Access Point Rotation for Power Load Sharing in Wireless Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wireless network access points with limited power supplies, such as battery-powered or solar-powered APs, face challenges with power consumption, as they require efficient management to extend operational duration.
Innovation Solution
Implementing an access point rotation scheme where nodes in a network alternate serving as the access point, sharing the power load by determining which node has the highest power level or follows a predetermined sequence to serve as the AP, allowing other nodes to enter a power save state during non-service intervals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If a single access point continuously serves the network, then network service continuity is maintained, but power consumption increases and operational duration decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic access point rotation where different nodes alternately serve as access points at predetermined time intervals. This periodic switching distributes the continuous operation burden across multiple nodes, allowing each node to consume power only during its designated service interval while others conserve energy, thereby extending overall network operational duration without compromising service continuity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the continuous access point function into discrete time segments assigned to different nodes. By segmenting the AP role among multiple nodes rather than having one node continuously perform the function, the system reduces individual node power consumption while maintaining uninterrupted network service through coordinated handovers between segments.
2Use of energy by moving object
If access point rotation is implemented to share power load, then power consumption is reduced, but network complexity increases due to coordination requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables nodes to autonomously determine when to serve as access point based on predetermined rotation schedules or power level thresholds. Each node independently monitors its own power status and automatically transitions to or from AP mode according to the rotation protocol, reducing the need for complex centralized coordination and simplifying overall network management while maintaining power load sharing.
3Use of energy by moving object
If nodes frequently switch between serving as AP and power save state, then power load is distributed, but service continuity may be affected by transition delays
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary synchronization and information exchange between nodes before AP role transitions. Nodes pre-coordinate handover timing and exchange necessary network state information in advance of the actual AP switch, ensuring that service continuity is maintained without interruption or delay during the transition from one node's AP mode to another node's AP mode.
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects of the disclosure provide a method for sharing power load in a network. The method includes identifying a first device to serve as an AP of the network in a next time interval, providing network information from a second device that presently serves as the AP to the first device. When the first device starts to serve as the AP of the network, the second device can be configured to enter into a power save state in order to reduce power consumption by the second device in the next time interval.