Wireless Sensor Node Localization in Asymmetric Networks

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional wireless sensor networks face inefficiencies in power management, collision avoidance, and localization in indoor environments due to asymmetry in power availability and interference from multiple sources, leading to reduced battery life and poor communication range.

Innovation Solution

A wireless asymmetric network architecture with a hub and nodes featuring power management and anti-collision features, utilizing scheduled timing for transmitter and receiver operations and multiple antennas for precise localization, leveraging energy harvesting and ultra-wide band communication to optimize power consumption and communication efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If conventional wireless sensor networks are deployed in indoor environments, then wireless data collection is enabled, but power consumption increases and battery life decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidbattery life

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements periodic communication cycles where sensor nodes transmit data at scheduled intervals rather than continuously. The hub controls transmission timing, putting nodes into sleep mode between cycles, thereby reducing power consumption while maintaining data collection functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-service through automatic transmission scheduling where the hub manages communication timing without requiring manual intervention. Nodes automatically wake, transmit, and return to sleep based on hub-directed schedules, optimizing power usage autonomously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If multiple sensor nodes communicate simultaneously in conventional networks, then data collection coverage is improved, but communication collisions increase and reliability decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication reliabilityVSAvoiddata collection efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The hub performs preliminary scheduling of transmission slots for each sensor node before communication occurs. By pre-assigning time slots and coordinating transmissions, the system prevents collisions before they happen, ensuring reliable communication while maintaining efficient data collection from multiple nodes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Length of stationary object

If transmission power is increased to extend communication range, then coverage area is improved, but power consumption increases and battery life decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication rangeVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Length of stationary objectVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple low-power transmissions from different nodes scheduled at different times into an effective network-wide communication system. Instead of requiring each node to transmit at high power simultaneously, the hub coordinates staggered transmissions that collectively achieve broad coverage while maintaining low individual power consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Loss of information

If continuous reception is enabled to capture all transmissions, then data completeness is improved, but power consumption increases and battery life decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata completenessVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The hub provides feedback to sensor nodes about scheduled transmission and reception times. Nodes use this feedback to activate their receivers only during designated windows when data is expected, ensuring complete data capture while minimizing power consumption by keeping receivers off during idle periods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS9529076B2Systems and methods for determining locations of wireless sensor nodes in an asymmetric network architecture

Publication Date: 2016.12.27 ZAINAR INC

AI summary

Systems and methods for determining location information for sensor nodes in a wireless asymmetric network are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, an apparatus (e.g., hub) for providing a wireless asymmetric network architecture includes a memory for storing instructions, one or more processing units to execute instructions to establish and control communications in a wireless asymmetric network architecture, and radio frequency (RF) circuitry including multiple antennas to transmit and receive communications in the wireless asymmetric network architecture. The RF circuitry may include multiple antennas to transmit communications to a plurality of sensor nodes each having a wireless device with a transmitter and a receiver to enable bi-directional communications with the RF circuitry of the apparatus in the wireless asymmetric network architecture. The one or more processing units are configured to execute instructions to determine location information for the plurality of sensor nodes based on receiving communications from each sensor node.