Wireless Mesh End Devices Using FP Bits to Cut Wake Time
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Solution Overview
Problem
End devices in wireless mesh networks consume excessive power due to redundant data exchanges and the need to stay awake for explicit data requests, despite enhanced-ACK frames indicating pending data.
Innovation Solution
Encapsulate data in enhanced-ACK frames and assign new functionality to FP bits to reduce the number of explicit data request frames, ensuring backward compatibility and minimizing the time end devices stay awake.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If end devices send explicit data request frames to check for buffered data, then data can be received reliably, but power consumption increases and battery life decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the data request functionality from the traditional explicit data request frame and integrates it into the enhanced-ACK frame. The FP bit in the enhanced-ACK frame now serves dual purposes: acknowledging the received frame and indicating whether the parent device has buffered data, thereby eliminating the need for separate data request frames and reducing power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the acknowledgment function and the data availability indication function into a single enhanced-ACK frame. By combining these functions, the end device can determine data availability without sending additional frames, reducing the time spent in active mode and lowering power consumption while maintaining reliable data reception.
2Productivity
If end devices stay awake to transmit data requests and receive responses, then data exchange can occur, but the time spent in active mode increases power consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having the parent device prepare the FP bit indication in advance within the enhanced-ACK frame before the end device needs to request data. This allows the end device to immediately know whether data is available without entering a prolonged active state, thus reducing active mode duration while maintaining data exchange efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables the end device to skip the traditional multi-frame data request sequence by interpreting the FP bit in the enhanced-ACK frame. If FP is set, the end device can immediately proceed to receive data; if not set, it can quickly return to sleep mode, thus rushing through the data exchange process efficiently and minimizing active mode time.
3Adaptability or versatility
If traditional acknowledgment frames are used without FP bit functionality, then backward compatibility is maintained, but redundant data exchanges occur increasing power consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the enhanced-ACK frame universal by ensuring it can serve both traditional acknowledgment purposes and new data availability indication purposes through the FP bit. This multi-functionality allows the frame to work in both traditional and optimized scenarios, maintaining backward compatibility while enabling power-efficient operation when supported by both devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamics by making the FP bit functionality optional and adaptive. The system can dynamically switch between traditional acknowledgment mode (when FP bit is not used or both devices support the enhancement) and optimized mode (when FP bit is utilized). This dynamic adaptability ensures backward compatibility is maintained while allowing energy-efficient operation when conditions permit.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for reducing the power consumption of end devices in wireless mesh networks are described. In an illustrative, non-limiting embodiment, an end device may include: a controller; and a memory coupled to the controller, wherein the memory comprises program instructions stored thereon that, upon execution by the controller, cause the end device to transmit a frame to a parent device in a wireless mesh network, wherein the frame has a Frame Pending (FP) bit set to indicate, to the parent device, that the end device is ready to receive data from the parent device in the absence of a subsequent data request.