Communication System Network ID Switching for Power Saving
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing communication systems face challenges in adequately saving electric power consumption when in power-saving or power-off modes, as they cannot stop supplying power to circuits controlling wireless communication, leading to inefficient energy usage.
Innovation Solution
A communication system that switches between two states by interchanging network IDs between a multi-function peripheral (MFP) and an extension phone set, allowing the MFP to enter a power-saving mode while maintaining wireless connectivity through the extension phone set, which acts as a routing device, thereby stopping power supply to the wireless communication control circuit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the communication device enters power-saving mode or power-off mode, then electric power consumption is reduced, but wireless connectivity cannot be maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The extension phone set acts as an intermediary device that maintains wireless connectivity when the communication device is in power-saving mode. The extension phone set assumes the communication device's network ID and serves as a mediator between external wireless terminals and the communication device, allowing power consumption to be reduced while connectivity is preserved through the intermediary device.
2Loss of energy
If power supply to the wireless communication control circuit is stopped, then electric power consumption is saved, but communication functionality is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The extension phone set creates a copy of the communication device's network identity by assuming its network ID. This allows the extension phone set to replicate the communication functionality externally, enabling the original communication device to power down its wireless communication control circuit while maintaining communication capabilities through the copied identity at the extension phone set.
3Reliability
If the communication device maintains wireless communication in power-saving mode, then connectivity is preserved, but power savings are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The extension phone set serves as a mediator that takes over the wireless communication responsibilities. By having the extension phone set assume the network ID and handle wireless communications, the communication device can significantly reduce power consumption by powering down its wireless communication control circuit while connectivity is maintained through the intermediary extension phone set.
4Loss of energy
If network ID is switched between communication device and extension phone set, then power-saving mode becomes effective, but device identification becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements dynamic network ID assignment where the extension phone set assumes the communication device's network ID when needed for power-saving operation. This dynamic switching of identification allows the system to adapt between normal operation and power-saving mode, making the power-saving feature effective while managing complexity through controlled dynamic reconfiguration rather than static design.
Data Source
AI summary
A communication system switches a communication state from a first communication state where a wireless communication unit of a communication device performs data communication and voice communication with an external device and a phone device to a second communication state to perform the data communication between the phone device and the external device, in response to electric power supply to the wireless communication unit being interrupted. The first communication state is set with a communication-device network ID used for the communication device and a phone-device network ID used for the phone device. The second communication state is set with the phone-device network ID used for the communication device and the communication-device network ID used for the phone device.