CN118102408A - A LoRaWAN cross-region automatic roaming method, device, and computer - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention belongs to the field of LoRaWAN communication technology, and relates to a LoRaWAN cross-region automatic roaming method, device, and computer. The LoRaWAN device cross-region automatic roaming method of the present invention optimizes the resource-constrained microcontroller (MCU) through GNSS positioning technology and offline map technology, so that the MCU-based LoRaWAN device can automatically switch the frequency plan when crossing regions without manual intervention. On the one hand, the present invention can realize the function of the LoRaWAN device automatically switching the frequency plan when crossing regions, and on the other hand, it can also solve the problem that the cross-region roaming of the LoRaWAN device violates radio laws and regulations.

Description

A LoRaWAN cross-region automatic roaming method, device, and computer

Technical Field

The present invention relates to the field of LoRaWAN communication technology, and in particular to a LoRaWAN cross-region automatic roaming method and device, and a computer.

Background technique

This section is intended to provide a background or context to the embodiments of the invention recited in the claims. No description herein is admitted to be prior art by inclusion in this section.

With the rapid development of the Internet of Things, sensors based on low-power wide area network technology are constantly being put into practical application, and their scale has reached a huge level. At present, the corresponding mainstream protocol is LoRaWAN, which includes complete link management, uplink and downlink control, and accesses the Internet of Things in the form of gateway plus node. Usually, LoRaWAN operators manage devices, store and distribute data. Due to different national and regional radio frequency regulations, the frequency planning of LoRaWAN is divided according to different regions, so there are frequency plans such as EU868, US915, AS923, and AU915. Therefore, only the corresponding frequency plans can be used in different countries and regions, otherwise it will violate the radio control regulations of the corresponding countries or regions.

With the emergence of multinational LoRaWAN operators, LoRaWAN devices are no longer limited to fixed areas and can be used in different countries or continents. However, the evolution of the existing LoRaWAN protocol does not support automatic roaming without human intervention, but requires manual re-entry when the LoRaWAN frequency plan changes. LoRaWAN automatic roaming has great prospects, taking into account low power consumption and long-distance transmission, and can realize special applications such as international logistics tracking. Existing conventional LoRaWAN devices may violate the radio control regulations of the relevant regions when crossing LoRaWAN areas (regions with different frequency plans).

Therefore the prior art needs further development.

Summary of the invention

The present invention aims to solve the problem that the existing LoRaWAN devices need to manually re-enter the network when crossing the LoRaWAN area and may violate relevant laws and regulations, and provide a LoRaWAN cross-region automatic roaming method, device and computer that can roam automatically and does not violate the regulations.

In order to achieve the above object, the technical solution adopted by the present invention is as follows.

On the one hand, the present invention provides a LoRaWAN cross-region automatic roaming method, comprising:

Load offline maps;

Acquire the real-time location of the device through a positioning chip;

Using the real-time location to obtain the corresponding map grid number in the storage module, and obtaining the frequency of the area corresponding to the grid number;

Counting the regional frequency parameter of the real-time location, if the regional frequency parameter reaches a certain frequency value setting number of times continuously, and the frequency value is different from the current frequency of the device, then performing frequency switching and updating the frequency value to the device, if the frequency value is the same as the current frequency of the device, then not performing frequency switching;

After receiving the frequency value, the device stops the current LoRaWAN frequency plan, re-enters the network according to the regional parameters corresponding to the frequency value, and performs LoRaWAN communication according to the frequency plan corresponding to the frequency value.

As a further technical solution, the storage module stores offline maps, and reads offline map data from external Flash to internal RAM through the QSPI high-speed interface, and then restores the compressed map data to standard H3 grid index data for algorithm search and use.

As a further technical solution, the offline map data includes different index levels.

As a further technical solution, the offline map is loaded into the internal RAM in batches, and the batch loading method is loading according to the same area data or loading according to a fixed length.

As a further technical solution, the method of using the real-time location to obtain the corresponding map grid number in the storage module and obtaining the frequency of the area corresponding to the grid number includes:

S1: Convert the real-time position into a grid number;

S2: Select an offline map of a region to load;

S3: Check whether there is a grid that meets the lowest index level in the selected offline map. If so, return success and obtain the frequency of the area corresponding to the grid number. Otherwise, return failure and search for a map of the next index level.

S4: When all levels are searched and the corresponding number is still not found, return to step S2 to select and load the next regional map.

As a further technical solution, the method further includes compressing the map data by compressing and simplifying the index numbers.

On the other hand, the present invention also provides a LoRaWAN cross-regional automatic roaming device, including an MCU main control module, a transceiver module, a positioning module and a storage module, wherein the storage module stores offline map data assigned with a grid number, the positioning module is used to obtain the location of the device in real time, the MCU main control module is used to grid number the offline map, and match the offline map grid number corresponding to the device location obtained by the positioning module in the storage module to obtain the frequency of the area corresponding to the grid number, and perform frequency switching judgment and frequency switching.

As a further technical solution, the storage module stores offline maps, and reads offline map data from external Flash to internal RAM through the QSPI high-speed interface, and then restores the compressed map data to standard H3 grid index data for algorithm search and use.

As a further technical solution, the offline map data includes different index levels.

On the other hand, the present invention also provides a computer device, including a memory, a processor, and a computer program stored in the memory and executable on the processor, wherein the processor implements the above-mentioned LoRaWAN device cross-region automatic roaming method when executing the computer program.

Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects:

The cross-region automatic roaming method of the LoRaWAN device of the present invention optimizes the resource-constrained microcontroller (MCU) through GNSS positioning technology and offline map technology, so that the LoRaWAN device based on the MCU can automatically switch the frequency plan when crossing regions without manual intervention. On the one hand, the present invention realizes the function of automatically switching the frequency plan of the LoRaWAN device when crossing regions, and on the other hand, solves the problem that the cross-region roaming of the LoRaWAN device violates radio laws and regulations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings described herein are used to provide a further understanding of the present invention and constitute a part of this application. The exemplary embodiments of the present invention and their descriptions are used to explain the present invention and do not constitute an improper limitation of the present invention. In the drawings:

FIG1 is a schematic flow chart of an automatic roaming method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG2 is a schematic diagram of a map grid according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG3 is another schematic diagram of a map grid according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG4 is another schematic diagram of a map grid according to an embodiment of the present invention;

5 is a schematic diagram of offline map loading according to an embodiment of the present invention;

6 is a schematic diagram of the working mode switching of the positioning module according to an embodiment of the present invention;

7 is a schematic diagram of a grid matching process according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG8 is a schematic diagram of frequency switching according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a roaming device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed ways

In order to make the purpose, technical scheme and advantages of the present invention more clearly understood, the present invention is further described in detail below in conjunction with the embodiments and drawings. The schematic implementation modes and descriptions of the present invention are only used to explain the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention. It should be noted that the present invention is already in the actual development and use stage.

In the description of the present invention, it should be understood that the terms "upper", "lower", "front", "back", "left", "right", etc., indicating the orientation or positional relationship, are based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the present invention, rather than indicating or implying that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore cannot be understood as limiting the present invention. In addition, the terms "first", "second", etc., of the present invention are only used to distinguish the description, and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance.

It should be noted that when an element is referred to as being "fixed to" or "disposed on" another element, it may be directly on the other element or there may be an intermediate element at the same time. When an element is referred to as being "connected to" another element, it may be directly connected to the other element or there may be an intermediate element at the same time. When an element is referred to as being "provided with" another element, it may be provided on the surface or inside of the element.

Unless explicitly stated otherwise, throughout the specification and claims, the term “comprise” or variations such as “include” or “comprising”, etc., will be understood to include the stated elements or components but not to exclude other elements or components.

Example 1

On the one hand, this embodiment provides a LoRaWAN cross-region automatic roaming method, which mainly includes processes such as obtaining real-time location, calculating regional frequency, switching to new frequency, etc., as shown in Figure 1, specifically including:

Step 1: Load offline map data;

Step 2: Obtain the real-time location of the device through a positioning chip;

Step 3: Use the real-time location to obtain the corresponding map grid number in the storage module, and obtain the frequency of the area corresponding to the grid number;

Step 4: Count the regional frequency parameters of the real-time location. If the regional frequency parameter reaches a certain frequency value setting number of times continuously, and the frequency value is different from the current frequency of the device, then perform frequency switching and update the frequency value to the device. If the frequency value is the same as the current frequency of the device, then do not perform frequency switching.

Step 5: After receiving the frequency value, the device stops the current LoRaWAN frequency plan, re-enters the network according to the regional parameters corresponding to the frequency value, and performs LoRaWAN communication according to the frequency plan corresponding to the frequency value.

The storage module of this embodiment stores an offline map in advance. In the map, the longitude range (-180, 180) and the latitude range (-90, 90) represent a fixed point in the geographic space, similar to the xy coordinates in a two-dimensional coordinate system. As shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4, the H3 grid is used to divide the geographic space into fixed surfaces, a regular hexagonal range is delineated, and a unique index is corresponding. If an H3 code is known, the geographic space it represents is also determined. Using it as a data storage index, a range query of the geographic space can be realized.

In some embodiments, the offline map data includes different index levels. The H3 areas of different index levels are different; the higher the index level, the smaller the grid area, the higher the corresponding accuracy, but the larger the data volume. The lower the index level, the larger the grid area, the lower the corresponding accuracy, and the smaller the data volume.

According to the LoRaWAN global frequency plan, the H3 grid index numbers of the corresponding areas of the same frequency plan are merged to obtain the envelope map data of EU868, US915, AS923, AU915 and other areas. The map data is then burned and stored in an external flash in binary mode for algorithm search. Since LoRaWAN devices are usually MCU processors, the memory space is small. This embodiment further compresses the H3 map data and simplifies the 64-bit H3 index number to 32 bits. According to the different sensitivity requirements of automatic switching of the frequency plan, the H3 index number can be further compressed and simplified. Not only does it save storage space, but it also improves the efficiency of the search algorithm.

During the specific implementation, through step 1, the offline map data is read from the external Flash to the internal RAM through the QSPI high-speed interface. Then the compressed map data is restored to the standard H3 grid index data for algorithm search and use. Putting offline data in the internal RAM can improve the search speed of the algorithm. But sometimes the offline map is too large to be loaded into the RAM all at once. At this time, it is necessary to load in batches, which can be loaded according to the same area data or according to a fixed length, which depends on the size of the RAM space. This embodiment uses the same area data loading, that is, N times of loading map data from N different regions. Since the lower the H3 index level, the larger the geographical range represented by the grid, the less corresponding offline data; the higher the index level, the smaller the geographical range represented by the grid, and the more corresponding offline data. Therefore, the offline map data is divided into index levels, and then the search order from low level to high level is used to improve the efficiency of the algorithm, as shown in Figure 5.

Specifically, when the device enters a cross-region, the map data stored in the storage module is directly loaded. Through step 2, the positioning chip obtains the real-time position of the device, and uses the real-time position to obtain the corresponding map grid number in the storage module, and obtains the frequency of the area corresponding to the grid number.

As a further technical solution, the process of using the real-time location to obtain the corresponding map grid number in the storage module and obtaining the frequency of the area corresponding to the grid number in step 3 is specifically referred to in FIG. 7, including:

S1: Convert the real-time position into a grid number; This embodiment receives the satellite signal provided by the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) through the positioning chip on the LoRaWAN device, and uses the precise time signal to calculate the position (longitude, latitude, altitude). There are currently four global navigation satellite systems and two regional navigation satellite systems. Global navigation includes: the United States (GPS), Russia (GLONASS), China (BeiDou), Europe (Galileo), and regional navigation includes: Japan (QZSS) and India (NavIC).

The main parameters for measuring positioning performance are: signal receiving bandwidth, receiving sensitivity, and operating power consumption. The signal receiving bandwidth determines the amount of satellite system signal data that can be received. More satellite signals have greater advantages for position solution. The receiving sensitivity determines the weakest satellite signal that can be received. Higher sensitivity can receive higher quality satellite signals, which is also helpful for position solution. The operating power consumption directly determines the use time of the device. The lower the power consumption, the longer the working time. In order to save power consumption, the positioning chip of this embodiment switches between sleep and operation. The satellite signal is received and solved only when the position information is required. When the position information is not required, it enters sleep mode. This is very important for LoRaWAN low-power devices and directly affects the service life of the device. In working mode, the satellite messages output by the positioning chip are continuously received to calculate the real-time position. After obtaining the position information, the position data is pressed into the cache. When the data is sufficient, the positioning chip enters sleep mode, as shown in Figure 6.

S2: Select an offline map of a region to load; first select to load the offline map of the first region, such as US915;

S3: Check whether there is a grid that meets the lowest index level in the selected offline map. If so, return success and obtain the frequency of the area corresponding to the grid number. Otherwise, return failure and search for a map of the next index level.

S4: When all levels are searched and the corresponding number is still not found, return to step S2 to select and load the next regional map.

In order to improve the search efficiency, the search starts from the lowest level grid. If a matching grid can be found in the low-level grid, the low-level map data can save a lot of storage and computing power. If no matching grid is found in the low-level grid, the next level area is searched. For example, if the level 0 grid is not found, try to search from the level 1 grid. If it is still not found, then search from the level 2 grid. If all levels of grids have been searched and still not found, then change the area and start searching from the low-level grid again as in the above steps until the corresponding grid is found, and then go to step 4 to switch the frequency.

In step 4, after obtaining the regional frequency corresponding to the real-time location, in order to eliminate the location noise, the new regional parameters will be counted. In order to prevent frequency misreporting or interference from accidental signals, this embodiment needs to determine whether the regional frequency parameter has reached a certain specific frequency value for a set number of times in a row, that is, the frequency switching is performed only when the new regional parameter reaches the set number of times in a row. If the new frequency is the same as the current frequency, no action will be taken. If the new frequency is different from the current frequency, the new frequency will be updated to the device. After the device receives the new frequency, it stops the current LoRaWAN frequency plan and re-joins the network according to the new regional parameters. After successfully joining the network, the device performs LoRaWAN communication normally according to the new frequency plan, as shown in Figure 8.

On the other hand, the present embodiment also provides a LoRaWAN cross-regional automatic roaming device, including an MCU main control module, a transceiver module, a positioning module and a storage module. As shown in Figure 9, the storage module stores offline map data assigned with grid numbers, the positioning module is used to obtain the location of the device in real time, the MCU main control module is used to grid number the offline map, and match the offline map grid number corresponding to the device location obtained by the positioning module in the storage module to obtain the frequency of the area corresponding to the grid number, and perform frequency switching judgment and frequency switching.

Specifically, the automatic roaming device of this embodiment uses the chip LR1110 as the LoRa physical layer transceiver, implements the LoRaWAN Class A protocol, and supports different frequency plans such as EU868, US915, AS923, and AU915; uses the dual-band, high-sensitivity, low-power chip AG3335 as the GNSS positioning basis, and supports GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo and other systems; uses an off-chip flash chip to store offline map data, adopts a QSPI high-speed interface, supports 32MHz*4 high-speed reading, and if there is less offline data, the on-chip flash can also be used.

In some implementations, the storage module stores offline maps, and reads offline map data from external Flash to internal RAM via a QSPI high-speed interface, and then restores the compressed map data to standard H3 grid index data for use in algorithm search.

In some embodiments, the offline map data includes different index levels.

The automatic roaming method of the above roaming device is the same as that described in the embodiment of the above roaming method, and will not be repeated here.

This embodiment also provides a computer device, including a memory, a processor, and a computer program stored in the memory and executable on the processor, wherein the processor implements the above-mentioned LoRaWAN device cross-region automatic roaming method when executing the computer program. Here, the steps of implementing the LoRaWAN device cross-region automatic roaming method when the processor executes the computer program are the same as those described in the embodiment of the above-mentioned roaming method, and are not repeated here.

Through the above description of the implementation mode, it can be clearly understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention can be implemented by means of software and necessary general hardware, and of course it can also be implemented by hardware, but in many cases the former is a better implementation mode. Based on such an understanding, the detection method technical solution of the present invention is essentially or the part that contributes to the prior art can be embodied in the form of a software product, and the computer software product can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium, such as a computer floppy disk, a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a flash memory (FLASH), a hard disk or an optical disk, etc., including several instructions to enable a computer device (which can be a personal computer, a server, or a network device, etc.) to perform the above-mentioned method of each embodiment of the present invention. The database involved in each embodiment provided in this application may include at least one of a relational database and a non-relational database. Non-relational databases may include distributed databases based on blockchains, etc., but are not limited thereto. The processor involved in each embodiment provided in this application may be a general-purpose processor, a central processing unit, a graphics processor, a digital signal processor, a programmable logic device, a data processing logic device based on quantum computing, etc., but are not limited thereto.

In the above embodiments of the present application, the description of each embodiment has its own emphasis. For parts that are not described in detail in a certain embodiment, please refer to the relevant description of other embodiments.

It should be noted that, for the above-mentioned embodiments, for the sake of simplicity, they are all expressed as a series of action combinations, but those skilled in the art should be aware that the present application is not limited by the described order of actions, because according to the present application, certain steps can be performed in other orders or simultaneously. Secondly, those skilled in the art should also be aware that the embodiments described in the specification are all preferred embodiments, and the actions and modules involved are not necessarily required by the present application.

The above specific implementation methods further illustrate the objectives, technical solutions and beneficial effects of the present invention in detail. It should be understood that the above are only specific implementation methods of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc. made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included in the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims (10)

1. A method for automatic cross-region roaming of a LoRaWAN device, comprising: Load offline maps; Acquire the real-time location of the device through a positioning chip; Using the real-time location to obtain the corresponding map grid number in the storage module, and obtaining the frequency of the area corresponding to the grid number; The regional frequency parameter of the real-time position is counted. If the regional frequency parameter reaches a certain frequency value set number of times continuously, and the frequency value is different from the current frequency of the device, frequency switching is performed, and the frequency value is updated to the device. If the frequency value is the same as the current frequency of the device, frequency switching is not performed. After receiving the frequency value, the device stops the current LoRaWAN frequency plan, re-accesses the network according to the regional parameter corresponding to the frequency value, and performs LoRaWAN communication according to the frequency plan corresponding to the frequency value. 2. According to claim 1, a LoRaWAN device cross-region automatic roaming method is characterized in that the storage module stores an offline map, reads the offline map data from the external Flash to the internal RAM through the QSPI high-speed interface, and then restores the compressed map data to the standard H3 grid index data for algorithm search and use. 3. A LoRaWAN device cross-region automatic roaming method according to claim 2, characterized in that the offline map data includes different index levels. 4. A LoRaWAN device cross-region automatic roaming method according to claim 3, characterized in that the offline map is loaded into the internal RAM in batches, and the batch loading method is loaded according to the same area data or loaded according to a fixed length. 5. A method for automatic cross-regional roaming of a LoRaWAN device according to claim 4, characterized in that the use of the real-time location to obtain the corresponding map grid number in the storage module and obtaining the frequency of the area corresponding to the grid number includes: S1: Convert the real-time position into a grid number; S2: Select an offline map of a region to load; S3: Check whether there is a grid that meets the lowest index level in the selected offline map. If so, return success and obtain the frequency of the area corresponding to the grid number. Otherwise, return failure and search for a map of the next index level. S4: When all levels are searched and the corresponding number is still not found, return to step S2 to select and load the next regional map. 6. A LoRaWAN device cross-region automatic roaming method according to claim 2, characterized in that the method also includes compressing the map data by compressing and simplifying the index number. 7. A LoRaWAN cross-regional automatic roaming device, characterized in that it includes an MCU main control module, a transceiver module, a positioning module and a storage module, the storage module stores offline map data including grid numbers, the positioning module is used to obtain the location of the device in real time, the MCU main control module is used to grid number the offline map, and match the offline map grid number corresponding to the device location obtained by the positioning module in the storage module to obtain the frequency of the area corresponding to the grid number, and perform frequency switching judgment and frequency switching. 8. A LoRaWAN cross-regional automatic roaming device according to claim 7, characterized in that the storage module stores an offline map, reads the offline map data from the external Flash to the internal RAM through the QSPI high-speed interface, and then restores the compressed map data to the standard H3 grid index data for algorithm search and use. 9. A LoRaWAN cross-region automatic roaming device according to claim 8, characterized in that the offline map data includes different index levels. 10. A computer device, comprising a memory, a processor, and a computer program stored in the memory and executable on the processor, wherein when the processor executes the computer program, the method for automatic cross-regional roaming of a LoRaWAN device according to any one of claims 1 to 6 is implemented.