Communication Apparatus Multicast Group Maintenance Power Saving
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing communication apparatuses fail to efficiently maintain multicast groups during power saving mode, leading to potential multicast packet blocking and duplicate address detection failures, which can result in communication failures using IPv6 due to the resource-intensive nature of Multicast Listener Discovery (MLD) functions.
Innovation Solution
A communication apparatus with a reception unit, first determination unit, and transmission unit is configured to receive multicast listener query signals, determine if they match a joined multicast address, and transmit a multicast receiver report only when the address matches, thereby efficiently managing multicast groups with reduced power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by stationary object
If the wireless communication function is turned OFF during power saving mode, then power consumption is reduced, but the apparatus fails to respond to multicast listener query packets and maintain multicast groups
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the communication functionality by maintaining only the essential network communication function unit active during power saving mode while turning off other functions. This selective segmentation allows the apparatus to maintain multicast group membership through minimal MLD operations without requiring full wireless communication functionality, thus resolving the contradiction between power savings and multicast maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by implementing a simplified MLD operation mode during power saving state. Instead of implementing complete MLD functionality, the apparatus performs only the minimal necessary actions (responding to multicast listener query packets) to maintain multicast group membership, reducing power consumption while preserving essential functionality.
2Reliability
If all MLD functions are kept active during power saving mode, then multicast group maintenance is ensured, but a large amount of resources and power is consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes unnecessary MLD functions from the active set during power saving mode. By taking out non-essential MLD operations and keeping only the critical function of responding to multicast listener query packets, the system maintains multicast group reliability while significantly reducing power consumption and resource usage.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs only the partial action necessary for multicast maintenance by implementing a streamlined MLD operation that responds to query packets without maintaining full MLD functionality. This selective partial operation reduces resource consumption while ensuring multicast group membership is preserved.
3Use of energy by stationary object
If the network communication function is reduced in power saving mode, then power consumption decreases, but duplicate address detection may fail
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by ensuring the apparatus is configured to respond to multicast listener query packets before entering power saving mode. This preliminary setup of essential response capability ensures that duplicate address detection and other critical IPv6 functions can operate correctly even when the apparatus is in a low-power state, resolving the contradiction between power reduction and detection reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
In a case where a signal received while a communication apparatus is in a power saving state is a multicast listener query signal, whether a multicast address of the signal matches a predetermined address of a multicast group joined by the communication apparatus is determined. In a case where the signal matches, a multicast receiver report is transmitted to a source of the multicast listener query signal.