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Improving the Energy Efficiency of Cellular IoT Devices
Karlstad University, Faculty of Health, Science and Technology (starting 2013), Department of Mathematics and Computer Science (from 2013). (Distributed Intelligent Systems and Communication (DISCO))ORCID iD: 0000-0001-5495-4318
2025 (English)Doctoral thesis, comprehensive summary (Other academic)Alternative title
Förbättring av energieffektiviteten för cellulära IoT-enheter (Swedish)
Abstract [en]

The rapid rise of Cellular Internet of Things (CIoT) technology is expected to connect over 6 billion devices by 2029. Many of these devices, often deployed in remote, urban, or hard-to-reach areas, operate on limited battery resources and are expected to last up to 10 years. However, current battery limitations challenge the long-term operation required by many applications. Ensuring low energy consumption is therefore crucial for avoiding frequent recharging or battery replacements.

This thesis addresses the challenge of enhancing the energy efficiency of Narrow-Band Internet of Things (NB-IoT) devices by examining and optimizing the energy-saving mechanisms standardized by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). Specifically, the research classifies and evaluates existing energy-saving solutions for CIoT— particularly for NB-IoT—by identifying their limitations and studying the impact of mechanisms such as Discontinuous Reception (DRX), Release Assistance Indicator (RAI), Power Saving Mode (PSM), Early Data Transmission (EDT), and Preconfigured Uplink Resources (PUR) on battery life. While improved energy efficiency is essential, it often comes at the cost of increased latency. This thesis evaluates these effects on both energy consumption and latency, offering insights into the trade-offs between the two.

Based on these findings, we propose guidelines for configuring NB-IoT devices to achieve an optimal balance between energy efficiency and performance. A significant contribution of this research is the development of a machine learning-based optimization approach that dynamically adjusts configurations based on network conditions, such as signal quality, packet loss, and data transmission frequency. By integrating advanced energy-saving mechanisms with optimization techniques, this work deepens our understanding of the interplay between device configurations and battery life. Although energy-saving measures may reduce performance (e.g., increased latency or reduced throughput), further investigation into these trade-offs is essential. The proposed guidelines and strategies aim to extend NB-IoT devices’ battery life to 10 years or more, enhancing their usability across diverse CIoT deployments.

Abstract [sv]

Den snabba utvecklingen av Cellular Internet of Things (CIoT)-teknologi förväntas koppla samman över 6 miljarder enheter till år 2029. Många av dessa enheter, som ofta placeras i avlägsna, urbana eller svårtillgängliga områden, drivs av begränsade batteriresurser och förväntas fungera i upp till 10 år. Dock utgör nuvarande batteribegränsningar en utmaning för långvarig drift i många applikationer. Därför är låg energiförbrukning avgörande för att undvika frekventa laddningar eller batteribyten.

Denna avhandling adresserar utmaningen att förbättra energieffektiviteten hos NB-IoT-enheter genom att undersöka och optimera de energibesparande mekanismer som standardiserats av 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). Specifikt klassificerar och utvärderar forskningen befintliga energibesparande lösningar för CIoT, särskilt för Narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT), genom att identifiera deras begränsningar samt studera effekterna av mekanismer såsom Discontinuous Reception (DRX), Release Assistance Indicator (RAI), Power Saving Mode (PSM), Early Data Transmission (EDT) och Pre-configured Uplink Resources (PUR) på batteritid. Förbättrad energieffektivitet kommer dock ofta till priset av ökad latens. Denna avhandling utvärderar dessa effekter på både energiförbrukning och latens och erbjuder insikter i de avvägningar som krävs.

Baserat på resultaten föreslås riktlinjer för att konfigurera NB-IoT-enheter så att en optimal balans mellan energieffektivitet och prestanda uppnås. Ett betydande bidrag från detta arbete är utvecklingen av en maskininlärningsbaserad optimeringsmetod som dynamiskt justerar konfigurationer beroende på nätverksförhållanden, såsom signalstyrka, paketförlust och dataöverföringsfrekvens. Genom att integrera avancerade energibesparande mekanismer med optimeringstekniker fördjupar detta arbete förståelsen för samspelet mellan enhetskonfigurationer och batteritid. Även om energibesparande åtgärder kan minska prestanda (t.ex. ökad latens eller reducerad genomströmning), krävs ytterligare undersökningar kring dessa avvägningar. De föreslagna riktlinjerna och strategierna syftar till att förlänga NB-IoT-enheternas batteritid till 10 år eller mer, vilket förbättrar deras användbarhet i olika CIoT-implementeringar.

Abstract [en]

The rapid rise of Cellular Internet of Things (CIoT) is connecting billions of devices worldwide, many of which must run on limited battery power for up to 10 years. Ensuring low energy consumption is vital to avoid frequent recharges or replacements. This thesis focuses on enhancing the energy efficiency of Narrow-Band IoT (NB-IoT) devices by optimizing 3GPP’s energy-saving mechanisms. We investigate Discontinuous Reception (DRX), Release Assistance Indicator (RAI), Power Saving Mode (PSM), Early Data Transmission (EDT), and Preconfigured Uplink Resources (PUR) to evaluate how each feature affects battery life and latency. Striking a balance between energy savings and performance is key. Our machine learning-based optimization approach dynamically adjusts configurations based on network conditions, offering valuable guidelines for extending battery life to 10+ years in diverse CIoT scenarios.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Karlstad: Karlstads universitet, 2025. , p. 30
Series
Karlstad University Studies, ISSN 1403-8099 ; 2025:15
Keywords [en]
CIoT, 3GPP, energy saving, mMTC, NB-IoT, LTE-M, EC-GSM-IoT, machine learning
Keywords [sv]
CIoT, 3GPP, energibesparing, mMTC, NB-IoT, LTE-M, EC-GSM-IoT, maskininlärning
National Category
Telecommunications
Research subject
Computer Science
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:kau:diva-103638DOI: 10.59217/cmon1505ISBN: 978-91-7867-562-3 (print)ISBN: 978-91-7867-563-0 (electronic)OAI: oai:DiVA.org:kau-103638DiVA, id: diva2:1947162
Public defence
2025-05-07, 21A342 (Eva Erikssonsalen), Universitetsgatan 2, Karlstad, 10:00 (English)
Opponent
Supervisors
Available from: 2025-04-16 Created: 2025-03-25 Last updated: 2025-04-16Bibliographically approved
List of papers
1. Energy-Saving Solutions for Cellular Internet of Things - A Survey
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2022 (English)In: IEEE Access, E-ISSN 2169-3536, Vol. 10, p. 62096-62096Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

The Cellular Internet of Things (CIoT), a new paradigm, paves the way for a large-scale deployment of IoT devices. CIoT promises enhanced coverage and massive deployment of low-cost IoT devices with an expected battery life of up to 10 years. However, such a long battery life can only be achieved provided the CIoT device is configured with energy efficiency in mind. This paper conducts a comprehensive survey on energy-saving solutions in 3GPP-based CIoT networks. In comparison to current studies, the contribution of this paper is the classification and an extensive analysis of existing energy-saving solutions for CIoT, e.g., the configuration of particular parameter values and software modifications of transport- or radio-layer protocols, while also stressing key parameters impacting the energy consumption such as the frequency of data reporting, discontinuous reception cycles (DRX), and Radio Resource Control (RRC) timers. In addition, we discuss shortcomings, limitations, and possible opportunities which can be investigated in the future to reduce the energy consumption of CIoT devices.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
IEEE: IEEE, 2022
Keywords
CIoT, 3GPP, energy-saving, mMTC, NB-IoT, LTE-M, EC-GSM-IoT
National Category
Telecommunications
Research subject
Computer Science
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:kau:diva-90168 (URN)10.1109/ACCESS.2022.3182400 (DOI)000812551400001 ()2-s2.0-85132770822 (Scopus ID)
Available from: 2022-06-08 Created: 2022-06-08 Last updated: 2025-03-25Bibliographically approved
2. Guidelines for an Energy Efficient Tuning of the NB-IoT Stack
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2020 (English)In: 45th IEEE Conference on Local Computer Networks (LCN), IEEE Communications Society, 2020, p. 60-69, article id 9363265Conference paper, Published paper (Refereed)
Abstract [en]

In this paper, we study the energy consumptionof Narrowband IoT devices. The paper suggests that key tosaving energy for NB-IoT devices is the usage of full Discontinuous Reception (DRX), including the use of connected-mode DRX (cDRX): In some cases, cDRX reduced the energy consumption over a 10-year period with as much as 50%. However, the paper also suggests that tunable parameters, such as the inactivity timer, do have a significant impact. On the basis of our findings, guidelines are provided on how to tune the NB-IoT device so that it meets the target of the 3GPP, i.e., a 5-Wh battery should last for at least 10 years. It is further evident from our results that the energy consumption is largely dependent on the intensity and burstiness of the traffic, and thus could be significantly reduced if data is sent in bursts with less intensity,irrespective of cDRX support.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
IEEE Communications Society, 2020
Keywords
internet of things, cellular internet of things, nb-iot, power consumption
National Category
Telecommunications
Research subject
Computer Science
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:kau:diva-80911 (URN)000663434400007 ()2-s2.0-85102637604 (Scopus ID)
Conference
45th IEEE Conference on Local Computer Networks (LCN), Sydney, Australia, November 16-19, 2020
Projects
5th Generation End-to-end Network, Experimentation, System Integration, and Showcasing (5GENESIS)
Funder
EU, Horizon 2020, 815178
Available from: 2020-10-17 Created: 2020-10-17 Last updated: 2025-03-25Bibliographically approved
3. On the Energy-efficient Use of Discontinuous Reception and Release Assistance in NB-IoT
Open this publication in new window or tab >>On the Energy-efficient Use of Discontinuous Reception and Release Assistance in NB-IoT
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2022 (English)Conference paper, Published paper (Refereed)
Abstract [en]

Cellular Internet of Things (CIoT) is a Low-Power Wide-Area Network (LPWAN) technology. It aims for cheap, lowcomplexity IoT devices that enable large-scale deployments and wide-area coverage. Moreover, to make large-scale deployments of CIoT devices in remote and hard-to-access locations possible, a long device battery life is one of the main objectives of these devices. To this end, 3GPP has defined several energysaving mechanisms for CIoT technologies, not least for the Narrow-Band Internet of Things (NB-IoT) technology, one of the major CIoT technologies. Examples of mechanisms defined include CONNECTED-mode DRX (cDRX), Release Assistance Indicator (RAI), and Power Saving Mode (PSM). This paper considers the impact of the essential energy-saving mechanisms on minimizing the energy consumption of NB-IoT devices, especially the cDRX and RAI mechanisms. The paper uses a purpose-built NB-IoT simulator that has been tested in terms of its built-in energy-saving mechanisms and validated with realworld NB-IoT measurements. The simulated results show that it is possible to save 70%-90% in energy consumption by enabling the cDRX and RAI. In fact, the results suggest that a battery life of 10 years is only achievable provided the cDRX, RAI, and PSM energy-saving mechanisms are correctly configured and used

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
New York: IEEE Communications Society, 2022
Keywords
CIoT, NB-IoT, energy-efficiency, cDRX, RAI, PSM.
National Category
Telecommunications
Research subject
Computer Science
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:kau:diva-91882 (URN)
Conference
The IEEE 8th World Forum on Internet of Things(IEEE WFIoT) Yokohama, Japan, 26 October–11 November, 2022.
Available from: 2022-09-13 Created: 2022-09-13 Last updated: 2025-03-25Bibliographically approved
4. Evaluating the Impact of Pre-Configured Uplink Resources in Narrowband IoT
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Evaluating the Impact of Pre-Configured Uplink Resources in Narrowband IoT
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2024 (English)In: Sensors, E-ISSN 1424-8220, Vol. 24, no 17, article id 5706Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Deploying Cellular Internet of Things (CIoT) devices in urban and remote areas faces significant energy efficiency challenges. This is especially true for Narrowband IoT (NB-IoT) devices, which are expected to function on a single charge for up to 10 years while transmitting small amounts of data daily. The 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) has introduced energy-saving mechanisms in Releases 13 to 16, including Early Data Transmission (EDT) and Preconfigured Uplink Resources (PURs). These mechanisms extend battery life and reduce latency by enabling data transmission without an active Radio Resource Control (RRC) connection or Random Access Procedure (RAP). This paper examines these mechanisms using the LENA-NB simulator in the ns-3 environment, which is a comprehensive framework for studying various aspects of NB-IoT. The LENA-NB has been extended with PURs, and our analysis shows that PURs significantly enhance battery life and latency efficiency, particularly in high-density environments. Compared to the default RAP method, PURs reduce energy consumption by more than 2.5 times and increases battery life by 1.6 times. Additionally, PURs achieve latency reductions of 2.5 - 3.5 times. The improvements with PURs are most notable for packets up to 125 bytes. Our findings highlight PURs' potential to enable more efficient and effective CIoT deployments across various scenarios. This study represents a detailed analysis of latency and energy consumption in a simulated environment, advancing the understanding of PURs' benefits.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Switzerland: MDPI, 2024
Keywords
CIoT, energy efficiency, PUR, EDT, latency
National Category
Telecommunications
Research subject
Computer Science
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:kau:diva-101538 (URN)10.3390/s24175706 (DOI)001311467000001 ()39275617 (PubMedID)2-s2.0-85203881510 (Scopus ID)
Projects
Data-driven latency-sensitive mobile services for a digitalised society (DRIVE)
Funder
Knowledge Foundation
Available from: 2024-09-04 Created: 2024-09-04 Last updated: 2025-03-25Bibliographically approved
5. Dynamic NB-IoT Configuration: A Machine Learning-Driven Optimization Framework
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Dynamic NB-IoT Configuration: A Machine Learning-Driven Optimization Framework
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(English)In: IEEE Internet of Things Journal, ISSN 2327-4662Article in journal (Refereed) Submitted
Abstract [en]

The deployment of Cellular Internet of Things (CIoT) is expected to reach over six billion devices by 2030. Many of these devices will be located in remote areas where replacing or recharging their batteries would be difficult and expensive. Therefore, it is crucial to configure these devices to use energy efficiently in order to avoid frequent battery replacements or recharging. However, optimizing the energy consumption of CIoT devices, considering their applications and operating environmental conditions, presents a complex challenge. In response to this challenge, we propose the Gradient-Boosted Learning Optimization for Battery Efficiency (GLOBE) framework for dynamic configuration of Narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT) devices. GLOBE adjusts the radio layer of NB-IoT devices based on data transmission patterns and network conditions, enabling swift and automated reconfiguration. Our results demonstrate that GLOBE reduces energy consumption by 30% to 75% compared to baseline configurations, offering significant benefits for both network operators and end devices by improving energy efficiency.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
IEEE Communications Society
Keywords
CIoT, NB-IoT, energy efficiency, machine learning, gradient boost, particle swarm optimization
National Category
Telecommunications
Research subject
Computer Science
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:kau:diva-103637 (URN)
Available from: 2025-03-25 Created: 2025-03-25 Last updated: 2025-03-25

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