# US 11,122,509 B2 · Extending an operational lifetime of an internet of things (IOT) device

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- Number: US 11,122,509 B2
- Document ID: US11122509B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/424,418
- Filed: 2019-05-28
- Published: 2019-09-12
- Granted: 2021-09-14
- Earliest claimed: 2015-12-23
- Assignees: Intel Corporation
- Applicants: Intel Corporation
- Inventors: Keith Nolan; Mark Kelly
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11122509B2

## CPC

- H04W 52/0258: {controlling an operation mode according to history or models of usage information, e.g. activity schedule or time of day}
- H04L 43/065: related to network devices
- H04L 43/067: using time frame reporting
- H04L 43/106: using time related information in packets, e.g. by adding timestamps
- H04W 52/0235: {where the received signal is a power saving command}
- Y02D 30/70: in wireless communication networks
- H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72)
- H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M)
- Y02D: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES [ICT], I.E. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES AIMING AT THE REDUCTION OF THEIR OWN ENERGY USE

## Abstract

A method and apparatus for extending an operational lifetime of an Internet of Things (IoT) device. In an example apparatus including the IoT device, the IoT device includes a communications device configured to transmit a report from a message dispatcher and a power monitor to monitor a reserve power level. An interval adjuster controls the timing of the report based, at least in part, on the reserve power level.

## Claims

### Claim 1

At least one non-transitory machine-readable storage device having stored thereon instructions that, when executed by at least one processor of an Internet of Things (IoT) device, cause the at least one processor to perform operations, the operations comprising:
monitoring a reserve power level of a battery associated with the IoT device,
determining a charging status of an environmentally powered charging device coupled to the battery associated with the IoT device;
selecting a reserve power limit of the battery associated with the IoT device;
selecting, based at least in part on the monitored reserve power level, a time interval for at least one function of the IoT device;
determining a first reporting period when the monitored reserve power level is above the reserve power limit and periodically transmit a first report, associated with the at least one function of the IoT device, at a first timing interval, wherein the first timing interval defines an amount of time which occurs between the periodic transmission of the first report;
determining a second reporting period when the monitored reserve power level is equal to the reserve power limit and periodically transmit a second report, associated with the at least one function of the IoT device, at a second timing interval, wherein the second timing interval defines an amount of time which occurs between the periodic transmission of the second report;
determining a third reporting period when the monitored reserve power level is below the reserve power limit and periodically transmit a third report, associated with the at least one function of the IoT device, at a third timing interval, wherein the third timing interval defines an amount of time which occurs between the periodic transmission of the third report;
wherein the first timing interval is shorter than the second timing interval, and the second timing interval is shorter than the third timing interval;
determining, based at least in part on a trend of the monitored reserve power level, whether a breach of an alert limit is expected to occur based on a lack of power from the environmentally powered charging device, wherein in response to determining that a breach of an alert limit will occur, sending an alert message;
determining whether an adequate amount of power is available to be generated during one of the first timing interval, the second timing interval, or the third timing interval; and
in response to determining that an adequate amount of power is available to be generated during one of the first timing interval, the second timing interval, or the third timing interval, activating a sleep or suspend state for one of the first timing interval, the second timing interval or the third timing interval.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The machine-readable storage device of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise:
saving at least one of the first report, the second report, or the third report when any of the first, second, or third report has not been transmitted.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The machine-readable storage device of claim 1, wherein the at least one function of the IoT device includes measuring a value collected by a sensor.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The machine readable storage device of claim 3, wherein one of the first report, the second report, or the third report includes a time stamp for the value.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The machine-readable storage device of claim 1, wherein the IoT device is a part of a mesh network with at least one other IoT device.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The machine-readable storage device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first timing interval or the second timing interval is adjusted to adjust a transmission interval between the first report and the second report, or between the second report and the third report based, at least in part, on a value measured by a sensor.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The machine-readable storage device of claim 1, wherein one of the first timing interval or the second timing interval is adjusted to adjust a transmission interval between the first report and the second report, or between the second report and the third report based, at least in part, on the monitored reserve power level.

### Claim 8

A method for extending the life of an internet of things (IoT) device, the method comprising:
monitoring a reserve power level of a battery associated with the IoT device,
determining a charging status of an environmentally powered charging device coupled to the battery associated with the IoT device;
selecting a reserve power limit of the battery associated with the IoT device;
selecting, based at least in part on the monitored reserve power level, a time interval for at least one function of the IoT device;
determining a first reporting period when the monitored reserve power level is above the reserve power limit and periodically transmit a first report, associated with the at least one function of the IoT device, at a first timing interval, wherein the first timing interval defines an amount of time which occurs between the periodic transmission of the first report;
determining a second reporting period when the monitored reserve power level is equal to the reserve power limit and periodically transmit a second report, associated with the at least one function of the IoT device, at a second timing interval, wherein the second timing interval defines an amount of time which occurs between the periodic transmission of the second report;
determining a third reporting period when the monitored reserve power level is below the reserve power limit and periodically transmit a third report, associated with the at least one function of the IoT device, at a third timing interval, wherein the third timing interval defines an amount of time which occurs between the periodic transmission of the third report;
wherein the first timing interval is shorter than the second timing interval, and the second timing interval is shorter than the third timing interval;
determining, based at least in part on a trend of the monitored reserve power level, that a breach of an alert limit is expected to occur based on a lack of power from the environmentally powered charging device, wherein in response to determining that a breach of an alert limit will occur, sending an alert message;
determining whether an adequate amount of power is available to be generated during one of the first timing interval, the second timing interval, or the third timing interval; and
in response to determining that an adequate amount of power is available to be generated during one of the first timing interval, the second timing interval, or the third timing interval, activating a sleep or suspend state for one of the first timing interval, the second timing interval, or the third timing interval.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, further comprising:
saving at least one of the first report, the second report, or the third report when any of the first, second, or third report has not been transmitted.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein the at least one function of the IoT device is measuring a value collected by a sensor.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein one of the first report, the second report, or the third report includes a time stamp for the value.

### Claim 12 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein the IoT device is part of a mesh network with at least one other IoT device.

### Claim 13 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein one of the first timing interval or the second timing interval is adjusted to adjust a transmission interval between the first report and the second report, or between the second report and the third report based, at least in part, on a value measured by a sensor.

### Claim 14 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein one of the first timing interval or the second timing interval is adjusted to adjust a transmission interval between the first report and the second report, or between the second report and the third report based, at least in part, on the monitored reserve power level.

### Claim 15

A system for extending the life of an internet of things (IoT) device, comprising:
a processor;
memory, including instructions stored thereon, which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
monitor a reserve power level of a battery associated with the IoT device;
determine a charging status of an environmentally powered charging device coupled to the battery associated with the IoT device;
select a reserve power limit of the battery associated with the IoT device;
select, based at least in part on the monitored reserve power level, a time interval for at least one function of the IoT device;
determine a first reporting period when the monitored reserve power level is above the reserve power limit and periodically transmit a first report, associated with the at least one function of the IoT device, at a first timing interval, wherein the first timing interval defines an amount of time which occurs between the periodic transmission of the first report;
determine a second reporting period when the monitored reserve power level is equal to the reserve power limit and periodically transmit a second report, associated with the at least one function of the IoT device, at a second timing interval, wherein the second timing interval defines an amount of time which occurs between the periodic transmission of the second report;
determine a third reporting period when the monitored reserve power level is below the reserve power limit and periodically transmit a third report, associated with the at least one function of the IoT device, at a third timing interval, wherein the third timing interval defines an amount of time which occurs between the periodic transmission of the third report;
wherein the first timing interval is shorter than the second timing interval, and the second timing interval is shorter than the third timing interval;
determine, based at least in part on a trend of the monitored reserve power level, that a breach of an alert limit is expected to occur based on a lack of power from the environmentally powered charging device, wherein in response to determining that a breach of an alert limit will occur, sending an alert message;
determine whether an adequate amount of power is available to be generated during one of the first timing interval, the second timing interval, or the third timing interval; and
in response to determining that an adequate amount of power is available to be generated during one of the first timing interval, the second timing interval, or the third timing interval, activating a sleep or suspend state for one of the first timing interval, the second timing interval, or the third timing interval.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The system of claim 15, wherein the processor is further to:
save at least one of the first report, the second report, or the third report, when any of the first, second, or third report has not been transmitted.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The system of claim 15, wherein the at least one function of the IoT device is measurement of a value collected by a sensor.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The system of claim 17, wherein one of the first report, the second report, or the third report includes a time stamp for the value.

### Claim 19 (depends on 15)

The system of claim 15, wherein the IoT device is part of a mesh network with at least one other IoT device.

### Claim 20 (depends on 15)

The system of claim 15, wherein one of the first timing interval or the second timing interval is adjusted to adjust a transmission interval between the first report and the second report, or between the second report and the third report based, at least in part, on a value measured by a sensor.

### Claim 21 (depends on 15)

The system of claim 15, wherein one of the first timing interval or the second timing interval is adjusted to adjust a transmission interval between the first report and the second report, or between the second report and the third report based, at least in part, on the monitored reserve power level.