Power Management Clusters for Multi-Interface Device Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Portable computing devices face challenges in maintaining a rich communication feature set while operating within a limited power budget, as traditional communication networks are not optimized for power efficiency, leading to rapid power expenditure and reduced service quality.
Innovation Solution
The formation of power management clusters using multi-interface devices with both high-power and low-power network interfaces, where a designated lead device monitors high-power networks for incoming messages and notifies participants, allowing only a few devices to maintain high-power connections, thereby reducing overall power expenditure and maintaining service quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If all devices in the cluster maintain continuous high-power network connections, then service quality is improved, but power expenditure increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the cluster into lead devices and non-lead devices. Lead devices maintain continuous high-power network connections to ensure service quality, while non-lead devices use low-power periodic checking. This segmentation allows the cluster to achieve reliable service quality through lead devices while minimizing overall power expenditure through non-lead devices.
2Use of energy by moving object
If devices periodically check for incoming calls using low-power mode, then power expenditure is reduced, but call response delay increases
Solution Approach 1:
Lead devices act as intermediaries between the high-power network and non-lead devices. The lead device maintains a continuous high-power connection, receives incoming calls immediately, and then notifies non-lead devices through the low-power network. This intermediary role eliminates call response delays for non-lead devices while they remain in low-power mode.
3Adaptability or versatility
If devices use standard wireless internet connections for VoIP service, then communication feature set is improved, but power budget is exceeded
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the network interface power state based on device role and activity. Lead devices maintain dynamic high-power connections when needed for service quality, while non-lead devices dynamically switch between low-power periodic checking and high-power connections when notified of incoming calls. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to use feature-rich high-power networks while managing power budget through role-based dynamic behavior.
Data Source
AI summary
Multi-interface devices with at least a high-power network interface and a low-power network interface may form into power management clusters. Power management clusters may be maintained over low-power networks associated with the low-power network interfaces. One or some relative few of the cluster participants may be designated lead devices. Designated lead devices participate in high-power networks as well as a low-power network of their power management cluster. Designated lead devices may monitor associated high-power networks for messages addressed to any participant in their power management cluster, and may notify a participant of the incoming message. In response, the participant may establish a high-power network connection to receive the message. In this way, each participant in the power management cluster receives a service quality benefit of a continuous high-power network connection, but only a relative few participants suffer the associated power expenditure at any given moment.