Configurable Wake-up Frame Format for Wireless Latency

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing wake-up frame technologies in wireless communication systems often result in increased latency and power consumption due to fixed wake-up frame lengths, which can adversely impact communication performance and user experience.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a configurable wake-up-frame format that allows electronic devices to dynamically select the payload length and operations after the wake-up frame is transmitted, enabling efficient transition between power modes and reducing unnecessary power consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If the wake-up frame length is increased to include more information, then the communication information can be more complete, but the latency before the main radio transitions to normal operating mode increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication information completenessVSAvoidlatency
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The wake-up frame is segmented into a fixed-length portion containing essential wake-up information and a configurable payload portion. The fixed portion ensures minimal latency by containing only necessary control information, while the configurable payload can be appended when additional communication information is needed, thus resolving the contradiction between information completeness and latency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The wake-up frame structure is made dynamic through the configurable payload portion that can be adjusted based on communication needs. The payload length can be configured to include additional information only when necessary, allowing the system to adapt between minimal latency mode (short payload) and information-rich mode (longer payload), thereby resolving the contradiction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Loss of time

If the wake-up frame length is reduced to decrease latency, then the transition to normal operating mode is faster, but the available space for communication information is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovelatencyVSAvoidcommunication information capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The wake-up frame is divided into a mandatory fixed-length portion that provides the essential wake-up signal and control information, and an optional configurable payload portion. This segmentation allows the system to maintain minimal latency by processing the fixed portion quickly while having the capability to append additional information in the payload when needed, thus resolving the contradiction between speed and information capacity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The payload portion of the wake-up frame is designed to be dynamically configurable, allowing the system to adjust the amount of communication information included based on actual needs. When minimal latency is critical, the payload can be kept short or empty; when more information is needed, the payload can be extended, thus resolving the contradiction between latency and information capacity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Device complexity

If a fixed wake-up frame format is used, then the implementation is simple, but the power consumption cannot be optimized for different communication scenarios

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimplementation complexityVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The wake-up frame format is made dynamic through the configurable payload portion that can be adjusted based on communication scenarios. The fixed-length portion maintains implementation simplicity by providing a consistent base structure, while the configurable payload allows optimization for different power consumption scenarios by including or excluding additional information based on actual communication needs, thus resolving the contradiction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The wake-up frame structure allows parameter changes in the payload portion length and content based on communication scenarios. The fixed-length portion maintains a constant, simple implementation, while the payload parameters (length, content) can be changed to optimize power consumption for different scenarios, thus resolving the contradiction between implementation simplicity and power consumption optimization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3934335B1Wake-up frame with configurable payload
Publication Date: 2023.04.26 APPLE INC
  • EP3934335B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3934335B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3934335B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An interface circuit in an electronic device (such as an access point) may utilize a configurable wake-up-frame format. During operation, the interface circuit may receive a wake-up-radio (WUR)-setup request associated with a recipient electronic device, where the WUR-setup request specifies a proposed configurable wake-up-frame format. In response, the electronic device may determine the configurable wake-up-frame format to be used based at least in part on the proposed configurable wake-up-frame format. Then, the interface circuit may provide a WUR-setup response intended for the recipient electronic device, where the WUR-setup response specifies the configurable wake-up-frame format selected for use. Note that the configurable wake-up-frame format may specify a payload length in a wake-up frame and/or one or more operations of at least one of the recipient electronic device or the electronic device after the wake-up frame is transmitted by the electronic device.