Shoulder-Tap Beacon Frequency Calculation for IoT Wake-Up
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Solution Overview
Problem
Battery-constrained IoT devices face challenges in reliable and cost-efficient communication due to the unavailability of SMS in LTE and NB-IoT devices, and the mobile nature of cellular devices makes it difficult to deliver shoulder-tap packets across serving gateway boundaries and different mobile network operators, especially when in power saving states.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that dynamically calculates the shoulder-tap beacon frequency based on operational parameters like downlink packet buffering duration and listen window size, using a computer-implemented system with a shoulder-tap server, database, and application server to send beacons continuously until acknowledged by the device, ensuring timely delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If SMS is used for shoulder-tap in 2G/3G devices, then reliable communication is achieved, but it is not available in LTE and NB-IoT devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary system comprising a shoulder-tap server, application server, and database that mediates communication between external systems and battery-constrained IoT devices. This intermediary handles the complexity of delivering shoulder-tap packets by managing device states, calculating optimal beacon frequencies, and routing packets through appropriate channels (direct IP delivery or SMS fallback), thereby achieving reliable communication across different protocol environments without requiring SMS native support in LTE/NB-IoT devices.
2Use of energy by moving object
If devices remain in power saving state, then battery life is extended, but shoulder-tap packet delivery becomes difficult and unreliable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic adaptation by continuously monitoring device state information and adjusting the shoulder-tap delivery strategy accordingly. The system calculates dynamic beacon frequencies based on device power saving configurations, listen window sizes, and buffering capabilities. When devices are in power saving state, the system adapts by sending beacons at optimized intervals during listen windows or using SMS fallback, ensuring reliable delivery while minimizing energy consumption. This dynamic approach allows the system to maintain communication reliability across varying power states without forcing devices out of energy-efficient modes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs periodic shoulder-tap beacon transmission at calculated frequencies that align with device listen windows and power saving cycles. Instead of continuous transmission, the system sends beacons periodically at optimized intervals, reducing overall energy consumption while ensuring delivery. The periodic action is adapted based on device state, with higher frequencies when devices are active and lower frequencies during power saving states, balancing reliability requirements with battery conservation.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If shoulder-tap packets are buffered at serving gateway, then delivery is extended, but resource constraints at gateway limit reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a dedicated shoulder-tap server and application server as intermediary components that take over the buffering and management function from the serving gateway. These intermediary servers provide extended buffering capabilities specifically for shoulder-tap packets, decoupling this function from the gateway's general resource constraints. The intermediary system tracks device states, manages buffering durations, and coordinates delivery timing, thereby guaranteeing delivery reliability independent of gateway resource availability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the shoulder-tap delivery function from the general packet routing function at the serving gateway. By creating a specialized intermediary system dedicated to shoulder-tap packet management, the patent isolates this critical function from gateway resource constraints. The segmented architecture allows independent optimization of buffering resources for shoulder-tap packets, ensuring dedicated storage and delivery mechanisms that are not subject to general gateway resource limitations.
4Reliability
If beacon frequency is increased for reliable delivery, then device wake-up is ensured, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic beacon frequency adjustment based on real-time device state information. The system calculates optimal beacon frequencies considering device power saving configurations, listen window sizes, and current network conditions. When devices are in deep power saving state with small listen windows, the system increases beacon frequency during those windows to ensure wake-up reliability. When devices are active or have larger listen windows, the system reduces beacon frequency to minimize energy consumption. This dynamic adaptation ensures wake-up reliability is achieved only when necessary, optimizing the balance between reliability and energy consumption.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer-implemented method, system, and a computer program product for delivering a shoulder-tap to one or more battery-constrained devices are disclosed. The computer-implemented method includes receiving a shoulder-tap request; storing the shoulder-tap request in a database; retrieving last known network session information for the one or more battery-constrained devices; calculating shoulder-tap beacon frequency for each of the one or more battery-constrained devices; creating a shoulder-tap beacon for each of the one or more battery-constrained devices; and sending the shoulder-tap beacon to the destination IP address for each of the one or more battery-constrained devices in the calculated shoulder-tap beacon frequency.