MAC Frame Filtering for Satellite Terminal Power Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mobile satellite terminals face challenges in reducing power consumption while remaining responsive to user network traffic, as they often receive unnecessary Ethernet packets that require the software processor to wake up frequently, limiting the time spent in low-power mode and requiring specific hardware support like Wake-on-LAN (WoL) which is user-dependent and difficult to implement.
Innovation Solution
A media access controller (MAC) in the mobile satellite terminal autonomously determines whether to wake up the software processor by applying programmed filters to incoming frames, storing or dropping them, allowing the power controller to power on the processor only for relevant frames, thus optimizing power usage without user intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the software processor remains powered on to handle incoming Ethernet packets, then the terminal can respond to user traffic, but power consumption increases and battery life decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the packet handling function into two parts: the MAC layer handles basic frame filtering and Wake-on-LAN packet recognition independently, while the software processor only activates for packets that require higher-level processing. This segmentation allows the processor to remain powered off for routine traffic, reducing power consumption while maintaining responsiveness for actual user traffic.
Solution Approach 2:
The MAC layer performs preliminary filtering of incoming Ethernet packets before they reach the software processor. By pre-identifying and discarding unnecessary packets (such as broadcast packets not intended for WoL), the system avoids waking the processor for irrelevant traffic, thereby extending battery life while preserving the ability to respond to legitimate user traffic.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the terminal uses Wake-on-LAN to reduce power consumption, then the processor can stay powered off, but user involvement and specific hardware support are required
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements self-service by automatically filtering and managing power states based on packet content without requiring user configuration. The MAC layer autonomously identifies Wake-on-LAN packets and activates the processor only when necessary, eliminating the need for users to manually configure WoL settings or understand Ethernet packet structures. This makes power-saving operation transparent and automatic for end users.
3Duration of action of moving object
If the software processor is frequently woken up to process incoming packets, then all packets can be handled, but the time spent in low-power mode decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts the essential wake-up function from the software processor and assigns it to the MAC layer. The MAC layer independently handles Wake-on-LAN packet detection and basic filtering, extracting only the critical power-management function from the processor. This allows the processor to remain in low-power mode for extended periods while still maintaining the ability to process necessary packets through the MAC layer's autonomous operations.
Data Source
AI summary
Some implementations of the disclosure are directed to a media access controller (MAC) of a mobile satellite terminal that may autonomously determine whether or not wake up a software processor of the mobile satellite terminal depending on information contained in a packet received from a user device. The MAC may receive a frame contained in a packet transmitted by a user device to the mobile satellite terminal; automatically determine whether to accept or drop the frame by applying one or more programmed filters to the frame; if the frame is accepted: store the frame in the memory, and cause a power controller to power on the software processor to process the stored frame; and if the frame is not accepted: drop the frame without causing the power controller to power on the software processor.