Buffer and spool messages - Internet of Things (IoT) Lens

Buffer and spool messages

Message buffering and spooling can contribute to power consumption optimization in IoT devices in several ways. 

Instead of immediately sending each message as it is generated, buffering allows for the aggregation of multiple messages into batches, if appropriate for the use case. By sending data in larger chunks or batches, the device can stay in a low-power state for longer periods, reducing the frequency of transitioning between active and sleep modes.  This also allows the device to minimize network activity - instead of establishing a connection and sending data for every individual message, the device can consolidate multiple messages and initiate network communication less frequently. This reduction in network activity results in power savings, since establishing and maintaining network connections can be energy-intensive.  It also reduces the amount of processing required, which lowers the power consumption.

In scenarios where the use of spooling is appropriate, it can be used to write data to disk in batches, rather than writing each data point as it is generated. This reduces the number of disk access operations required, which can help reduce power consumption.

Along with this, IoT devices can optimally time their data transmissions. Devices can assess factors like network availability, signal strength, or time-based considerations to select when to send accumulated messages. This approach helps to minimize energy consumption by avoiding unnecessary transmissions during periods of poor network conditions or low power availability (such as low battery charge levels).