Wireless Communication Unit Beacon Power Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Image forming apparatuses with wireless communication units functioning as access points face challenges in power consumption management due to the need to continuously transmit beacons, even when not actively communicating, which hinders effective power saving modes.
Innovation Solution
The image forming system implements a radio wave intensity setting process where the wireless communication unit adjusts its transmission power based on received signal intensity from terminal devices, lowering it to the minimum necessary for communication, and dynamically adjusts this power and timing intervals to optimize power usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the access point continuously transmits beacons at maximum radio wave intensity to ensure communication coverage, then the communication reliability is improved, but the power consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the radio wave intensity adjustable rather than fixed. The wireless communication unit dynamically changes the radio wave intensity of beacons based on received signal intensity feedback from terminal devices. This allows the system to adapt the transmission power to actual communication needs, reducing power consumption while maintaining reliable communication.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by having terminal devices measure and report the received signal intensity of beacons back to the access point. The access point uses this feedback information to adjust its beacon transmission intensity. This closed-loop control enables the system to optimize power consumption while ensuring that terminal devices within the coverage area can reliably receive beacons.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the access point reduces radio wave intensity to save power, then the power consumption is reduced, but the communication coverage area decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts radio wave intensity based on actual communication requirements rather than using a fixed low intensity. By monitoring feedback from terminal devices about received signal strength, the access point can expand or contract its effective coverage area as needed, preventing permanent loss of coverage while maintaining power savings during low-traffic periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the radio wave intensity parameter of beacons based on feedback from terminal devices. By adjusting this parameter dynamically, the system can optimize the balance between coverage area and power consumption, ensuring that the coverage area is sufficient to maintain reliable communication without excessive power consumption.
3Use of energy by moving object
If the image forming apparatus enters power saving mode to reduce power consumption, then the overall power consumption is reduced, but the ability to receive print jobs from terminal devices is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action by having the access point transmit beacons at regular intervals even in power saving mode. This periodic transmission maintains the wireless communication link active, allowing terminal devices to remain connected and capable of sending print jobs. The interval between beacons is optimized to balance power consumption with the ability to receive jobs promptly.
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains continuous useful action by keeping the wireless communication function active through periodic beacon transmission in power saving mode. This ensures that the image forming apparatus can continuously receive print jobs from terminal devices without fully waking up from power saving mode, thus maintaining productivity while reducing overall power consumption.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is an image forming system including: an image forming apparatus comprising a wireless communication unit; and a terminal device for transmitting a print job to the image forming apparatus, wherein the wireless communication unit executes a wave radio intensity setting process in which the wireless communication unit transmits a received signal intensity request at a predetermined radio wave intensity, receives information from the terminal device, which indicates a received signal intensity at a timing of receiving the received signal intensity request, and sets a radio wave intensity of a radio wave to be transmitted by the wireless communication unit to a set value which is lowered within a range in which the image forming apparatus is communicable with the terminal device in which the received signal intensity indicated in the information is lowest, and the image forming apparatus executes the print job received from the terminal device.