Wireless Network Interface Card Wake-Up Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing remote wake-up process in wireless communication systems imposes a large workload on access point devices, causing procrastination due to the need for active inquiry and passive waiting for status updates from communication devices in sleep mode.

Innovation Solution

A method and device where a wireless network interface card continuously sends coupling packets to maintain coupling with a remote communication device and determines if received packets are wake-up packets, actively controlling the communication device to exit sleep mode when a wake-up packet is detected.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the access point device actively inquires the status of the communication device in sleep mode, then the wake-up process can be initiated, but the workload on the access point device increases and the wake-up process is delayed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewake-up process reliabilityVSAvoidaccess point device workload

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of the access point device actively inquiring about the communication device's status, the communication device actively sends coupling packets to the access point device to report its status. This inversion of the inquiry direction reduces the access point device's workload while maintaining wake-up reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The communication device in sleep mode continuously sends coupling packets to the access point device before being woken up. This preliminary action keeps the access point device informed of the communication device's existence and status, eliminating the need for active inquiry and reducing wake-up delays.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If the access point device passively waits for response packets from the communication device, then the wake-up process can be detected, but the wake-up time is delayed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewake-up detection accuracyVSAvoidwake-up process time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The communication device provides continuous feedback to the access point device by sending coupling packets even in sleep mode. This feedback mechanism allows the access point device to immediately detect and process wake-up packets without waiting, reducing wake-up time while maintaining detection accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The communication device preemptively sends coupling packets during sleep mode to maintain visibility to the access point device. When a wake-up packet is needed, the access point device can immediately send it without waiting for a response, as the communication device's presence is already known through the coupling packets.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If the communication device sends coupling packets continuously, then the network coupling is maintained, but the power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork coupling stabilityVSAvoidcommunication device power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The communication device sends coupling packets periodically or at specific intervals rather than continuously, maintaining network coupling stability while reducing power consumption during sleep mode. The device can adjust the frequency of coupling packet transmission based on network requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentUS8379555B2Method and apparatus of awaking a communication device

Publication Date: 2013.02.19 MEDIATEK INC

AI summary

A method of awaking a communication device operating in a sleep mode for a wireless network interface card includes continuously sending a plurality of coupling packets to maintain coupling between the communication device and a remote communication device, receiving a wireless packet from the remote communication device, determining a packet type of the wireless packet according to a packet format corresponding to a wake-up packet, and controlling the communication device to leave the sleep mode when the wireless packet is determined to be the wake-up packet.