Mesh Node Power Saving via Receive Window Start Frames
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Solution Overview
Problem
In mesh networks, power-saving mesh nodes need to frequently receive and examine beacons from all peer nodes, resulting in excessive wake time, even though most of the time data is not transmitted, due to the current power saving method's requirement for nodes to receive beacons from all peers.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method where mesh nodes inform peers of their awake periods and transmit data only during scheduled awake periods, using a power saving module that generates and transmits a receive window start frame to indicate upcoming awake periods, allowing nodes to remain in power-saving mode without continuous beacon monitoring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If power saving mesh nodes receive beacons from all peer nodes to check TIM bits, then data transmission can be maintained, but wake time and power consumption increase excessively
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having mesh nodes exchange and store wake-up schedules in advance. Nodes know beforehand when their peers will be awake, eliminating the need to continuously monitor beacons. This pre-planned information allows nodes to sleep during periods when no data transmission is expected while still being able to receive data during scheduled awake periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the essential function of beacon monitoring by removing the requirement to receive all beacons from all peers. Instead of extracting TIM bit information from every beacon, nodes only need to listen for data during their scheduled awake periods when peers know they will be awake. This extraction eliminates unnecessary wake times while preserving data transmission capability.
2Reliability
If power saving mesh nodes frequently wake to receive beacons, then data can be received, but productivity decreases due to excessive wake time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action by establishing regular, scheduled awake periods for each mesh node based on exchanged wake-up schedules. Instead of waking periodically to check all beacons, nodes wake only during their predetermined scheduled periods when data transmission is expected. This reduces wake frequency while ensuring data reception occurs during known active periods of peer nodes.
3Loss of information
If nodes monitor all beacons from all peers, then complete network awareness is maintained, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the necessary information for power saving operation - wake-up schedules exchanged during mesh initialization. Nodes remove the complex requirement of processing all beacon frames from all peers and retain only the essential timing information needed to determine when to wake for data reception. This simplifies device complexity while maintaining sufficient network awareness for data transmission.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and apparatus for implementing power saving in mesh nodes include transmitting a receive window start frame prior to each awake period. The receive window start frame is a short frame, and nodes in the mesh network passively monitor for this frame. Upon detection, a mesh node can transmit data to its destination during its awake period.