STA Power Saving via Frame Header Identification Bits
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Solution Overview
Problem
In IEEE 802.11, STAs face power consumption issues due to waiting for and analyzing infrastructure service information discovery messages, which are lengthy and unclear, leading to excessive energy use when not all information is needed, and incorrect identification of message types.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an identification information bit string in the physical or MAC frame headers to differentiate infrastructure service information discovery and beacon frames, allowing STAs to quickly identify message types and skip unnecessary analysis, thereby reducing power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the broadcast message includes only catalogue index information, then the message length is reduced, but the STA cannot determine whether it has received the desired information and must continuously monitor and analyze messages, increasing power consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a timestamp field and beacon interval parameter as intermediary elements that mediate between the AP and STA. The timestamp records the broadcast time of infrastructure service information, and the beacon interval defines the periodicity. These intermediaries enable the STA to calculate expected message arrival times without continuously monitoring, reducing power consumption while maintaining information completeness.
Solution Approach 2:
The AP performs preliminary action by including timestamp information in advance in the broadcast message. This allows the STA to pre-calculate when the next infrastructure service information message will be broadcast based on the beacon interval and timestamp, so the STA can enter sleep mode at appropriate times rather than continuously monitoring, thus reducing power consumption.
2Measurement precision
If the STA continuously monitors and analyzes broadcast messages to determine message type, then message identification accuracy is improved, but power consumption increases due to continuous reception and analysis operations
Solution Approach 1:
The timestamp field acts as an intermediary that carries timing information without requiring the STA to continuously monitor messages. The STA uses the timestamp and beacon interval to calculate expected message arrival times, achieving accurate message type identification only at necessary moments rather than continuous monitoring.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic action through the beacon interval mechanism. Instead of continuous monitoring, the STA wakes up at periodic intervals determined by the beacon interval and timestamp to check for infrastructure service information messages. This periodic checking maintains identification accuracy while significantly reducing power consumption compared to continuous monitoring.
3Loss of information
If the STA receives and analyzes all broadcast messages to ensure no desired information is missed, then information completeness is improved, but processing time and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The AP includes timestamp information in advance in the broadcast message, enabling the STA to pre-calculate when infrastructure service information will be broadcast. This preliminary timing information allows the STA to skip unnecessary message reception and analysis periods, ensuring information completeness is not lost while significantly reducing processing time and power consumption.
4Reliability
If the STA remains in wake-up state to receive infrastructure service information at unknown time points, then information reception reliability is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The timestamp field provides preliminary timing information about when infrastructure service information will be broadcast. The STA uses this timestamp along with the beacon interval to calculate exact wake-up times, ensuring reliable information reception without needing to remain in a prolonged wake-up state. This maintains reception reliability while reducing power consumption by enabling precise timing control.
Solution Approach 2:
The beacon interval establishes a periodic action pattern for message broadcasting and STA wake-up cycles. This periodicity ensures that the STA wakes up at the correct intervals to receive infrastructure service information reliably, while allowing the STA to enter sleep mode between periods, thus maintaining reliability while reducing overall power consumption compared to continuous wake-up state.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention provides an infrastructure service information communication device and an infrastructure service information communication method. The infrastructure service information communication device comprises: a service processing module, configured to generate a broadcast message, wherein a physical frame header and/or a media access control frame header of the broadcast message comprise an identification information bit, the value of the identification information bit is a first value when the broadcast message is an infrastructure service information discovery message, and the infrastructure service information discovery message comprises specific information of infrastructure service information; and a wireless transceiving module, configured to exchange data with the outside of the infrastructure service information communication device, wherein the service processing module transmits the broadcast message via the wireless transceiving module. The present invention allows an STA to save a large amount of power in a process of carrying out infrastructure network service information discovery, which is also favorable for power saving of those STAs that are not engaged in the infrastructure network service information discovery.