Two-Stage Addressing for LPWAN Sensor Nodes
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Solution Overview
Problem
In low-power wide area networks (LPWAN), existing addressing methods for sensor nodes are inefficient, particularly in large networks where power consumption and delay trade-offs are challenging, especially when trying to minimize beacon length and maximize flexibility in addressing groups of sensor nodes.
Innovation Solution
A two-stage addressing scheme is implemented, using non-unique addressing information in the beacon to preselect a subset of sensor nodes, followed by further addressing information for specific data packets, which can include unique synchronization patterns or transmission parameters, allowing for efficient targeting of individual or groups of receivers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If full addressing information is included in the beacon for all sensor nodes, then each sensor node can be precisely addressed, but the beacon length increases and power consumption rises
Solution Approach 1:
The addressing process is divided into two stages: first, a group address in the beacon identifies a subset of sensor nodes, and second, individual sensor nodes are addressed within that subset during data transmission. This segmentation allows the beacon to remain short while still enabling precise addressing of individual nodes.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of providing complete addressing information for all sensor nodes in the beacon, only partial addressing (group level) is provided in the beacon, with full addressing delivered separately during data transmission to the specific subset of nodes.
2Loss of time
If the beacon interval is reduced to minimize delay, then responsiveness improves, but power consumption at sensor nodes increases
Solution Approach 1:
The beacon performs preliminary action by identifying and addressing a subset of sensor nodes that need to wake up for data transmission. This allows the network to maintain longer beacon intervals while still achieving low delay for specific nodes, as only those nodes need to respond quickly.
3Adaptability or versatility
If unique addressing information is used for each sensor node in the beacon, then individual addressing is achieved, but the beacon becomes too long for large networks
Solution Approach 1:
Addressing is segmented into two levels: group-level addressing in the beacon and individual-level addressing in data packets. This allows the beacon to remain short by only specifying a subset, while individual addressing flexibility is maintained through the second stage.
Solution Approach 2:
The addressing system adds a temporal dimension by separating addressing into two stages across different time slots: first the group address in the beacon, then individual addresses in subsequent data packets. This resolves the conflict between beacon length and addressing flexibility.
4Loss of time
If sensor nodes wake up frequently to check for beacons, then delay is reduced, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The beacon performs preliminary identification of which sensor nodes should wake up. Nodes can sleep through intervals and only wake when their group address is called, reducing unnecessary wake-ups while maintaining responsiveness for addressed nodes.
Data Source
AI summary
A transmitter is configured to communicate with a multiplicity of receivers, and is configured to transmit first data, the first data including a non-unique addressing information addressing a subset of the multiplicity of receivers, the subset including at least two receivers, the transmitter further being configured to transmit second data, the second data including a further addressing information or transmitted according to a further addressing information, the addressing information addressing one receiver (or one group of receivers) of the subset of the multiplicity of receivers.