Bidirectional Data Transfer Alignment for Wireless Terminal Power Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
In wireless communication systems, battery-operated client terminals face significant power consumption issues due to frequent transitions between sleep and active states for bidirectional data transfers, which are not continuous and occur at different intervals, leading to increased power usage.
Innovation Solution
The method involves aligning or overlapping uplink and downlink data transfer instances to occur in a single active state, reducing the time and rate of client terminal transitions and minimizing power consumption by monitoring and adjusting data transfer timings based on Quality of Service (QoS) parameters and payload data timestamps.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the client terminal enters active state separately for uplink and downlink data transfers, then data transfer reliability is improved, but power consumption increases due to frequent state transitions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines separate uplink and downlink data transfer operations into a single active state period. The network entity coordinates to schedule both uplink and downlink transfers to occur within the same active state window, merging what would otherwise be two separate wake-up events into one, thereby reducing state transition frequency while maintaining bidirectional transfer reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The network entity performs preliminary scheduling and coordination of uplink and downlink data transfer timings before the client terminal enters active state. By pre-aligning the transfer instances to occur within a single active state period, the system avoids unnecessary state transitions while ensuring both transfer directions are properly coordinated
2Productivity
If the client terminal remains in active state for extended periods to handle bidirectional transfers, then data transfer efficiency is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic bidirectional data transfer scheduling where both uplink and downlink transfers are consolidated into periodic active state windows. Rather than maintaining continuous active state or having separate periodic transfers for each direction, the system establishes periodic combined transfer opportunities that occur at optimized intervals, improving efficiency while limiting power consumption through controlled periodic activation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges uplink and downlink transfer operations into a single consolidated active state period, allowing both directions of data transfer to occur efficiently within one wake-up event rather than requiring separate active periods, thereby improving overall data transfer efficiency while reducing cumulative power consumption
3Speed
If the client terminal frequently transitions between sleep and active states, then responsiveness to data transfer demands is improved, but battery life decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple data transfer demands (both uplink and downlink) into single consolidated active state events. By coordinating the network entity to schedule all necessary transfers within one active period rather than requiring separate transitions for each transfer direction, the system maintains responsiveness to data transfer demands while significantly reducing the frequency of state transitions, thereby extending battery life
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus are disclosed for bidirectional applications where the source application entity and/or the destination application entity may align the uplink data transfer instances and the downlink transfer instances so that they are close to each other or overlap with each other. This may enable both uplink data transfer and downlink data transfer to take place in a single active state of the client terminal. This may reduce the rate at which the client terminal has to turn on and turn off its transmitter, receiver and other modules which may in turn reduce the client terminal transitions from sleep state to active state and vice versa. This may reduce the amount of time the client terminal spends in the active state. This may significantly reduce the power consumption in client terminal, which may be a significant advantage for battery operated client terminals.