ASNHC:Adaptive Switching Node with Hybrid Backscatter and Wireless Powered Communication

The hybrid of wireless-powered communication (WPCom) and backscatter communication (BC) is a promising paradigm that will solve the energy shortage in the future Internet of Things (IoT). Adaptive switching between two communication modes can mitigate BC failure in poor channel conditions. However, adaptive switching poses a significant burden on nodes with limited resources. In this paper, we introduce ASNHC, an adaptive switching node that hybridizes BC and WPCom. To address the high power consumption associated with adaptive switching, we designed a low-power signal detection circuit and switching mechanism, enabling the node to operate flexibly across four distinct modes. Furthermore, we leverage the node’s adaptive switching capability to introduce a resource allocation scheme, which coordinates hybrid data transmission to maximize the system sum throughput. Experimental results demonstrate that the node consumes only 2.64μW during mode switching, and the proposed resource allocation scheme significantly enhances throughput compared to the conventional harvest-then-transmit (HTT) protocol.