Dynamic Receiver Configuration for WLAN Power and Latency Trade-offs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current WLAN systems face inefficiencies in power management due to poor MAC efficiency and inflexibility in configuring receivers, particularly in 802.11 standards, leading to increased power consumption and latency.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for flexible receiver configuration in wireless communication devices, allowing for dynamic changes in channel width and number of active receive spatial streams, with configuration information and outage delay specifications transmitted to enable efficient power management and reduced latency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the receiver operates with a single active receive chain to conserve power, then power consumption is reduced, but MAC efficiency deteriorates due to required control frames
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic receiver configuration by allowing the receiver to switch between different operational modes (single receive chain for power saving, multiple receive chains for high performance) based on traffic conditions. The system dynamically adjusts the number of active receive chains and channel width according to expected traffic loads, resolving the contradiction between power consumption and MAC efficiency by making the receiver adaptable rather than static.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes physical parameters of the receiver including channel width (20MHz, 40MHz, 80MHz, 160MHz) and number of active receive chains (1, 2, 3, or 4) to optimize performance. By varying these parameters based on traffic conditions, the system achieves both power savings during low traffic and high efficiency during high traffic, resolving the contradiction between power consumption and MAC efficiency.
2Productivity
If the receiver is configured with multiple active receive chains for better performance, then MAC efficiency is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the number of active receive chains based on real-time or predicted traffic conditions. During high traffic periods, multiple receive chains are activated to maximize MAC efficiency. During low traffic periods, the system reduces to fewer or single receive chains to conserve power, thus resolving the contradiction by making performance and power consumption adaptive rather than fixed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic assessment of traffic conditions and corresponding adjustment of receiver configuration. The system periodically evaluates whether to switch between power-saving mode and high-performance mode based on incoming traffic patterns, allowing the receiver to oscillate between different operational states to balance power consumption and MAC efficiency over time.
3Use of energy by moving object
If the receiver configuration is changed dynamically to match traffic loads, then power management is improved, but latency increases due to reconfiguration time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by predicting traffic loads in advance and proactively configuring the receiver before traffic arrives. The system uses traffic prediction mechanisms to anticipate upcoming high or low traffic periods and pre-adjusts receiver configuration accordingly, avoiding latency-causing reconfiguration during actual traffic transmission. This resolves the contradiction by performing configuration changes beforehand rather than reactively.
Solution Approach 2:
The system cushions against potential latency by maintaining receiver configurations that are prepared in advance for expected traffic conditions. By having configuration states ready beforehand and switching between them based on predictions, the system avoids the latency penalty of on-the-fly reconfiguration, thus resolving the contradiction between power management and latency.
4Device complexity
If the receiver uses a fixed configuration, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability deteriorates in configuring the receiver
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements universality by designing a receiver that can perform multiple functions through a single configurable architecture. The same physical receiver hardware can operate in different modes (single chain, dual chain, triple chain, quadruple chain) with different channel widths (20MHz, 40MHz, 80MHz, 160MHz) based on traffic needs, eliminating the need for multiple dedicated receivers while maintaining high adaptability. This resolves the contradiction by making one device do many things rather than needing separate devices for each configuration.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments described herein relate to a system and method for providing flexible receiver configuration in wireless communication systems, such as 802.11 WLAN systems. In one embodiment, a wireless device may transmit a first data frame including first configuration information specifying a first configuration of the receiver to notify a remote device that the wireless device intends to configure its receiver according to the first configuration. After receiving an acknowledgement frame confirming the first configuration information, the wireless device may configure the receiver according to the first configuration. In another embodiment, a wireless device may receive a first data frame including first configuration information and further including a request that the wireless device configure its receiver according to the first configuration. In response, the wireless device may configure the receiver according to the first configuration. In either case, the wireless device may receive subsequent communications according to the first configuration.