Low-Power Sensor Node Beacon Routing in Mesh Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
In mesh sensor networks using a time division access scheme, sensor nodes consume excessive power as they need to be awakened every time slot of all neighboring nodes, which reduces battery life and increases power consumption.
Innovation Solution
A low-power sensor node design that transmits beacons containing routing information only in allocated time slots and receives beacons from neighboring nodes in their designated slots, implementing a routing function, neighboring node tracking, and beacon removal to minimize power usage and enhance reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a pure time division access scheme is used to allocate time slots for each sensor node, then network reliability is improved, but power consumption increases because sensor nodes must be awakened every time slot of all neighboring nodes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the time division access scheme by dividing time slots into two categories: beacon intervals (where nodes transmit routing information) and data intervals (where nodes transmit data). This segmentation allows sensor nodes to selectively wake up only during beacon intervals to receive routing information, rather than being awake for all time slots of neighboring nodes, thus reducing power consumption while maintaining network reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic beacon transmission where sensor nodes transmit beacons containing routing information at regular intervals. This periodic action allows nodes to enter sleep mode between beacon intervals, waking up only when needed to receive or transmit beacons, thereby significantly reducing power consumption while ensuring the network maintains its routing functionality and reliability.
2Reliability
If sensor nodes awaken every time slot of all neighboring nodes to support mesh networking, then network coverage and reliability are improved, but battery lifetime decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential function of mesh networking by separating beacon transmission (routing information) from data transmission. Nodes only need to wake up during beacon intervals to maintain routing awareness, rather than being continuously active for all neighboring node time slots. This extraction of the core routing function allows nodes to sleep during data intervals, extending battery lifetime while preserving network coverage and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by having sensor nodes transmit their beacon information in advance during designated beacon intervals. This allows neighboring nodes to wake up only when their own beacon transmission time approaches or when they need to receive routing updates, rather than being continuously awake. The preliminary transmission of routing information enables nodes to plan their wake-up schedules, thereby extending battery lifetime while maintaining network coverage.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are a sensor node of a low power for a monitoring application in a mesh sensor network using a time division access scheme, and a routing method thereof. The routing method of the sensor node may include: transmitting a beacon containing routing information to neighboring nodes in a first time slot within a first beacon interval that is allocated to the sensor node; and receiving a beacon from each of the neighboring nodes in a second time slot within a second beacon interval that is allocated to each of the neighboring nodes.