Energy-harvesting devices in wireless networks

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure describe communication techniques and configurations for energy-harvesting devices in a wireless communication network. An apparatus may include circuitry to receive, by a network device of a wireless communication network, a message from user equipment, the message including an indication that the user equipment is an energy-harvesting device and circuitry to differentiate the energy-harvesting device from other non-energy-harvesting devices in the wireless communication network based on the indication. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus comprising:
 circuitry to receive, by a network device of a wireless communication network, a message from user equipment, the message including an indication that the user equipment is an energy-harvesting device; and 
 circuitry to differentiate the energy-harvesting device from other non-energy-harvesting devices in the wireless communication network based on the indication, 
 wherein the message identifies an energy-harvesting pattern of the energy-harvesting device. 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the message identifies an energy source of the energy-harvesting device. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the message identifies an energy storage capability of the energy-harvesting device. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the message identifies an energy storage capacity of the energy-harvesting device. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the message is a Radio Resource Control (RRC) message. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the circuitry to receive is to receive the message during device capability negotiation between the energy-harvesting device and the wireless communication network. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the circuitry to differentiate is to differentiate the energy-harvesting device by modifying a schedule for communication with the energy-harvesting device based on the indication. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the circuitry to differentiate is to differentiate the energy-harvesting device by using a Device Type to identify the energy-harvesting device. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the circuitry to differentiate is to differentiate the energy-harvesting device by allocating a portion of a Radio Network Temporary Identifier (RNTI) to identify the energy-harvesting device. 
 
     
     
       10. An apparatus comprising:
 circuitry to receive, by a network device of a wireless communication network, a message from user equipment, the message including an indication that the user equipment is an energy-harvesting device; 
 circuitry to differentiate the energy-harvesting device from other non-energy-harvesting devices in the wireless communication network based on the indication; and 
 circuitry to schedule communication with the energy-harvesting device over the wireless communication network based on a scheduling policy that considers energy storage capacity or energy storage level of the energy-harvesting device. 
 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the scheduling policy considers energy storage capacity and energy storage level of the energy-harvesting device and further considers instantaneous data rate of the energy-harvesting device and an average data rate of the energy-harvesting device. 
     
     
       12. An apparatus comprising:
 circuitry to receive, by a network device of a wireless communication network, energy storage information of an energy-harvesting device; and 
 circuitry to schedule communication with the energy-harvesting device over the wireless communication network based on a scheduling policy that considers the energy storage information. 
 
     
     
       13. The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the circuitry to receive is to receive the energy storage information by receiving signaling sent by the energy-harvesting device; 
 the energy storage information includes energy storage capacity and energy storage level of the energy-harvesting device; and 
 the scheduling policy considers the energy storage capacity and the energy storage level of the energy-harvesting device. 
 
     
     
       14. The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the circuitry to receive is to receive the energy storage information by receiving the energy storage information periodically in scheduled slots. 
     
     
       15. The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the circuitry to receive is to receive the energy storage information by receiving a Radio Resource Control (RRC) message including the energy storage information based on occurrence of an event. 
     
     
       16. The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the energy storage information comprises one or more bits that correspond with a nominal value of an energy storage level of the energy-harvesting device. 
     
     
       17. An apparatus comprising:
 circuitry to send energy storage information of user equipment to a network device of a wireless communication network, wherein the energy storage information includes an indication that the user equipment is an energy-harvesting device; and 
 circuitry to receive communication over the wireless network, wherein the communication is scheduled with the energy-harvesting device based on a scheduling policy that considers the energy storage information. 
 
     
     
       18. The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the energy storage information identifies an energy source of the energy-harvesting device, an energy-harvesting pattern of the energy-harvesting device, an energy storage capability of the energy-harvesting device or an energy storage capacity of the energy-harvesting device. 
     
     
       19. The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the circuitry to send is to send the energy storage information during device capability negotiation between the energy-harvesting device and the wireless communication network. 
     
     
       20. The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the circuitry to send is to send the energy storage information in a Radio Resource Control (RRC) message. 
     
     
       21. The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein:
 the energy storage information includes energy storage capacity and energy storage level of the energy-harvesting device; and 
 the scheduling policy considers energy storage capacity and energy storage level of the energy-harvesting device. 
 
     
     
       22. The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein:
 the scheduling policy further considers instantaneous data rate of the energy-harvesting device or an average data rate of the energy-harvesting device; 
 the scheduling policy applies a first weight factor for considering the energy storage capacity and energy storage level of the energy-harvesting device; and 
 the scheduling policy applies a second weight factor for considering the instantaneous date rate or the average data rate of the energy-harvesting device. 
 
     
     
       23. The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the wireless communication network comprises a cellular network configured to operate in accordance with a 3 rd  Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) protocol. 
     
     
       24. One or more non-transitory, computer-readable media having instructions that, when executed, cause a network device of a wireless communication network to:
 receive a message from user equipment, the message including an indication that the user equipment is an energy-harvesting device; and 
 differentiate the energy-harvesting device from other non-energy-harvesting devices in the wireless communication network based on the indication, 
 wherein the message identifies an energy-harvesting pattern of the energy-harvesting device. 
 
     
     
       25. The one or more non-transitory, computer-readable medium of  claim 24 , wherein the message identifies an energy source of the energy-harvesting device. 
     
     
       26. The one or more non-transitory, computer-readable medium of  claim 24 , wherein the message identifies an energy storage capability or capacity of the energy-harvesting device. 
     
     
       27. The one or more non-transitory, computer-readable medium of  claim 24 , wherein the message is a Radio Resource Control (RRC) message. 
     
     
       28. The one or more non-transitory, computer-readable media of  claim 24 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the device to:
 differentiate the energy-harvesting device by:
 modifying a schedule for communication with the energy-harvesting device based on the indication; 
 using a Device Type to identify the energy-harvesting device; or 
 allocating a portion of a Radio Network Temporary Identifier (RNTI) to identify the energy-harvesting device. 
 
 
     
     
       29. The one or more non-transitory, computer-readable media of  claim 24 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the device to:
 schedule communication with the energy-harvesting device over the wireless communication network based on a scheduling policy that considers energy storage capacity or energy storage level of the energy-harvesting device. 
 
     
     
       30. The one or more non-transitory, computer-readable media of  claim 29 , wherein the scheduling policy considers energy storage capacity and energy storage level of the energy-harvesting device and further considers instantaneous data rate of the energy-harvesting device and an average data rate of the energy-harvesting device. 
     
     
       31. One or more non-transitory, computer-readable media having instructions that, when executed, cause a network device of a wireless communication network to:
 receive energy storage information of an energy-harvesting device; and 
 schedule communication with the energy-harvesting device over the wireless communication network based on a scheduling policy that considers the energy storage information. 
 
     
     
       32. The one or more non-transitory, computer-readable media of  claim 31 , wherein the energy storage information includes energy storage capacity and energy storage level of the energy-harvesting device; and
 the scheduling policy considers the energy storage capacity and the energy storage level of the energy-harvesting device. 
 
     
     
       33. The one or more non-transitory, computer-readable media of  claim 31 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the apparatus to receive the energy storage information by receiving the energy storage information periodically in scheduled slots. 
     
     
       34. The one or more non-transitory, computer-readable media of  claim 31 , wherein the energy storage information comprises one or more bits that correspond with a nominal value of an energy storage level of the energy-harvesting device.