AoI in Context-Aware Hybrid Radio-Optical IoT Networks

TL;DR

This paper investigates hybrid radio-optical IoT networks, proposing a multi-objective optimization to improve data freshness and energy efficiency, demonstrating that optical communication enhances overall network performance and reduces Age of Information.

Contribution

It introduces a novel convex optimization framework for dynamic communication scheduling in hybrid IoT networks, balancing throughput, energy, and technology switching.

Findings

Optical communication improves network throughput and data freshness.

The proposed optimization reduces Mean and Peak Age of Information.

Hybrid networks outperform RF-only setups in freshness and efficiency.

Abstract

With the surge in IoT devices ranging from wearables to smart homes, prompt transmission is crucial. The Age of Information (AoI) emerges as a critical metric in this context, representing the freshness of the information transmitted across the network. This paper studies hybrid IoT networks that employ Optical Communication (OC) as a reinforcement medium to Radio Frequency (RF). We formulate a non-linear convex optimization that adopts a multi-objective optimization strategy to dynamically schedule the communication between devices and select their corresponding communication technology, aiming to balance the maximization of network throughput with the minimization of energy usage and the frequency of switching between technologies. To mitigate the impact of dominant sub-objectives and their scale disparity, the designed approach employs a regularization method that approximates adequate sub-objective scaling weights. Simulation results show that the OC supplementary integration alongside RF enhances the network's overall performances and significantly reduces the Mean AoI and Peak AoI, allowing the collection of the freshest possible data using the best available communication technology.