Beacon Reception Power Optimization via TIM Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wi-Fi devices in power saving mode consume excessive power due to prolonged beacon reception times, especially when beacon transmission is delayed or longer, leading to reduced battery life.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method for communication devices to start beacon reception, determine if specific elements like the Traffic Indication Map (TIM) are received, and optionally terminate reception early to save power, allowing for partial beacon reception based on these elements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the Wi-Fi station stays awake to receive the entire beacon, then complete beacon information is received, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and processes only the critical TIM element from the beacon message separately. The TIM element is identified and processed independently before completing the full beacon reception, allowing the device to determine data buffer status without waiting for the entire beacon to be received, thus reducing wake-up time and power consumption while maintaining reliable data indication detection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements partial beacon reception by processing the TIM element partially or selectively without requiring complete beacon reception. The device can determine whether buffered data exists by processing only the necessary portion of the beacon containing the TIM element, rather than receiving and processing the entire beacon message, thereby reducing power consumption while maintaining adequate functionality.
2Reliability
If the beacon reception time is extended to ensure complete reception, then no data is missed, but battery life is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by processing the TIM element before completing full beacon reception. The device identifies and processes the critical TIM element that indicates buffered data status during the beacon reception process, allowing it to make early decisions about data availability without waiting for the complete beacon to be received, thus reducing the duration of wake-up periods and extending battery life while maintaining data reception reliability.
3Reliability
If the RF antenna is kept on for the entire beacon interval, then no beacon is missed, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the TIM element from the beacon message and processes it independently and early in the reception process. This allows the device to determine buffered data status without maintaining RF antenna activation for the entire beacon interval, reducing energy loss while maintaining reliable beacon detection and data indication.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements partial beacon reception by processing only the necessary TIM element portion of the beacon rather than the entire beacon message. This partial processing approach allows the device to reduce RF antenna activation time and associated energy loss while still achieving reliable detection of buffered data indications.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of beacon reception for a communication device in a wireless communication system is disclosed. The method comprises starting to receive a beacon from an access point (AP) of the wireless communication system, determining whether a specific element of the beacon is received, and determining whether to receive only a portion of the beacon according to the specific element.