Sensor Node Management via Periodic Activation Scheduling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sensor networks face service interruptions due to battery exhaustion and sensor failures, and lack effective methods for modifying observation granularity and extending network lifetime.
Innovation Solution
A sensor node management method involving a base station with a sensor management table, group management table, and operation timing control unit that dynamically adjusts the activation intervals and phase relationships of sensor nodes, allowing for flexible observation granularity and power management to prevent service interruptions and extend network lifetime.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If sensor nodes operate continuously to ensure reliable monitoring, then measurement reliability is improved, but battery power consumption increases and network lifetime decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic operation of sensor nodes through duty cycling, where nodes alternate between active sensing/communication states and low-power sleep states. The base station controls activation timing of individual nodes or groups of nodes, enabling continuous monitoring coverage while significantly reducing overall power consumption compared to continuous operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the sensor network into multiple groups or clusters that can be independently controlled. By dividing the network and managing activation of specific segments, the system ensures continuous monitoring coverage through coordinated operation of different segments while reducing total energy consumption by keeping non-critical segments in sleep mode.
2Measurement precision
If all sensor nodes are activated simultaneously to ensure complete observation, then measurement precision is improved, but power consumption increases and network lifetime decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses periodic activation schedules where sensor nodes are activated at different times in cycles. By coordinating periodic operations, the system achieves complete observation coverage over time without requiring all nodes to be active simultaneously, thereby extending network lifetime while maintaining measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The base station pre-calculates and coordinates activation timing of sensor nodes based on their spatial distribution and monitoring requirements. This preliminary scheduling ensures that when nodes are activated, they do so in a coordinated manner that maintains observation completeness while minimizing total active time and extending network lifetime.
3Measurement precision
If sensor nodes operate at high frequency to capture detailed data, then measurement precision is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic sampling at variable frequencies, where the base station controls activation timing to achieve required data resolution at critical moments while reducing sampling frequency during stable periods. This variable-rate periodic operation maintains measurement precision when needed while significantly reducing overall power consumption compared to continuous high-frequency operation.
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a sensor node management method in which a user is unconscious of a service break even when a sensor node has failed among a plurality of sensor nodes assuming intermittent operation. Moreover, it is possible to provide a flexible sensor node management method capable of freely modifying the observation grading (space, time) in accordance with a user's desire. A base station (30) for containing a plurality of intermittently operating sensor nodes includes a sensor management table (4) for managing the sensor nodes, a group management table (5) for grouping a plurality of sensor nodes, and an operation timing control unit (3). The operation timing control unit (3) decides the operation interval and the relationship for starting each of the sensor nodes. Moreover, the base station and the sensor node have a counter value as a reference of the sensor node operation interval and the operation start phase, which are periodically synchronized.