Beacon Frame Synchronization for Wireless Device Power Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need to reduce power consumption in portable media players and improve the responsiveness of devices in wireless networks when discovering capabilities and sharing content, while maintaining synchronization within ad hoc communities.
Innovation Solution
A beacon frame is transmitted during a beacon period with specific parameters and identifiers, including a header with routing information, beacon parameters, and an Application-Specific Information Element (ASIE) that includes a signature identifier, interface version, and community synchronization features, to facilitate device synchronization and content sharing, while minimizing power consumption and network traffic.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If devices transmit frequent beacon frames to maintain synchronization and improve responsiveness, then device responsiveness and synchronization accuracy are improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic beacon frame transmission at configured intervals to maintain synchronization between wireless devices. This periodic action allows devices to stay synchronized without continuous communication, reducing power consumption while maintaining responsiveness. The beacon period can be adjusted based on network requirements to balance between synchronization accuracy and energy efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
Devices autonomously generate and transmit beacon frames containing their own identification information and status without requiring external coordination. Each device serves itself by broadcasting its presence and capabilities, allowing other devices to discover and connect without centralized control, thereby reducing overall network power consumption.
2Adaptability or versatility
If devices transmit detailed information elements to share capabilities and content, then content sharing capability is improved, but network traffic and processing overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The beacon frame is segmented into distinct components: a header containing routing information, beacon parameters indicating signaling methods, and application-specific information elements containing device identification and capability data. This segmentation allows devices to transmit only the necessary information for content sharing without overwhelming the network with unnecessary data, reducing processing overhead while maintaining sharing capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The information elements within beacon frames are customized to include only locally relevant device-specific data such as unique identifiers, capability flags, and content availability indicators. This local quality approach ensures that each device transmits only the information pertinent to its own capabilities and the current network context, minimizing unnecessary network traffic while enabling effective content sharing.
Data Source
AI summary
A beacon frame (5) for transmission during a beacon period for a wireless device to maintain synchronization with other wireless devices of a community in a wireless communications network, the frame (5) comprising: a header (8) containing routing information for the frame (5); beacon parameters (9) to indicate signaling methods in use by the wireless devices; at least one information element (7) comprising at least one identifier to identify the wireless device; wherein the at least one identifier comprises a signature identifier (104) for the frame (5), an interface version, and a name and unique identifier for the device.