Band Steering for Low Power Wireless Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Low-power wireless devices, such as static video cameras, face excessive power consumption due to frequent channel switching in wireless communication, which reduces battery life, as they often need to probe and switch channels to maintain reliable communication.
Innovation Solution
Implementing band steering techniques where an access point selects a communication channel based on properties like interference and data attributes, and only switches channels when the device is active, reducing unnecessary channel probing and switching during standby states.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If frequent channel probing is performed to ensure reliable communication, then communication reliability is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic channel probing instead of continuous probing. The access point determines when to switch communication channels based on periodic assessments of channel conditions, allowing the wireless device to enter low-power states between probing intervals. This reduces power consumption while maintaining communication reliability by only switching channels when necessary.
Solution Approach 2:
The access point performs self-service by autonomously determining optimal channel switching times based on channel properties and device attributes. The system uses machine learning models to predict when channel switching will improve communication reliability, eliminating the need for the wireless device to continuously probe and report channel conditions, thereby reducing its power consumption.
2Reliability
If channel switching is performed to maintain reliable communication, then communication quality is improved, but battery life decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The access point performs preliminary assessment of channel conditions and device attributes before initiating channel switching. By evaluating channel properties and predicting future communication quality in advance, the system can schedule channel switches during periods when the device is already active, avoiding unnecessary wake-ups and extending battery life while maintaining communication quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically adjusts channel switching frequency based on device attributes and communication conditions. For low-power devices, the system reduces probing frequency and extends intervals between channel switches, optimizing the balance between communication quality and battery life. The machine learning model continuously adapts parameters based on observed communication patterns and channel stability.
Data Source
AI summary
An access point is configured to communicate with a wireless client device over a plurality of wireless communication channels. The wireless client device has an active operation state and a standby operation state. The access point detects a property of each of a first wireless communication channel and a second wireless communication channel, and applies a policy to the detected properties to select one of the first wireless communication channel and the second wireless communication channel. While the wireless client device is in the active operation state, the access point steers the client device to communicate with the access point over the selected channel.