Wireless Device Listen Duration Calibration via Beacon Drift Analysis

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless devices face significant power consumption due to long listen durations, which are often prolonged to prevent missing beacons but can be inefficient, and existing power-saving methods do not adequately address network noise interference and beacon drift issues.

Innovation Solution

A control module in a wireless device calculates the average and root-mean-square (RMS) beacon-receiving times to set optimal listen intervals and durations, ensuring accurate beacon reception while minimizing power usage by dynamically adjusting listen times based on beacon reception patterns.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the listen duration is extended to prevent missing beacons, then the reliability of beacon reception is improved, but the power consumption increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebeacon reception reliabilityVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the listen duration and listen interval adjustable parameters rather than fixed values. The control module dynamically adapts these parameters based on detected beacon transmission patterns and drift characteristics, allowing the system to optimize between reliability and power consumption under different operating conditions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameters of listen duration and listen interval based on calculated beacon drift values. By computing optimal parameters from observed beacon transmission timing and applying compensation, the system achieves reliable beacon reception while minimizing unnecessary listening time, thus reducing power consumption

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Use of energy by moving object

If the listen duration is reduced to save power, then the power consumption decreases, but the risk of missing beacons increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidbeacon reception reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback by continuously monitoring beacon reception timing and using this information to adjust listen duration and interval parameters. The control module calculates drift based on actual beacon arrival times and feeds this information back to optimize listening parameters, ensuring reliable reception while minimizing power consumption

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies preliminary action by calculating optimal listen parameters in advance based on observed beacon patterns before actual beacon transmission occurs. The control module prepares compensation values and adjusted timing parameters proactively, allowing the device to enter sleep mode with confidence that it will wake at the correct time to receive beacons

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Device complexity

If fixed TIM settings are used for beacon monitoring, then the device complexity is reduced, but the adaptability to network noise and beacon drift is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol logic complexityVSAvoidadaptability to beacon drift
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies self-service by enabling the control module to automatically detect beacon transmission patterns, calculate drift values, and adjust listen parameters without external intervention. The system serves itself by adapting to changing network conditions through autonomous parameter optimization, maintaining low complexity while achieving high adaptability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP2744276B1Method for calibrating listen duration and listen interval and control module thereof
Publication Date: 2018.12.05 ACER INC
  • EP2744276B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2744276B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method for calibrating a listen duration and a listen interval and a control module thereof are provided. The method is suitable for being applied in a wireless device and monitoring beacons transmitted by a wireless access point (AP) within a wireless transmission range to calibrate the listen duration and the listen interval. The method includes: calculating an average beacon-receiving time and an RMS beacon-receiving time according to a beacon-receiving interval obtained within a first specific time frame when the listen duration and the listen interval are determined to be calibrated; setting the average beacon-receiving time and the RMS beacon-receiving time as an optimal listen interval and an optimal listen duration, respectively; monitoring beacons in X optimal listen durations according to the optimal listen interval and the optimal listen duration; if at least Y beacons are received, determining the calibration is successful, wherein X and Y are positive integers.