Peer-to-Peer Group Joining with Intermediary-Assisted Power Saving

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Solution Overview

Problem

In peer-to-peer wireless communication environments, devices face challenges in quickly and efficiently joining a group while minimizing power consumption, especially when the group controller is in a low power sleep state, leading to prolonged scanning times and increased power usage.

Innovation Solution

A method where a device seeking to join a group can request and utilize information about the group controller, even when the controller is in a sleep state, by broadcasting a message requesting information about the group owner, which may include channel usage, scheduled awake times, or service types, allowing the joining device to synchronize and reduce scanning time and power consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a device continuously scans for a group controller to join a peer-to-peer group, then the device can reliably locate the controller, but the scanning time and power consumption increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegroup joining reliabilityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by having group member devices pre-store and maintain information about the group controller (such as channel assignments and wake schedules) even when the controller is in sleep mode. When a new device wants to join, existing members can immediately provide this pre-prepared information without requiring continuous scanning, thus reducing both time and power consumption while ensuring reliable group joining.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Use of energy by moving object

If a device waits for the group controller to wake from sleep state to join the group, then power consumption is reduced, but the joining time is delayed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidgroup joining time

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses existing group members as intermediaries to facilitate the joining process. When the group controller is in sleep mode, these intermediary devices maintain and share controller information with joining devices. This allows the joining device to obtain necessary information immediately without waiting for the controller to wake, thus reducing joining time while the controller remains in low-power state.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

Group members perform preliminary actions by storing controller information (channel assignments, wake schedules) in advance and making it available to joining devices. This pre-prepared information eliminates the need for joining devices to wait for or continuously scan for the sleeping controller, significantly reducing joining time without increasing power consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If the group controller remains in awake state to respond to join requests, then group joining speed is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegroup joining speedVSAvoidcontroller power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs existing group members as mediators that handle communication with joining devices. These intermediaries maintain controller information and assist new devices in joining the group without requiring the controller to be continuously awake. This enables fast group joining through intermediary assistance while allowing the controller to remain in low-power state, thus achieving high productivity with low energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Adaptability or versatility

If a device scans multiple channels to find the group controller, then the device can locate the controller on any channel, but the scanning time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvechannel flexibilityVSAvoidscanning time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by having group members pre-store and share the specific channel assignments of the group controller. When a device wants to join, it receives this pre-prepared channel information from existing members, eliminating the need to scan multiple channels. This reduces scanning time significantly while maintaining adaptability, as the controller can operate on any channel and this information is dynamically provided to joiners.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS9998522B2Fast join of peer to peer group with power saving mode

Publication Date: 2018.06.12 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC

AI summary

A wireless peer-to-peer protocol that supports fast and low power joining to an existing group. The protocol may be an extension of a peer-to-peer protocol that supports a sleep state for a device controlling the group. When a device is seeking to join a group at a time when the controlling device is in a sleep state, another device that has information about the controlling device may provide information to the joining device that may then be used by the joining device to more quickly, and using less power, synchronize with the controlling device. The information may include information about a channel used by the controlling device or about timing of availability of the controlling device. The information may also reveal whether the group provides a service being sought by the joining device or may otherwise influence whether the joining device will attempt to join a group.