Wireless Asymmetric Network Power Management via Scheduled Timing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wireless sensor networks face inefficiencies in power management, communication protocols, and localization in indoor environments due to asymmetry in power availability and interference from multiple reflecting surfaces, leading to reduced battery life, increased energy consumption, and limited localization capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A wireless asymmetric network architecture with a hub controlling power consumption and communication, utilizing scheduled timing for sensor node operations, anti-collision features, and energy harvesting to optimize power use and localization, enabling long battery life and precise node localization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If wireless sensor nodes operate continuously to maintain communication and localization, then communication reliability and localization precision are improved, but power consumption increases and battery life decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic communication cycles where sensor nodes alternate between active transmission/reception phases and low-power sleep phases. The hub schedules periodic communication windows for nodes to transmit data and receive commands, allowing nodes to power down their radio interfaces between cycles. This periodic operation maintains communication reliability by ensuring regular check-ins while dramatically reducing average power consumption compared to continuous operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The hub performs preliminary scheduling of communication slots and wake-up times for sensor nodes before they enter low-power states. By pre-coordinating when nodes should wake, transmit, and go back to sleep, the system ensures communication reliability is maintained without requiring nodes to remain continuously active. Nodes wake at predetermined times to exchange data then return to low-power mode, balancing reliability and power consumption.
2Measurement precision
If sensor nodes transmit and receive communications frequently to maintain network synchronization and localization, then network coordination and localization precision are improved, but battery life decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic localization updates where sensor nodes wake at scheduled intervals to exchange positioning information with the hub and other nodes, then return to low-power sleep mode. Instead of continuous localization tracking, nodes perform measurement exchanges periodically at frequencies sufficient to maintain acceptable localization precision while minimizing radio activation time and power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by updating localization information only when necessary rather than continuously. Sensor nodes perform localization measurements and exchanges at reduced frequency compared to continuous operation, accepting slightly reduced precision in exchange for dramatically extended battery life. The hub coordinates these partial updates to maintain sufficient localization accuracy for the application.
3Productivity
If multiple sensor nodes transmit simultaneously to improve data collection efficiency, then productivity is improved, but communication collisions increase and reliability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the communication medium by allocating specific time slots and frequencies to different sensor nodes for transmission. The hub divides the network into multiple communication channels and schedules nodes to transmit on different segments of the spectrum or at different times, preventing simultaneous transmissions that would cause collisions. This segmentation maintains high data collection productivity while ensuring reliable communication by eliminating interference.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts transmission scheduling based on network conditions, node priority, and data urgency. The hub monitors communication patterns and reallocates time slots and frequencies dynamically to optimize both productivity and reliability. When collisions are detected or network traffic increases, the hub dynamically reassigns transmission parameters to maintain efficient data collection while preventing communication failures.
4Length of moving object
If sensor nodes operate at high power levels to extend communication range, then communication range is improved, but energy consumption increases and battery life decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs periodic high-power transmission bursts interspersed with low-power intervals rather than sustained high-power operation. Sensor nodes transmit at high power levels only during scheduled communication windows when data exchange is necessary, then switch to low-power sleep mode. This periodic high-power operation extends communication range during active periods while maintaining acceptable battery life by minimizing the duration of high-energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts transmission power levels based on real-time network conditions, node position, and communication requirements. The hub coordinates power level adjustments so nodes transmit at high power only when extended range is necessary, and reduce power when close to the hub or when data traffic is low. This dynamic power management maintains adequate communication range while optimizing battery life by avoiding unnecessary high-power operation.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for implementing power management features while providing a wireless asymmetric network are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a system includes a hub having a wireless control device that is configured to control communications and power consumption in the wireless asymmetric network architecture and sensor nodes each having at least one sensor and a wireless device with a transmitter and a receiver to enable bi-directional communications with the wireless control device of the hub. The wireless control device is configured to determine a scheduled timing of operating each sensor node during a first time period that is close in time with respect to a transmit window of the transmitter and during a second time period that is close in time with respect to a receive window of the receiver for each wireless device to reduce power consumption of the wireless devices of the sensor nodes.