Wireless Sensor Network Time Synchronization and Low-Power Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wireless sensor networks face challenges with increased end-to-end latency and collision probability due to inefficient low-power routing schemes, particularly in mesh topology networks, which affect power consumption and system performance.
Innovation Solution
A time synchronization method and low-power routing scheme using a reservation scheme, where synchronization is performed for each predetermined region, and data transfer reservations are made in specific time slots to minimize active durations, reducing latency and collisions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If synchronous duty-cycle scheme is used for low power routing, then power consumption is reduced, but end-to-end latency increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing data reservation in the active period before nodes enter sleep mode. This allows transmission nodes to secure time slots for data transmission in advance, so that data can be transmitted immediately when the receiver wakes up, eliminating wake-up delays and reducing end-to-end latency while maintaining power savings.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the duty-cycle operation into distinct active and sleep periods with clear boundaries. By dividing the network operation into these temporal segments and performing reservation during active periods, the system achieves both power efficiency and reduced latency without the continuous synchronization overhead of traditional synchronous duty-cycle schemes.
2Loss of time
If asynchronous duty-cycle scheme is used for low power routing, then end-to-end latency is reduced, but collision probability increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses preliminary action by having nodes perform data reservation during active periods before entering sleep mode. This advance reservation secures transmission time slots, ensuring that when nodes wake up to transmit data, the time slot is already reserved and free from collisions, thus reducing collision probability while maintaining low latency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback through the reservation mechanism where nodes communicate their data transmission intentions in advance. This feedback allows the network to coordinate transmissions and avoid collisions, enabling asynchronous operation without the high collision rates that would otherwise occur.
3Use of energy by moving object
If traditional low power routing schemes are used, then power consumption is reduced, but system performance deteriorates due to collisions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing data reservation during active periods before nodes enter sleep mode. This advance reservation secures transmission time slots, ensuring that when nodes wake up to transmit data, the time slot is already reserved and free from collisions, thus reducing collision probability while maintaining low latency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback through the reservation mechanism where nodes communicate their data transmission intentions in advance. This feedback allows the network to coordinate transmissions and avoid collisions, enabling asynchronous operation without the high collision rates that would otherwise occur.
Data Source
AI summary
A time synchronization method in a wireless sensor network, a low power routing method using a reservation scheme, and an apparatus for performing the method are provided. The time synchronization method in the wireless sensor network may include: receiving a first synchronization request command packet from a parent node that manages time synchronization for a predetermined synchronization region; receiving, from the parent node, a second synchronization request command packet that has a transmission timestamp value of the first synchronization request command packet; and performing time synchronization for a child node based on a reception time of the first synchronization request command packet, a reception time of the second synchronization request command packet, and the transmission timestamp value of the first synchronization request command packet.