Beacon Synchronization for Low-Energy WLAN Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Low-energy devices in WLAN systems, such as TIM stations, face increased energy consumption due to the need to wake up twice to receive DTIM and TIM beacons, which are communicated at different times, leading to inefficient energy usage.
Innovation Solution
An access point determines the energy status of wireless devices and allocates them to specific access groups, communicating beacon information in a low-energy consumption format, allowing low-energy devices to receive both DTIM and TIM beacons simultaneously or within a short defined interval, reducing the need for multiple wake-ups.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If low-energy devices receive DTIM and TIM beacons at different times according to standard protocol, then beacon information can be communicated to all devices, but energy consumption increases due to multiple wake-up events
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines DTIM and TIM beacon transmissions into a single synchronized event. The access point transmits both beacons at the same time or within a very short interval, allowing low-energy devices to wake up once and receive both beacons, thereby reducing the number of wake-up events from two to one while ensuring reliable delivery of all beacon information.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic beacon transmission at optimized intervals. By synchronizing DTIM and TIM beacons to occur periodically at the same time, the system reduces the frequency of wake-up events for low-energy devices while maintaining complete beacon information delivery, thus lowering overall energy consumption.
2Loss of information
If low-energy devices wake up twice to receive separate DTIM and TIM beacons, then all beacon information is received, but sleep time is reduced and components cannot remain shutdown
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges DTIM and TIM beacon transmissions into a single synchronized event. By transmitting both beacons simultaneously or within a minimal time window, the system allows low-energy devices to maintain longer sleep periods while still receiving complete beacon information in one wake-up cycle, thus extending the duration of sleep time.
3Adaptability or versatility
If beacon information is transmitted in standard format, then all devices can receive it, but low-energy devices experience increased energy consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a specialized beacon transmission mode for low-energy devices. While standard beacon format is maintained for general compatibility, the system introduces a low-energy consumption format that synchronizes DTIM and TIM beacons, allowing low-energy devices to optimize their power usage without compromising the adaptability of the system to different device types.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method in an access point is disclosed. The method comprises determining an energy status of a wireless device, the energy status comprising one of a low- energy device and a high-energy device, and determining an access group of a plurality of access groups to which to allocate the wireless device. The method further comprises allocating the wireless device to a first access group upon determining that the wireless device is a low-energy device, the first access group for wireless devices that are to receive beacon information in a low-energy consumption format, and communicating the beacon information to the first access group in the low-energy consumption format.