Frugal Geofencing via Energy-aware Sensing and Reporting

Abstract

Timely and accurate monitoring in geofencing scenarios is challenging when relying on ultra-low power Internet of Things devices (IoTDs) powered by energy harvesting (EH). This is mainly because frequent wake-ups for data acquisition and data uploading may quickly deplete their limited energy buffer. Conventional grid-like IoT deployments overlook these limitations and merely rely on continuously powered sensing. Herein, we propose an energy-aware geofencing framework for camera-equipped EH IoTDs deployed around a protected area and its surrounding perimeter zone. The framework integrates a directional sensing power model with an operational representation of EH, sensing, sleeping, and reporting, accounting for the limited field-of-view (FoV) and distance-dependent detection confidence of the IoTDs. Device activity is controlled by the coverage-providing access point, which hosts a mobile edge host and a facility geocencing system to ensure timely and reliable detection under tight energy constraints. Reinforcement learning is used to determine IoTD placement, enabling earlier intruder detection than uniform grid-based deployments. Numerical results show that the proposed coordinated sensing and reporting configuration achieves frugal geofencing with fewer devices, while concurrently improving detection timeliness and dependability.