Extending an operational lifetime of an internet of things (IOT) device

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.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for extending an operational lifetime of an Internet of Things (IoT) device, comprising the IoT device, wherein the IoT device comprises:
 a communications device configured to transmit a report from a message dispatcher;   a power monitor to monitor a reserve power level; and   an interval adjuster to control a timing of the report based, at least in part, on the reserve power level.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the reserve power level comprises a battery level. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the reserve power level comprises a charging level from a charging device. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , comprising:
 a message constructor to assemble the report; and   the message dispatcher to send the report to a coordinator.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the IoT device comprises:
 a sensor interface that is coupled to a sensor; and   the report comprises:
 a value measured by the sensor; and 
 a time stamp for the value. 
   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , comprising:
 an alert limit that comprises a value for the reserve power level; and   the report comprises the reserve power level and a timestamp when the reserve power level falls below the alert limit.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the IoT device comprises an actuator interface that is coupled to an actuator. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the IoT device is in a mesh network with a plurality of other IoT devices. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the communications device comprises a wireless local area network (WLAN) transceiver. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the communications device comprises a wireless wide area network (WWAN) transceiver. 
     
     
         11 . A method for controlling a reporting interval in an Internet-of-Things (IoT) device, comprising:
 monitoring a power level for the IoT device; and   adjusting an interval between a transmission of two reports based, at least in part, on the power level.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , comprising increasing the interval when a reserve battery level falls below a selected limit. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , comprising increasing the interval when a power level of a charging device falls below a selected limit. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , comprising:
 constructing a report; and   sending the report to a coordinator.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , comprising:
 measuring a value from a sensor interface;   constructing a report comprising the value and a timestamp for the measurement; and   sending the report to a coordinator.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , comprising placing the IoT device in a low power state when the power level falls below a selected limit. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , comprising storing a report in a local storage when the power level is below a selected limit. 
     
     
         18 . A non-transitory, machine readable medium comprising code to direct a processor to:
 measure a value of a reserve power level for an Internet of Things (IoT) device; and   adjust a reporting interval between a transmission of two reports based, at least in part, on the value.   
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory, machine readable medium of  claim 18 , comprising code to direct the processor to:
 construct a report; and   send the report to a coordinator.   
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory, machine readable medium of  claim 18 , comprising code to direct the processor to save a report that has not been sent. 
     
     
         21 . An Internet of Things (IoT) device, comprising:
 a communications device configured to transmit a report from a message dispatcher;   a power monitor to monitor a reserve power level; and   an interval adjuster to control the timing of the report based, at least in part, on the reserve power level.   
     
     
         22 . The IoT device of  claim 21 , wherein the reserve power level comprises a battery level. 
     
     
         23 . The IoT device of  claim 21 , wherein the reserve power level comprises a charging level from a charging device. 
     
     
         24 . The IoT device of  claim 21 , comprising:
 a message constructor to assemble the report; and   a message dispatcher to send the report to a coordinator.   
     
     
         25 . The IoT device of  claim 21 , wherein the IoT device comprises:
 a sensor interface that is coupled to a sensor; and   the report comprises:
 a value measured by the sensor; and 
 a time stamp for the value.