Low Power Device Multicast Communication via Proxy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Low power devices on Wi-Fi networks face challenges in receiving multicast data due to their sleep modes, which are not supported by existing power-save mechanisms, leading to missed communications and battery life issues in systems like HomeKit or Bonjour protocols.
Innovation Solution
Implementing gratuitous periodic query responses, periodic query requests on wake-up, cached information about services, and proxy-based approaches to ensure low power devices can update their status and respond to multicast queries, even when asleep, using techniques like Bonjour protocol and MDNS caching.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If low power devices enter sleep mode to conserve battery life, then power consumption is reduced, but they cannot receive multicast data or respond to network queries
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a proxy device that acts as an intermediary between the low power device and the network. The proxy maintains a persistent connection to the network and forwards messages to/from the low power device when it wakes up, eliminating the need for the low power device to maintain continuous network connectivity while ensuring reliable message delivery.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by having the proxy device pre-process and queue incoming messages for the low power device before the device wakes up. When the device becomes active, it receives a batch of pre-collected messages, reducing wake frequency and power consumption while maintaining communication reliability.
2Reliability
If low power devices wake up frequently to listen for multicast data, then communication reliability improves, but battery life is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The low power device operates in periodic cycles, waking up at predetermined intervals to check for messages and then returning to sleep mode. This periodic operation allows the device to conserve energy while still maintaining the ability to receive important communications, with the proxy device handling continuous network monitoring during sleep periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The proxy device serves as a mediator that monitors the network continuously and buffers incoming messages for the low power device during its sleep periods. This eliminates the need for the low power device to wake frequently, as the proxy ensures messages are ready when the device becomes active.
3Adaptability or versatility
If standardized protocols require continuous transceiver operation for device discovery and service announcement, then system compatibility is improved, but battery life is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The proxy device assumes the role of performing standardized protocol functions such as service announcements and device discovery on behalf of the low power device. This allows the low power device to enter sleep mode while the proxy maintains protocol compliance and system compatibility through intermittent communication with waking devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a virtual representation of the low power device through the proxy, which handles protocol-level interactions. This copy performs service announcements and maintains protocol state, allowing the actual low power device to remain dormant while preserving system compatibility and interoperability.
Data Source
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AI summary
A system of controlling one or more building automation devices. The system may incorporate communicating over a first network with one or more network connected devices. An access point for the first network may be utilized to facilitate communication among the network connected devices. One or more of the network connected devices may be a low power device that has a first mode and a second mode. The low power device may expend less energy in one of the first mode and the second than in the other of the first mode and the second mode. The system may allow network devices connected to the first network to receive details about the low power device while the low power device is operating with the first mode and the second mode.