Adaptive Packet Filtering for Wireless STA Power Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

In wireless communications systems, STA devices experience unnecessary power consumption due to waking up from abnormal, unwanted packets, with existing technologies lacking effective solutions for filtering these packets.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus for adaptive packet filtering control, where a processing circuit monitors abnormal wake-up events, identifies common patterns of unwanted packets, and notifies a communications control circuit to perform adaptive configuration and packet filtering, preventing additional wake-up events.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If the STA device enters sleeping mode to save power, then power consumption is reduced, but the device cannot respond to legitimate packets and may miss network services

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidnetwork service availability
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by having the STA device wake up periodically or upon detecting specific wake-up conditions to check for legitimate packets before returning to sleep mode. This ensures the device maintains readiness for network services while minimizing wake-up frequency to reduce power consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the STA device monitors packet arrival patterns and adjusts its wake-up behavior accordingly. By analyzing whether wake-ups are caused by legitimate packets or abnormal packets, the system learns from past experiences to optimize future wake-up decisions, balancing power saving with service reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If the STA device wakes up to check for packets, then network service can be maintained, but abnormal packets cause unnecessary wake-ups and power consumption

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork service continuityVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses feedback by analyzing wake-up causes and learning from packet patterns. The system distinguishes between wake-ups caused by legitimate packets (requiring service continuation) and abnormal packets (causing unnecessary wake-ups). By feeding back this information, the STA device can adjust its wake-up strategy to respond only to legitimate packets, reducing unnecessary power consumption while maintaining service continuity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies self-service by enabling the STA device to autonomously analyze packet patterns and make intelligent wake-up decisions without external intervention. The device self-adjusts its wake-up behavior based on observed packet characteristics, automatically learning to ignore abnormal packets while responding to legitimate ones, thus optimizing power consumption independently.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Use of energy by moving object

If packet filtering is implemented to block unwanted packets, then power consumption from abnormal wake-ups is reduced, but legitimate packets may be blocked causing service disruption

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidnetwork service availability
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by implementing adaptive packet filtering that evolves over time. Instead of using static filter rules, the system dynamically adjusts filtering criteria based on observed packet patterns and wake-up histories. This allows the filter to become more precise in distinguishing legitimate from abnormal packets, reducing false blocking while maintaining effective filtering to prevent unnecessary wake-ups and power consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4418751A1Method for performing adaptive packet filtering control in wireless communications system, and associated apparatus
Publication Date: 2024.08.21 MEDIATEK INC
  • EP4418751A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4418751A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4418751A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method for performing adaptive packet filtering control in a wireless communications system and associated apparatus are provided. The method applicable to a first device includes: utilizing a processing circuit within the first device to monitor abnormal wake-up events among a plurality of wake-up events and identify a common pattern of a plurality of unwanted packets which cause occurrence of the abnormal wake-up events (S21); utilizing the processing circuit to notify a communications control circuit of the common pattern identified by the processing circuit (S22), wherein the communications control circuit is positioned within the first device; and in response to the common pattern identified by the processing circuit being sent to the communications control circuit, utilizing the communications control circuit to perform adaptive configuration and packet filtering according to the common pattern identified by the processing circuit (S23), for preventing occurrence of an additional abnormal wake-up event due to an additional unwanted packet.