devices immediately switch to these pre-configured channels, enabling rapid communication establishment without channel negotiation delays, though channel capacity may be underutilized during transient failure periods

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS8761084B2Apparatus and method for establishing data communication in a time-synchronized mesh wireless network during time synchronization failures

Publication Date: 2014.06.24 VIGILENT CORP

AI summary

Various embodiments provide an apparatus and method for establishing data communication in a time-synchronized mesh wireless network during time synchronization failures. An example embodiment includes experiencing circumstances adversely affecting synchronization of data communications between wireless network nodes; transitioning to an alert mode wherein a radio of a wireless network node is activated for a longer period of time relative to a normal operating mode; sending a message to at least one neighbor node; listening for a response from the neighbor node; and establishing data communications with the neighbor node upon receiving the response.