Wireless Communication Scheduling for Energy Harvesting Gaps
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless telecommunications systems face challenges in ensuring efficient energy use and network connectivity for devices that rely on energy harvesting, particularly due to the unpredictability of ambient energy sources and the need for frequent transitions between connected and disconnected modes, leading to increased signaling overhead.
Innovation Solution
Implementing an energy harvesting gap mechanism where the network is aware of the device's energy status and controls the communication behavior, allowing the device to suspend communication during energy harvesting periods and resume when sufficient energy is stored, thereby reducing unnecessary signaling and maintaining reliable network connectivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If devices frequently transition between connected and disconnected modes to manage energy harvesting, then energy management flexibility is improved, but signaling overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The network is pre-configured with knowledge of energy harvesting gaps through assistance information provided by the device. This allows the network to proactively schedule communications around these gaps before they occur, avoiding the need for frequent reactive signaling and transitions between connected and disconnected modes.
Solution Approach 2:
The device provides feedback to the network about its energy harvesting status through assistance information. This feedback mechanism enables the network to adapt its scheduling decisions based on the device's energy availability, allowing flexible energy management while minimizing unnecessary signaling overhead.
2Loss of energy
If devices suspend communication during energy harvesting periods, then energy efficiency is improved, but network connectivity reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The network is informed in advance about energy harvesting gaps through assistance information from the device. This allows the network to proactively schedule communications during periods when energy is available, ensuring connectivity reliability while still allowing energy harvesting during scheduled gaps.
Solution Approach 2:
The communication scheduling is dynamically adjusted based on the device's energy harvesting status. The network can flexibly modify communication patterns during energy harvesting gaps while maintaining reliable connectivity during active periods, adapting to the device's energy availability in real-time.
3Device complexity
If devices with small battery capacity are used, then device complexity is reduced, but energy availability worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The device with small battery capacity harvests energy from ambient sources to supplement its limited battery. By providing the network with assistance information about its energy harvesting capabilities and gaps, the device enables the network to schedule communications optimally, allowing the device to maintain operation with minimal battery capacity while meeting communication requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
A first wireless telecommunications apparatus comprising: communication circuitry configured to receive wireless signals from or transmit wireless signals to a second wireless telecommunications apparatus, the communication circuitry using energy stored in an energy storage device to receive or transmit the wireless signals; and control circuitry configured to: control the communication circuitry to suspend the receiving of wireless signals from or transmitting of wireless signals to the second wireless telecommunications apparatus during a time period when there is insufficient energy in the energy storage device usable by the communication circuitry; and control the communication circuitry to resume the receiving of wireless signals from or transmitting of wireless signals to the second wireless telecommunications apparatus after a time period of accumulating sufficient energy in the energy storage device usable by the communication circuitry.