Surrogate NAN Scanning for Power-Constrained Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current neighborhood awareness networking (NAN) devices face high power consumption due to continuous transmission and scanning of NAN discovery beacon frames, which can account for approximately 50% of a mobile device's average power consumption.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method where a first communication device performs surrogate NAN scanning on behalf of a second communication device with lower power capability, allowing the second device to suppress its own scanning and conserve power by sharing a common network connection and notifying the first device upon detecting a NAN transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If NAN devices continuously transmit and scan for NAN discovery beacon frames, then NAN device discovery capability is improved, but power consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a surrogate scanner device that acts as an intermediary to perform NAN discovery scanning on behalf of power-constrained devices. The surrogate scanner receives scanning parameters from the power-constrained device, performs the actual scanning and beacon frame transmission, and reports results back to the original device, thereby eliminating the need for the power-constrained device to continuously activate its radio for scanning.
Solution Approach 2:
The surrogate scanner creates a functional copy of the scanning capability that resides in the power-constrained device. Instead of the original device performing scanning operations, the surrogate device replicates the scanning function using the original device's scanning parameters and criteria, allowing the original device to remain in a low-power state while still achieving discovery objectives.
2Reliability
If devices with lower power capability perform continuous NAN scanning, then NAN device discovery is achieved, but battery life is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The surrogate scanner serves as a mediator that takes over the energy-intensive scanning task from the battery-constrained device. The power-constrained device provides scanning parameters and receives results, while the surrogate device with sufficient power resources performs the actual scanning operations, thereby preserving the battery life of the original device without compromising discovery capability.
3Use of energy by moving object
If NAN devices suppress scanning to conserve power, then power consumption is reduced, but NAN device discovery capability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The surrogate scanner acts as an external intermediary that performs scanning operations independently of the power-constrained device's scanning state. The original device can suppress its own scanning to conserve power while the surrogate device continues to scan using the original device's parameters, reporting discovered devices back to the original device, thus maintaining discovery capability without requiring the original device to actively scan.
Data Source
AI summary
A first communication device performs a method that includes detecting a common network connection with a second communication device. The method further includes determining to perform neighborhood awareness networking scanning on behalf of the second communication device. When the first communication device detects a neighborhood awareness networking transmission while performing the neighborhood awareness networking scanning, it notifies the second communication device and discontinues the scanning on behalf of the second communication device.