Ph.D. Thesis Proposal Wireless Transfer of Energy Alongside Information:  From Wireless Sensor Networks to Bio-Enabled Wireless Networks Hooman Javaheri College of Computer and Information Science Northeastern University Abstract Despite their constant evolution over the last few decades, wireless communication networks still struggle with energy conservation. The problem manifests itself in many applications, in particular wireless sensor networks, where communications do not occur frequently and nodes often remain idle, and small-scale communication networks, whose nodes need to to be minuscule. Such applications can achieve optimal energy-efficiency using passive (battery-less) receivers that wirelessly receive energy and information at the same time. In this proposal, we present techniques to simultaneously deliver energy alongside information during wireless communications. First, we present mechanisms to consolidate energy and information transfer in wireless sensor networks. We introduce iPoint, a communication system including a passive wireless receiver capable of establishing two-way communication with a commodity smartphone. We prototype and experimentally evaluate our design that includes techniques to ensure efficient delivery of energy and information and novel communication protocols. In the second part of the proposal, we study energy and information transfer in bio-enabled wireless networks. These theoretical networks feature wireless communication between wireless nodes and tiny biological organisms. We introduce possible designs for such networks using several enabling technologies, and present theoretical results on the performance of energy and information transfer. Download: [PDF] Thesis committee: Guevara Noubir (Advisor) Bernardo Barbiellini [CV] Peter Desnoyres [CV] Marsette Vona [CV] David Starobinski (External examiner, Boston University) Justification for thesis committee composition: Bernardo Barbiellini is an expert in theoretical physics; he has been working closely with hooman on the second part of his proposal: energy transfer in bio-enabled wireless networks. Peter Desnoyres an expert in system design. Marsette Vona works on algorithms, software and hardware solutions in systems interacting with the physical world. David Starobinski is an expert in wireless communication systems.

Ph.D. Thesis Proposal

Wireless Transfer of Energy Alongside Information:
From Wireless Sensor Networks to Bio-Enabled Wireless Networks

Hooman Javaheri
College of Computer and Information Science
Northeastern University

Abstract

Despite their constant evolution over the last few decades, wireless communication networks still struggle with energy conservation. The problem manifests itself in many applications, in particular wireless sensor networks, where communications do not occur frequently and nodes often remain idle, and small-scale communication networks, whose nodes need to to be minuscule. Such applications can achieve optimal energy-efficiency using passive (battery-less) receivers that wirelessly receive energy and information at the same time. In this proposal, we present techniques to simultaneously deliver energy alongside information during wireless communications.

First, we present mechanisms to consolidate energy and information transfer in wireless sensor networks. We introduce iPoint, a communication system including a passive wireless receiver capable of establishing two-way communication with a commodity smartphone. We prototype and experimentally evaluate our design that includes techniques to ensure efficient delivery of energy and information and novel communication protocols.

In the second part of the proposal, we study energy and information transfer in bio-enabled wireless networks. These theoretical networks feature wireless communication between wireless nodes and tiny biological organisms. We introduce possible designs for such networks using several enabling technologies, and present theoretical results on the performance of energy and information transfer.

Download: [PDF]

Thesis committee:

Guevara Noubir (Advisor)

Bernardo Barbiellini [CV]

Peter Desnoyres [CV]

Marsette Vona [CV]

David Starobinski (External examiner, Boston University)

Justification for thesis committee composition: Bernardo Barbiellini is an expert in theoretical physics; he has been working closely with hooman on the second part of his proposal: energy transfer in bio-enabled wireless networks. Peter Desnoyres an expert in system design. Marsette Vona works on algorithms, software and hardware solutions in systems interacting with the physical world. David Starobinski is an expert in wireless communication systems.