Wireless communication with ambient power devices using reconfigurable intelligent surfaces
As reconfigurable Intelligent Surface devices (RISs) and ambient power devices become more common, it is advantageous to connect and leverage the capabilities of these devices into various wireless networks, including Wi-Fi networks. Configuring an RIS in a wireless network to provide and improve communications between an access point (AP) and an ambient power device is described. Configuring the RIS may include using a series of sounding frames between the AP and the ambient power device to update and control an RIS to improve transmission between the AP and the ambient power device.
1 . A method comprising:
receiving, at an access point (AP), an energy indication message from an ambient power device in a network;
determining, from the energy indication message, a current energy level status of the ambient power device;
transmitting a series of sounding frames to the ambient power device via a reconfigurable intelligent surface device (RIS);
updating a set of signal factors based on at least one response received from the ambient power device for the series of sounding frames;
providing a control message to the RIS to alter a surface of the RIS to maximize the set of signal factors; and
initiating transmissions to the ambient power device based on the set of signal factors and the current energy level status.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the ambient power device comprises a backscatter device (BKD).
3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the at least one response comprises a modulated frame (p-BKD) passively reflected back from the BKD.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one response comprises a feedback matrix generated by the ambient power device upon harvesting sufficient energy to emit a sounding frame response to the AP.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein transmitting the series of sounding frames further comprises:
transmitting a series of control messages to adjust elements of the RIS for each sound frame in the series of sounding frames.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the control message causes the RIS to rotate one or more edge elements on the surface to form a virtual parabolic reflector and focus RF energy toward the ambient power device for energy harvesting and wherein initiating transmissions to the ambient power device comprises:
transmitting RF energy to the ambient power device to meet an energy requirement indicated in the current energy level status.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the control message causes the RIS to rotate one or more elements on the surface to provide an angle for communication with the ambient power device.
8 . An access point (AP), comprising:
a processor; and
a memory comprising instructions which, when executed on the processor, performs an operation, the operation comprising:
receiving an energy indication message from an ambient power device in a network;
determining, from the energy indication message, a current energy level status of the ambient power device;
transmitting a series of sounding frames to the ambient power device via a reconfigurable intelligent surface device (RIS);
updating a set of signal factors based on at least one response received from the ambient power device for the series of sounding frames;
providing a control message to the RIS to alter a surface of the RIS to maximize the set of signal factors; and
initiating transmissions to the ambient power device based on the set of signal factors and the current energy level status.
9 . The AP of claim 8 , wherein the ambient power device comprises a backscatter device (BKD).
10 . The AP of claim 9 , wherein the at least one response comprises a modulated frame (p-BKD) passively reflected back from the BKD.
11 . The AP of claim 8 , wherein the at least one response comprises a feedback matrix generated by the ambient power device upon harvesting sufficient energy to emit a sounding frame response to the AP.
12 . The AP of claim 8 , wherein transmitting the series of sounding frames further comprises:
transmitting a series of control messages to adjust elements of the RIS for each sound frame in the series of sounding frames.
13 . The AP of claim 8 , wherein the control message causes the RIS to rotate one or more edge elements on the surface to form a virtual parabolic reflector and focus RF energy toward the ambient power device for energy harvesting and wherein initiating transmissions to the ambient power device comprises:
transmitting RF energy to the ambient power device to meet an energy requirement indicated in the current energy level status.
14 . The AP of claim 8 , wherein the control message causes the RIS to rotate one or more elements on the surface to provide an angle for communication with the ambient power device.
15 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith, the program instructions executable by a processor to perform an operation comprising:
receiving, at an access point (AP), an energy indication message from an ambient power device in a network;
determining, from the energy indication message, a current energy level status of the ambient power device;
transmitting a series of sounding frames to the ambient power device via a reconfigurable intelligent surface device (RIS);
updating a set of signal factors based on at least one response received from the ambient power device for the series of sounding frames;
providing a control message to the RIS to alter a surface of the RIS to maximize the set of signal factors; and
initiating transmissions to the ambient power device based on the set of signal factors and the current energy level status.
16 . The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the ambient power device comprises a backscatter device (BKD), and wherein the at least one response comprises a modulated frame (p-BKD) passively reflected back from the BKD.
17 . The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the at least one response comprises a feedback matrix generated by the ambient power device upon harvesting sufficient energy to emit a sounding frame response to the AP.
18 . The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein transmitting the series of sounding frames further comprises:
transmitting a series of control messages to adjust elements of the RIS for each sound frame in the series of sounding frames.
19 . The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the control message causes the RIS to rotate one or more edge elements on the surface to form a virtual parabolic reflector and focus RF energy toward the ambient power device for energy harvesting and wherein initiating transmissions to the ambient power device comprises:
transmitting RF energy to the ambient power device to meet an energy requirement indicated in the current energy level status.
20 . The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the control message causes the RIS to rotate one or more elements on the surface to provide an angle for communication with the ambient power device.