Terminal Power Management During Transmission Opportunities

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Solution Overview

Problem

Mobile terminals face increased power consumption due to rising data rates in communication networks, necessitating a method to reduce power usage while maintaining efficient communication capabilities.

Innovation Solution

A communication method that sets a power management mode to a power saving mode during transmission opportunities (TXOP), where terminals determine their operation state as either awake or sleep based on criteria received from the access point, such as group membership and data transmission indicators, to conserve power.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If data rate of mobile communication networks is increased, then communication capacity is improved, but power consumption of terminal increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication capacityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The terminal dynamically adjusts its operation state between awake and sleep modes based on real-time criteria evaluation. The power management mode is set to power saving mode during TXOP, and the terminal transitions to sleep state when criteria are satisfied, creating a dynamic adaptation mechanism that optimizes power consumption according to communication needs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The terminal changes its operational parameters by switching between different power management modes (awake state and sleep state) based on evaluated criteria. This parameter change allows the terminal to adjust its power consumption level while maintaining communication capability when needed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Speed

If terminal remains in awake state to maintain communication readiness, then communication responsiveness is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication responsivenessVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The terminal periodically evaluates criteria during TXOP to determine whether to transition between awake and sleep states. This periodic evaluation allows the terminal to maintain communication readiness when necessary while transitioning to power-saving mode during periods when data transmission is not expected, creating a rhythmic pattern of activity and rest

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

3Use of energy by moving object

If terminal switches to power saving mode, then power consumption is reduced, but communication responsiveness may be delayed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidcommunication delay

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The terminal performs preliminary criteria evaluation during TXOP to determine in advance whether it should transition to sleep state. This preliminary action allows the terminal to make informed decisions about power saving opportunities without compromising communication responsiveness, as the evaluation is performed before the actual state transition

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS8611267B2Communication method of a terminal and an access point for power saving

Publication Date: 2013.12.17 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

Provided is a communication method of an access point and a terminal that may decrease power consumption by changing an operation state of a terminal from an awake state to a sleep state when there is no stream to be transmitted to the terminal during a transmission opportunity (TXOP).