Ad-Hoc Network Power Saving via ATIM Frame Exchange
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Solution Overview
Problem
In ad-hoc networks, existing power saving methods lead to significant power consumption due to unnecessary awake states during beacon intervals, especially when not all devices support the power saving mode, causing compatibility issues and inefficient energy use.
Innovation Solution
An electronic device that determines its communication circuit state based on the transmission of ATIM frames during beacon intervals and adjusts its power saving mode function based on support information from other devices, allowing it to enter a doze state when not transmitting or receiving data, thereby reducing power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If devices maintain awake state during beacon intervals to ensure data communication, then communication reliability is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The communication circuit alternates between awake and doze states in periodic beacon intervals. During each beacon interval, the device wakes up to exchange ATIM frames and potentially transmit data, then enters doze state for the remainder of the interval. This periodic wake-sleep cycle reduces average power consumption while maintaining communication capability when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The device exchanges ATIM (Announcement Traffic Indication Message) frames during the beacon interval before entering doze state. This preliminary action announces whether data transmission will occur in the upcoming data transmission opportunity, allowing the device to confidently enter low-power doze state knowing whether to wake up for data exchange.
2Use of energy by moving object
If devices enter doze state during beacon intervals to save power, then power consumption is reduced, but compatibility with devices not supporting power saving mode deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The power saving mechanism is designed to work universally across different device types. By using the existing beacon interval structure and ATIM frame exchange that are already part of the wireless communication standard, the solution achieves compatibility with both power-saving-capable devices and traditional devices without requiring separate protocols or modes.
Solution Approach 2:
Each device independently determines its own power saving operation based on whether it has data to transmit or receive. The device autonomously decides to enter doze state during beacon intervals when no data exchange is needed, without requiring centralized coordination or special support from other devices, making the solution universally applicable.
3Speed
If devices continuously monitor for data transmission to maintain communication readiness, then communication responsiveness is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuous monitoring, the device periodically wakes up during beacon intervals to check for data transmission needs by exchanging ATIM frames. This periodic check maintains communication responsiveness for scheduled data exchanges while allowing the device to enter low-power doze state between beacon intervals, significantly reducing power consumption compared to continuous monitoring.
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device and a power saving method of an electronic device forming an ad-hoc network are provided. The electronic device includes a communication circuit configured to transmit a beacon frame defining a beacon interval to an external device forming an ad-hoc network with the electronic device; and a processor configured to determine a state of the communication circuit during the beacon interval based on whether an announcement traffic indication message (ATIM) frame is transceived between the electronic device and the external electronic device. The method includes receiving power saving mode support information indicating whether to support a power saving mode function, from at least one external device; and activating or deactivating the power saving mode function of the electronic device based on the power saving mode support information.