Bi-directional Wireless Wake Interface for Peripheral Power Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current information handling systems face challenges with uni-directional peripheral wake-up interfaces, leading to increased power consumption and delayed reconnection times, as peripherals cannot awaken the system when it is off, and vice versa, limiting battery life and user interaction efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A wireless interface module with a primary radio for user data communication and a secondary radio for wake protocol communication, allowing bi-directional low power mode interactions between peripherals and information handling systems, using a wake command to transition the primary radio from a low power state to an active state, minimizing power consumption by limiting processing resources during monitoring.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a uni-directional peripheral wake-up interface is used, then the peripheral can wake the information handling system, but the information handling system cannot wake the peripheral, leading to increased power consumption and delayed reconnection times

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser interaction efficiencyVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements bi-directional wake-up capability where both the information handling system and the peripheral can initiate wake-up commands. The peripheral can send wake-up commands to the system, and the system can send wake-up commands to the peripheral, inverting the traditional uni-directional approach. This is achieved through a wireless interface module that handles both directions of communication independently.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically transitions between low power mode and active state based on wake-up commands. The wireless interface module can selectively activate communication resources based on whether a wake-up command is received, allowing the system to adapt its power consumption level to operational needs rather than maintaining a fixed state.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Loss of time

If the primary radio remains active for quick reconnection, then reconnection time is reduced, but power consumption increases and battery life decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereconnection timeVSAvoidbattery life

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The wireless interface module is segmented into a primary radio for data communication and a secondary radio for wake-up command reception. The secondary radio operates in low power mode and can independently receive wake-up commands without requiring the primary radio to be fully active, thus separating the functions of quick detection from full communication reconnection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The secondary radio continuously monitors for wake-up commands in a low power state, performing preliminary detection before full system activation is needed. This preliminary action allows the system to prepare for quick reconnection only when necessary, rather than maintaining full readiness continuously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If processing resources are fully active during monitoring, then wake commands are detected quickly, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewake command detection reliabilityVSAvoidpower consumption during monitoring

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The wake-up command detection function is extracted from the main processing resources and implemented in the wireless interface module's secondary radio. This dedicated component can detect wake-up commands with high reliability using minimal processing resources, separating this critical function from the main system's power-intensive processing units.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The secondary radio in the wireless interface module performs self-service by autonomously detecting and handling wake-up commands without requiring full activation of the main processing resources. It can independently determine when a wake-up command is received and trigger the appropriate response, minimizing the need for high-power processing during monitoring phases.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS20220308652A1Information handling system and peripheral bi-directional wakeup interface

Publication Date: 2022.09.29 DELL PROD LP

AI summary

An information handling system wirelessly interfaces with a peripheral device, such as a keyboard or mouse, through a primary radio and communication protocol, such as Bluetooth. A secondary radio interfaces with the primary radio to provide a low power wake and sleep using a wake signal sent between the secondary radios. An information handling system may wake the peripheral, such as at system power up, or the peripheral may wake the information handling system, such as at detection of an input at the peripheral for communication to the information handling system.