Wireless Access Point Power Saving via Delegate Beacon Transmission

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Solution Overview

Problem

Wireless access points continuously transmitting beacon frames result in high power consumption, necessitating improved power saving techniques.

Innovation Solution

A method where a wireless access point designates a delegate wireless station to transmit beacons on its behalf during periods of absence, allowing the access point to discontinue normal beacon transmission and conserve power, enabling tasks like maintenance or software upgrades.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the wireless access point continuously transmits beacon frames on a periodic basis, then the network maintains synchronization and stations can access the network, but the power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork synchronizationVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the beacon transmission function from the access point and assigns it to a delegate wireless station. The access point discontinues beacon transmission and enters a power saving state, while the selected wireless station transmits beacons on behalf of the access point, maintaining network synchronization without the access point consuming power for continuous transmission

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a delegate wireless station as an intermediary that performs the beacon transmission function. This intermediary station transmits beacons during the access point's absence, allowing the access point to save power while the network maintains its synchronization through the intermediary's transmissions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Use of energy by moving object

If the wireless access point enters a power saving state and discontinues beacon transmission, then power consumption is reduced, but the wireless stations cannot maintain proper synchronization and network access

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidnetwork synchronization

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the beacon transmission responsibility from the access point and assigns it to a delegate wireless station. This allows the access point to enter a power saving state without compromising network synchronization, as the extracted function continues to be performed by the delegate station

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent enables the wireless network to serve itself during the access point's absence by designating a wireless station within the network to perform beacon transmission. The delegate station uses its own resources to maintain network synchronization, allowing the access point to conserve power while the network maintains operational integrity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS9237518B2Power saving in wireless network entities

Publication Date: 2016.01.12 TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO LTD

AI summary

Power saving in wireless networks is disclosed. A wireless network entity that includes a module to enable a reduction in power consumption in that wireless network entity is also disclosed. The module is configured to determine that a selected wireless station of one or more wireless stations associated with the wireless network entity in a same wireless network will transmit system control information (including synchronization information and service identification information) that is normally transmitted by the wireless network entity.