Wireless Multi-Hop Network Node Synchronization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wireless multi-hop networks face challenges in energy efficiency and end-to-end transmission delay due to nodes remaining in an idle listening state, which consumes energy and affects performance.
Innovation Solution
A method for synchronizing nodes into active and sleep states based on intervals, where control frames indicate data transmission times, allowing nodes to transition to sleep state after successful data delivery or receipt, reducing idle listening and optimizing energy use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If nodes remain in idle listening state to monitor for data transmission, then reliability of data reception is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action by dividing operation into structured intervals (first interval for control frames, second interval for data frames) with synchronized wake-up and sleep periods. Nodes periodically wake up at specific intervals to perform designated tasks then return to sleep state, converting continuous idle listening into periodic active monitoring that maintains reliability while reducing energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by having nodes wake up in advance during the first interval to receive control frames that contain information about upcoming data transmissions. This preliminary wake-up allows nodes to prepare for data reception only when necessary, rather than continuously listening, thus reducing energy consumption while ensuring reliable reception when data is actually transmitted.
2Productivity
If nodes wake up early to receive control frames, then transmission coordination is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the operation period into distinct intervals with specific functions: first interval for control frame exchange, second interval for data frame transmission, and sleep intervals for energy conservation. This segmentation allows nodes to wake up only during necessary intervals rather than continuously, improving transmission coordination through structured timing while reducing overall energy consumption by limiting active periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic action through synchronized wake-up schedules where nodes activate at predetermined intervals to perform specific tasks (receiving control frames, transmitting data) then return to sleep. This periodic pattern ensures proper transmission coordination through regular synchronization while minimizing energy consumption by restricting active states to necessary time windows.
3Reliability
If nodes stay in active state longer to ensure data delivery, then transmission reliability is improved, but end-to-end transmission delay increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by transmitting control frames in advance during the first interval that contain all necessary information for data transmission (destination addresses, timing information, routing details). This allows receiving nodes to prepare for data reception beforehand, ensuring reliable delivery when data arrives in the second interval while minimizing delays by having nodes ready in advance rather than waiting after data transmission begins.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic action through structured intervals that separate control plane operations (first interval) from data plane operations (second interval). This periodic structure ensures reliable data delivery by dedicating specific time windows to each function, reducing end-to-end delay by preventing interference between control and data transmissions, and allowing nodes to sleep between intervals rather than remaining continuously active.
Data Source
AI summary
Technology for a wireless multi-hop network is disclosed. a plurality of nodes in the wireless multi-hop network are synchronized to a period sequentially including a first interval and a second interval and are in an active state at the start time of the first interval. a node transmits a control frame at the start time of the first interval, the control frame indicating that data will be transmitted in the second interval, and then transitions to a sleep state which is maintained until a wake-up time in response to determining that the control frame has been successfully received by a next hop node. The wake-up time is a point in time when a node transitions to an active state to transmit the data and is present in the second interval.