Firmware Roaming Control for Power Saving

Solution Overview

Problem

Electronic devices continue to consume power even after communication has finished, leading to unnecessary energy usage.

Innovation Solution

The firmware analyzes a channel list and detects the device's state to determine if roaming should be executed, minimizing power consumption by not waking up the host when in a sleep state, and ensuring data reliability by waking the host before transmitting incoming data.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If the host is kept in sleep state to save power, then power consumption is reduced, but data transmission reliability deteriorates because the host cannot receive incoming data

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoiddata transmission reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the device into two functional states: firmware active state for roaming operations and host sleep state for power saving. The firmware independently handles roaming connections while the host remains dormant, dividing the device's operational responsibilities to resolve the contradiction between power saving and data reception capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The firmware performs preliminary actions by establishing and maintaining roaming connections in advance while the host is in sleep state. It pre-manages connection parameters and channel lists so that when data needs to be transmitted, the host can be quickly woken up without requiring continuous wake-up cycles, thus maintaining reliability while minimizing power consumption

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If the host is woken up frequently to check for incoming data, then data transmission reliability is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata transmission reliabilityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The firmware performs preliminary actions by establishing and maintaining roaming connections in advance while the host is in sleep state. It pre-manages connection parameters and channel lists so that when data needs to be transmitted, the host can be quickly woken up without requiring continuous wake-up cycles, thus maintaining reliability while minimizing power consumption

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements a feedback mechanism where the firmware monitors connection status and data arrival conditions. When data is received during firmware operation, it triggers a controlled wake-up of the host only when necessary, creating a feedback loop that balances power consumption with data transmission reliability based on actual communication needs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Speed

If roaming is executed without checking host state, then connection speed is improved, but power consumption increases due to unnecessary host wake-ups

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection speedVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes the operational parameter of host state based on roaming conditions. It detects whether the host is in sleep or active state and adjusts the roaming execution accordingly - proceeding with roaming in firmware only when host is sleeping, and coordinating with host wake-up when needed. This dynamic parameter adjustment resolves the contradiction between connection speed and power consumption

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS9392540B2Method for reducing power consumption and electronic device thereof

Publication Date: 2016.07.12 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

Disclosed herein are an electronic device and method for reducing power consumption while roaming. A state of the electronic device is detected. It is determined whether the firmware executes roaming based at least partially on a channel list and a state of the electronic device.