Platform Services Hub for Low Power Communication Link Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current mobile networking solutions face inefficiencies in network detection and connection management, particularly in low power states, leading to increased power consumption and heat generation, which affects battery life and portability of mobile devices.
Innovation Solution
A Platform Services Hub (PSH) logic provides a generic interface for OS, device drivers, and software applications to manage communication links, allowing the processor to remain in a low power state by abstracting communication interfaces and managing link connectivity without protocol processing, thereby reducing unnecessary wake-ups.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the processor enters sleep or standby mode to reduce power consumption, then power consumption is reduced, but the processor must exit low power state due to communication link maintenance requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates communication link management functions from the main processor by introducing a Platform Services Hub (PSH) that operates independently. The PSH handles link maintenance, event detection, and protocol processing while the processor can remain in low power state, effectively segmenting the system into active and low-power components.
Solution Approach 2:
The PSH acts as an intermediary between the processor and communication interfaces. It maintains communication links, detects events, and only wakes the processor when actual processing is needed, serving as a mediator that allows the processor to stay in low power state while maintaining system functionality.
2Reliability
If the processor remains active to maintain network connectivity, then communication reliability is improved, but power consumption and heat generation increase
Solution Approach 1:
The PSH performs self-service by autonomously managing communication links, detecting events, and maintaining connectivity without requiring continuous processor intervention. It handles link up/down events, protocol processing, and coordinate generation independently, allowing the processor to remain in low power state while network connectivity is maintained.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses periodic link maintenance actions performed by the PSH instead of continuous processor involvement. The PSH periodically checks link status, maintains connectivity, and only triggers processor wake-up when necessary events occur, transforming continuous power consumption into periodic, event-driven actions.
3Reliability
If protocol processing is performed continuously to maintain link status, then communication reliability is improved, but the processor cannot remain in low power state
Solution Approach 1:
Protocol processing functions are extracted from the main processor and relocated to the PSH. The PSH handles link status monitoring, event detection, and protocol processing independently, removing the burden from the processor and enabling it to remain in low power state for extended periods while link monitoring continues uninterrupted.
4Reliability
If multiple device drivers maintain links independently, then communication reliability is improved, but power consumption increases due to redundant operations
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple device drivers and link management functions are merged into a single unified PSH platform. Instead of each driver independently managing links and consuming power, the PSH consolidates these functions, eliminating redundancy and allowing the processor to remain in low power state while maintaining all communication links through the unified platform.
Data Source
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AI summary
Methods and apparatus relating to communication link and network connectivity management in low power mode are described. In one embodiment, logic manages one or more external communication network links (also referred as "links") in response to a determination that a processor has entered a low power consumption state and based on policy information. The logic also blocks/intercepts one or more signals, corresponding to man - agement of the one or more links, that are directed to the processor to allow the processor to stay in the low power consumption. Other embodiments are also claimed and disclosed.