Dynamic Beacon Scanning Rate for Low-Power Wireless Rejoin
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ad hoc wireless networks face limitations due to high power consumption in wireless data transmission, leading to frequent battery changes and maintenance issues, making them unsuitable for certain applications.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a network device that periodically scans for beacons at varying rates to quickly rejoin a low-power wireless network, using a higher scanning rate after disconnection and storing information about other devices to optimize reconnection and reduce power usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If a network device uses a low scanning rate to conserve power, then power consumption is reduced, but the time to rejoin the network after disconnection increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic scanning rate adjustment where the network device transitions from a first scanning rate to a second scanning rate based on connection state. When disconnected, the device uses a higher second scanning rate to quickly detect beacons and rejoin the network, then returns to the lower first scanning rate upon successful reconnection, thus resolving the contradiction between power consumption and rejoin time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the scanning rate parameter based on connection status. By switching between different scanning rate values (first scanning rate when connected, second scanning rate when disconnected), the system optimizes both power consumption and rejoin performance without requiring continuous high-power operation.
2Loss of time
If a network device increases scanning rate after disconnection to quickly rejoin, then rejoin time is reduced, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses periodic scanning at different rates based on connection state. After disconnection, the device performs periodic scans at a higher second rate for a limited duration to quickly rejoin, then returns to periodic scanning at the lower first rate, thus achieving fast rejoin while minimizing overall power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The scanning rate is dynamically adjusted based on connection status rather than remaining static. The device transitions to a higher scanning rate only when needed (after disconnection) and returns to the lower rate when connected, optimizing the balance between rejoin speed and power consumption.
3Reliability
If a network device continuously scans at high rate to ensure quick rejoining, then network availability is improved, but battery life is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic scanning rate adjustment based on connection state, using a higher second scanning rate only when disconnected to ensure quick rejoining, and a lower first scanning rate when connected to conserve battery power, thus maintaining network availability while extending battery life.
Solution Approach 2:
The scanning rate parameter is changed based on connection status to optimize the balance between network availability and battery life. The device uses different scanning rate values appropriately (higher when disconnected, lower when connected) rather than maintaining a constantly high rate.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques are disclosed for enabling accelerated rejoining of network devices in a low-power wireless network after a connection to the low-power wireless network is lost. Embodiments generally include, for a network device that periodically conducts scans for beacons on the low-power wireless network, increasing the frequency, or scanning rate, at which the scans are performed. After a certain period of time, if the network device has not joined the low-power wireless network, the network device can implement a different scanning rate until it rejoins with the network. Additional techniques may be used to reduce power usage and preserve the structure of a portion of the low-power wireless network that has become disconnected with the rest of the network.