NAN Tethering via Secondary Processor Offload
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless tethering methods, such as soft AP tethering, lead to power drain and unpredictable availability due to the host device remaining awake even when no client devices are connected or data is not being transmitted, and lack efficient power management.
Innovation Solution
Implementing Neighbor Awareness Networking (NAN) tethering, which allows host devices to wake up only during designated time slots negotiated with client devices, offloading operations from the primary processor to a secondary processor, such as a WiFi dongle, to reduce power consumption and improve availability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If soft AP tethering is used to enable wireless connectivity, then network access is provided to peer devices, but power consumption increases due to the host device remaining awake continuously
Solution Approach 1:
The host device transitions between wake and sleep states periodically, waking only during designated time slots to provide tethering services. This periodic operation allows the device to maintain network availability while reducing power consumption during inactive periods when no client devices are connected or data is not being transmitted.
Solution Approach 2:
Wake-up time slots are negotiated in advance between the host device and client devices before actual data transmission begins. This preliminary scheduling allows the host device to enter sleep mode confidently, knowing when it needs to wake up, thereby optimizing power consumption while ensuring network availability is maintained when needed.
2Reliability
If the host device remains awake continuously to handle tethering requests, then unpredictable availability is avoided, but power drain increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the host device's operational state based on actual tethering needs. Rather than maintaining a static awake state, the device transitions between dynamic wake and sleep states, adapting its availability to match real-time communication requirements and thereby reducing unnecessary power drain.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback mechanisms where client devices signal their tethering requirements, and the host device responds by waking up at scheduled times. This feedback loop ensures that the host device maintains availability only when actually needed, preventing continuous power consumption while ensuring tethering services are provided when requested.
3Productivity
If the primary processor handles all tethering operations, then full processing capability is available, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Tethering operations are extracted from the primary processor and handled by a secondary processor or dedicated hardware module. This extraction allows the primary processor to enter low-power sleep mode during tethering operations, maintaining full processing capability when needed while significantly reducing power consumption during routine tethering tasks.
Solution Approach 2:
The processing responsibilities are segmented between the primary processor and secondary processor. The secondary processor handles routine tethering operations, while the primary processor remains available for more demanding tasks. This segmentation enables the primary processor to sleep during inactive periods while maintaining overall system productivity.
Data Source
AI summary
In some aspects, the disclosure is directed to methods and systems for NAN tethering a second wireless to a first wireless device. The first wireless device includes a primary processor and a secondary processor. The primary processor negotiates one or more first wake up slots for a NAN service with the second wireless device, establishes the NAN service with the second wireless device, and offloads the NAN service to the secondary processor, responsive to establishing the NAN service and prior to the primary processor entering into a sleep mode. The secondary processor renegotiates one or more second wake up slots with the second wireless device for the offloaded NAN service. The secondary processor is configured to wirelessly tether, the second wireless device to the first wireless device, using the one or more second wake up slots of the offloaded NAN service.