Multi-Link Wi-Fi Sleep Mode Signaling for Reliable Power Saving
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing Wi-Fi technologies face challenges in power consumption during multi-link communication, necessitating a method to efficiently manage device sleep modes in wireless local area networks to enhance power saving.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that utilize identifier information bits in message frames to indicate a device's candidacy for sleep mode across multiple links, with feedback confirming or rejecting the sleep mode, allowing devices to enter sleep mode dynamically based on communication status.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If devices enter sleep mode in multi-link communication, then power consumption is reduced, but communication reliability may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the multi-link communication into individual link-level sleep mode decisions. Each link can independently evaluate whether to enter sleep mode based on its own traffic conditions, allowing selective power saving without compromising overall communication reliability. The sleep mode decision is made per-link rather than requiring all links to be active or inactive.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by having devices send sleep mode indication information frames before actually entering sleep mode. This allows the other device to prepare for the sleep mode transition, confirm communication status, and ensure data is properly transmitted or acknowledged before the sleep mode is activated, thereby maintaining communication reliability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If sleep mode indication information is added to message frames, then sleep mode management capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by integrating the sleep mode indication functionality into existing message frame structures used in Wi-Fi communication. The same frame formats already used for data transmission and control are utilized to carry sleep mode indication information, eliminating the need for separate dedicated frames and minimizing additional device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes parameters within existing message frame structures by adding indication bits or fields that can be set based on sleep mode conditions. These parameter modifications enable sleep mode management without requiring fundamental changes to the communication protocol or device architecture, thus limiting the increase in device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides device power saving methods and apparatuses. A method is applied to a first device which simultaneously communicates data frames with a second device via multiple links and includes: generating a first message frame including an identifier information bit used to indicate that the first device is a candidate to enter a sleep mode in one or more links of the multiple links; by sending the first message frame to the second device and receiving a second message frame fed back by the second device, whether to enter a sleep mode in a sleep-mode-candidate link indicated by the identifier information bit is determined based on the second message frame used to confirm or reject the first device to enter a sleep mode in the sleep-mode-candidate link indicated by the identifier information bit. The method may determine whether a device enters a sleep mode under multi-link communication.