Ad Hoc Wireless Network Protocol for Power and Congestion Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ad hoc wireless networks face challenges such as high power consumption, network congestion, and data collisions due to inefficient communication protocols, particularly in scenarios where nodes are numerous and located in hard-to-reach areas.
Innovation Solution
A network protocol that employs terminal-initiated polling, adaptive duty cycle adjustment, and dynamic channel management, including the use of hardware noise for randomization and exponential back-off, to reduce power consumption and improve data transmission efficiency by establishing multiple master nodes and prioritizing data packets.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If nodes continuously monitor and transmit data in ad hoc wireless network, then network responsiveness and data freshness are improved, but power consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic monitoring and transmission cycles where nodes alternate between active monitoring phases and low-power sleep phases. During active phases, nodes monitor channel conditions and transmit status information; during sleep phases, nodes enter low-power mode with reduced duty cycle. This periodic operation maintains network responsiveness while significantly reducing average power consumption compared to continuous monitoring.
2Productivity
If multiple nodes transmit data simultaneously in ad hoc wireless network, then network throughput is improved, but data collisions increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a preliminary channel assessment phase before data transmission. Nodes first sense the wireless channel conditions, detect existing traffic patterns, and assess collision probability. Based on this preliminary assessment, nodes adjust their transmission timing and power levels to avoid periods of high collision risk. This preliminary action enables multiple nodes to transmit simultaneously during low-collision periods, maintaining high throughput while reducing data collisions.
3Reliability
If nodes establish multiple communication paths in ad hoc wireless network, then network reliability is improved, but network complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the network into hierarchical levels with master nodes handling routing decisions and slave nodes performing simpler local forwarding. Each node maintains routing information only for its immediate neighborhood rather than full network topology. This segmentation reduces individual node complexity while maintaining multiple communication paths through coordinated master-slave relationships, achieving reliable connectivity without proportional increases in per-node complexity.
4Reliability
If nodes increase transmission power to overcome interference, then signal reliability is improved, but power consumption and interference to other nodes increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements adaptive transmission power control where each node adjusts its power level based on local channel conditions, distance to destination, and detected interference from neighboring nodes. Nodes transmit at minimum necessary power to achieve reliable communication, increasing power only when local conditions require it. This local quality approach maintains signal reliability for each transmission while minimizing overall network power consumption and reducing interference to other nodes compared to uniform high-power transmission.
Data Source
AI summary
A system includes wireless network devices and a terminal device. The wireless network devices include a base station and plural repeater devices for routing data. The terminal device runs a network protocol to establish a presence in a wireless network that includes the wireless network devices. The terminal device enters a low-power mode when not communicating over the wireless network.