Wireless Sensor Network Beacon Signal Timing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In wireless sensor networks, the frequent repetition of timeslot definition signals leads to impractically long signal durations and significant power consumption in nodes due to the need for continuous receiver operation, especially as the number of timeslots increases, which is inefficient and results in reduced battery life and increased network congestion.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a system with a hub that uses a periodic beacon signal to determine scheduled transmit and receive times for sensor nodes, reducing power consumption by minimizing receiver operation time and introducing anti-collision features to manage conflicts, thereby optimizing power usage and network efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If timeslot definition signals are repeated frequently to define timeslots for wireless nodes, then timeslot allocation is achieved, but the signal duration becomes impractically long and power consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the timeslot allocation function from the periodic beacon signal and implements it through a separate, one-time timeslot definition signal. This allows the beacon signal to remain short and periodic while the timeslot definition occurs independently, resolving the contradiction between achieving complete timeslot allocation and maintaining short signal duration.
Solution Approach 2:
The timeslot definition signal is transmitted in advance as a one-time event before regular beacon signals. This preliminary action establishes all timeslot allocations upfront, eliminating the need for repeated timeslot definition and thereby reducing overall signal duration while maintaining allocation efficiency.
2Reliability
If nodes operate receivers continuously to receive broadcast beacon signals and timeslot definition signals, then communication reliability is maintained, but power consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic beacon signals that occur at defined intervals rather than continuous transmission. Nodes can enter low-power states between beacon periods, significantly reducing power consumption while maintaining reliable communication through the periodic nature of the signals.
Solution Approach 2:
The one-time timeslot definition signal provides all necessary allocation information in advance, allowing nodes to configure their receivers once and then enter low-power modes. This eliminates the need for continuous receiver operation while maintaining communication reliability through pre-established timeslot assignments.
3Quantity of substance
If the number of timeslots increases to accommodate more wireless nodes, then network capacity is improved, but signal duration becomes impractically long
Solution Approach 1:
The patent separates the timeslot definition function from the periodic beacon signal. The timeslot definition signal transmits all necessary allocation information in a single event, allowing the network to support many timeslots without extending the duration of regular beacon signals. This extraction resolves the contradiction between supporting large numbers of timeslots and maintaining short signal duration.
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment, a system includes a hub having one or more processing units and RF circuitry for transmitting and receiving communications in a wireless network architecture. The system includes a plurality of sensor nodes each having a wireless device with a transmitter and a receiver to enable bi-directional communications with the hub in the wireless network architecture. The one or more processing units of the hub are configured to execute instructions to determine a first scheduled timing of causing the transmitter to be operable to transmit and causing the receiver to be operable to receive for each wireless device based on a periodic beacon signal of the hub.