Design of an efficient binary phase-shift keying based IEEE 802.15.4 transceiver architecture and its performance analysis

The IEEE 802.15.4 physical layer (PHY) standard is one of the communication standards with wireless features by providing low-power and low-data rates in wireless personal area network (WPAN) applications. In this paper, an efficient IEEE 802.15.4 digital transceiver hardware architecture is designed using the binary phase-shift keying (BPSK) technique. The transceiver mainly has transmitter and receiver modules along with the error calculation unit. The BPSK modulation and demodulation are designed using a digital frequency synthesizer (DFS). The DFS is used to generate the in-phase (I) and quadrature-phase (Q) signals and also provides better system performance than the conventional voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) and look up table (LUT) based memory methods. The differential encoding-decoding mechanism is incorporated to recover the bits effectively and to reduce the hardware complexity. The simulation results are illustrated and used to find the error bits. The design utilizes less chip area, works at 268.2 MHz, and consumes 108 mW of total power. The IEEE 802.15.4 transceiver provides a latency of 3.5 clock cycles and works with a throughput of 76.62 Mbps. The bit error rate (BER) of 2×10-5 is achieved by the proposed digital transceiver and is suitable for real-time applications. The work is compared with existing similar approaches with better improvement in performance parameters

Sincronização de quadro e frequência para OFDM no padrão IEEE 802.15.4g : algoritmos e implementação em hardware

Orientadores: Renato da Rocha Lopes, Eduardo Rodrigues de LimaDissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia Elétrica e de ComputaçãoResumo: O objetivo deste trabalho é propor métodos de sincronização de quadro e de frequência de portadora para a camada física MR-OFDM do padrão IEEE 802.15.4g, começando pela pesquisa de algoritmos, passando pelas etapas de modelagem e simulação em alto nível, e finalmente implementando e avaliando os métodos propostos em hardware. A sincronização de quadro é o processo responsável por detectar o início do dado transmitido, ou seja, a primeira amostra válida do sinal de interesse. No caso de sistemas OFDM, onde o sinal transmitido é composto por um ou mais símbolos OFDM (cada símbolo sendo composto por uma quantidade fixa de amostras), o objetivo é detectar a borda ou janelamento de tais símbolos OFDM, ou seja, onde começa e termina cada um deles. A sincronização de frequência, por sua vez, consiste em estimar e compensar o erro de frequência de portadora, causado principalmente pelo descasamento dos osciladores do transmissor e do receptor. Com base em estudos preliminares, selecionamos o algoritmo de Minn para a detecção de quadro. Para a correção de erro de frequência, dividimos o processo em duas etapas, como é geralmente proposto na literatura: primeiro, o erro de frequência fracionário é estimado no domínio do tempo durante a detecção de quadro e compensado via rotação de sinal; após a conversão do domínio do tempo para o domínio da frequência, o erro de frequência inteiro é estimado e compensado utilizando um novo e simples algoritmo que será proposto e detalhado neste trabalho. Os algoritmos propostos foram implementados em hardware e uma plataforma de verificação baseada em FPGA foi criada para avaliar o seu desempenho. Os módulos implementados são parte de um projeto que está sendo desenvolvido no Instituto de Pesquisa Eldorado (Campinas) que tem como objetivo implementar em ASIC um transceptor compatível com o padrão IEEE 802.15.4gAbstract: The objective of this work is proposing methods of frame and frequency synchronization for the MR-OFDM PHY of IEEE 802.15.4g standard, starting with the research of state-of-the-art algorithms, passing through modeling, high-level simulations, and finally implementing and evaluating the proposed methods in hardware. Frame synchronization is the process responsible for detecting the beginning of transmitted data and, in the case of OFDM systems, the border of each OFDM symbol, while frequency synchronization consists of estimating and compensating the Carrier Frequency Offset (CFO) caused mainly by a mismatch between the transmitter and receiver oscillators. Based on the initial studies, we selected Minn¿s algorithm for frame detection. For the CFO correction, we split the process into two steps, as commonly proposed in the literature: first, the Fractional CFO is estimated in the time domain during the frame detection and compensated via signal rotation; after the conversion from time to frequency domain, the Integer CFO is estimated and compensated with a novel and simple algorithm that will be detailed in this work. The proposed algorithms were implemented in hardware and inserted in an FPGA-based verification platform for performance measurement. The implemented modules are part of a project that is under development at Eldorado Research Institute (Campinas) and aims to implement in ASIC a transceiver compliant to the IEEE 802.15.4g standardMestradoTelecomunicações e TelemáticaMestra em Engenharia Elétric

Flexible Multimodal Sub-Gigahertz Communication for Heterogeneous Internet of Things Applications

To realize low-power and low-cost wireless communication over long distances, several wireless standards using sub-1 GHz frequencies have recently been proposed, each with their own strengths and weaknesses in terms of coverage, energy consumption, and throughput. However, none of them are currently flexible enough to satisfy the requirements of future dynamic and heterogeneous IoT applications. To alleviate this, a novel architecture that uses a multimodal device for flexibly employing a variety of heterogeneous sub-1 GHz wireless networks is proposed. It greatly increases network flexibility, resilience, and performance. A device design is presented together with an abstraction layer that combines the different networks into a single flexible virtual network substrate. The article elaborates on the qualitative advantages of this approach. Measurement-based simulation results show advantages in terms of energy efficiency, with significant reduction in energy use compared to a single-technology solution in a representative IoT track and trace scenario. Finally, the article identifies several open research challenges that need to be resolved to fully realize this vision of flexible multimodal communication for demanding IoT applications

Intra-network interference robustness : an empirical evaluation of IEEE 802.15.4-2015 SUN-OFDM

While IEEE 802.15.4 and its Time Slotted Channel Hopping (TSCH) medium access mode were developed as a wireless substitute for reliable process monitoring in industrial environments, most deployments use a single/static physical layer (PHY) configuration. Instead of limiting all links to the throughput and reliability of a single Modulation and Coding Scheme (MCS), you can dynamically re-configure the PHY of link endpoints according to the context. However, such modulation diversity causes links to coincide in time/frequency space, resulting in poor reliability if left unchecked. Nonetheless, to some level, intentional spatial overlap improves resource efficiency while partially preserving the benefits of modulation diversity. Hence, we measured the mutual interference robustness of certain Smart Utility Network (SUN) Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) configurations, as a first step towards combining spatial re-use and modulation diversity. This paper discusses the packet reception performance of those PHY configurations in terms of Signal to Interference Ratio (SIR) and time-overlap percentage between interference and targeted parts of useful transmissions. In summary, we found SUN-OFDM O3 MCS1 and O4 MCS2 performed best. Consequently, one should consider them when developing TSCH scheduling mechanisms in the search for resource efficient ubiquitous connectivity through modulation diversity and spatial re-use

Development Of Water Meter For Secure Communication In The Advanced Metering Infrastructure

The Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) is one of the integral components of the smart water grid where water consumption data is collected, stored, and transferred to the utility Meter Data Management System (MDMS). The organizations which are directly involved in promoting and developing the Smart Water Grid have tried to figure out the operating scenarios in the overall domain from the smart meters up to MDMS, and logical/physical components that should be expected to exist to perform those operations in the full extent. One of the daunting tasks in realizing the services in the AMI is the security issue. Unlike the utility operation system which is almost isolated from the outside world from the communication point of view, the AMI will lie in the open domain. Since water metering devices are located in an open network domain, any cyber attack that is excruciating the services of the Internet could take a toll on the services in the Smart Water Grid at the same level. In order to understand cyber security threats and define security requirements we explain the logical model of the AMI, and then based on the logical model we analyze the information flows to provide the advanced services in this domain. Based on the characteristics of devices that consist of the customer domain and the information flows for providing advanced services, we analyze the possible security attacks which exploit the vulnerability of devices and information flows. Next we address the implementation issue of the water meter. We propose possible approaches for developing the smart water meter in which the security functions should be integrated into metering and communication functions in the same box in economic and efficient ways

Uso de técnicas de combinação de diversidade e fatores de espalhamento estendidos para melhorar a performance e reduzir a complexidade do receptor OFDM em IEEE 802.15.4g

Orientadores: Renato da Rocha Lopes, Eduardo Rodrigues de LimaDissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia Elétrica e de ComputaçãoResumo: EEE 802.15.4g é um adendo da norma IEEE 802.15.4 focada em Smart Utility Network (SUN), e dedicada a requisitos de comunicação no contexto de Low Rate (LR) Wireless Personal Area Network (WPAN). Hoje em dia, devido às suas características, o adendo foca em apliações de Smart Ubiquitous Network, como cidades inteligentes e Internet das Coisas (IoT). Uma das três Camadas Físicas (PHYs) definidas na norma é a Multi-Rate and Multi-Regional Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (MR-OFDM). Além de outras características, o MR-OFDM emprega o método Frequency Spreading (FS) para reduzir a Peak-to-Average Power Ratio (PAPR) do símbolo OFDM. Sob algumas premissas do canal, este trabalho mostra que o FS também pode introduzir diversidade em frequência à camada física. Este trabalho propõe um método para reverter o espalhamento de frequência que explora diversidade em IEEE 802.15.4g MR-OFDM. O método segue duas abordagens: o uso de técnicas de combinação de diversidade e a proposta de novas configurações de Modulation and Coding Scheme (MCS) usando fatores de espalhamento estendidos. Em um canal com distribuição Rayleigh e assumindo subportadoras não correlacionadas, o método proposto mostra melhorias de até 10.35 dB quando comparado ao MR-OFDM, revertendo o espa-lhamento de frequência de forma direta, usando configurações originais. O método é válido mesmo na presença de erros na estimativa do canal e bandas de coerência largas. O trabalho faz parte de um projeto maior que visa a implementação de um circuito integrado capaz de suportar as três camadas físicas definias em IEEE 802.15.4g, não apenas o MR-OFDM. Devido a isso, o método deve ser totalmente compatível com a norma e focar na complexidade de implementação do receptor MR-OFDMAbstract: IEEE 802.15.4g is an amendment of the IEEE 802.15.4 standard focused on Smart Utility Networks (SUN), and devoted to the communication requirements of Low Rate Wireless Personal Area Network (LR-WPAN). Nowadays, due to its characteristics, the amendment focuses on Smart Ubiquitous Network applications, such as Smart City and Internet of Things (IoT). One of the three Physical Layers (PHYs) defined in the standard is the Multi-Rate and Multi-Regional Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (MR-OFDM). In addition to other features, the MR-OFDM employs frequency spreading to reduce the Peak-to-Average Power Ratio (PAPR) of the OFDM symbol. Under some channel assumptions, this frequency spreading can also introduce frequency diversity to the PHY. This work proposes a method to perform frequency despreading that exploits diversity in the IEEE 802.15.4g MR-OFDM PHY. The method follows two approaches: the use of diversity combining techniques and the proposal of new Modulation and Coding Scheme (MCS) configurations using extended spreading factors. In a channel with Rayleigh distribution and assuming uncorrelated subcarriers, the proposed method shows improvements up to 10.35 dB when compared to the MR-OFDM performing frequency despreading using original configurations. The method is valid even in the presence of channel estimation errors and large channel coherence bandwidths. The work is part of a larger project which aims at the implementation of an Integrated Circuit capable of handling the three PHYs defined in the IEEE802.15.4g, not only the MR-OFDM. Thus, the method must be fully compliant to the standard and focus on the MR-OFDM receiver implementation complexityMestradoTelecomunicações e TelemáticaMestre em Engenharia Elétric

The search for a convergent option to deploy smart grids on IoT scenario

Smart city projects are quickly evolving in several countries as a feasible solution to the urban organization to provide sustainable socioeconomic growth and solve problems that arise as the populations of these cities grow. In this sense, technology application plays an important role in enabling automation of processes, improving the citizen’s quality of life and reducing the costs of public services for municipalities and enterprises. However, automation initiatives of services such as electricity, water, and gas which materialize by the so-called smart grids, have emerged earlier than smart city projects, and are consolidating in several countries. Although smart grid initiatives have arisen earlier to projects of smart cities it represents a subset of the great scenario of IoT that is the vision in which the smart city projects are based. The time difference from developments between these two initiatives made the alternatives of communication technologies for infrastructures construction of communication followed different paths. However, in view of the great scenery of IoT is desirable to determine technologies that provide convergence of a single urban communication infrastructure capable of supporting all applications, whether they are typically IoT or traditional smart grid applications. This work is a review which presents and discusses the two main technologies which are currently best positioned to play this role of convergence that is RF Mesh and LoRaWAN. The strengths and weaknesses of each one of them are also presented and propose that in actuality LoRaWAN is a promising option to offer the required conditions to take on this convergent position2356957

A survey of smart grid architectures, applications, benefits and standardization

The successful transformation of conventional power grids into Smart Grids (SG) will require robust and scalable communication network infrastructure. The SGs will facilitate bidirectional electricity flow, advanced load management, a self-healing protection mechanism and advanced monitoring capabilities to make the power system more energy efficient and reliable. In this paper SG communication network architectures, standardization efforts and details of potential SG applications are identified. The future deployment of real-time or near-real-time SG applications is dependent on the introduction of a SG compatible communication system that includes a communication protocol for cross-domain traffic flows within the SG. This paper identifies the challenges within the cross-functional domains of the power and communication systems that current research aims to overcome. The status of SG related machine to machine communication system design is described and recommendations are provided for diverse new and innovative traffic features