Terminal Power Management via TXOP State Switching

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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 effective communication capabilities.

Innovation Solution

A communication method that sets a power management mode to a power saving mode during transmission opportunities (TXOP), allowing terminals to switch between awake and sleep states based on predetermined criteria, such as group membership and data transmission status, to conserve power.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If data rate of mobile communication networks increases, 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 whether it is currently in a TXOP period. This dynamic adaptation allows the terminal to optimize power consumption by being active only when data transmission is occurring and sleeping when no transmission is taking place, thus resolving the contradiction between maintaining communication capacity and reducing power consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes periodic TXOP (Transmission Opportunity) intervals during which the terminal alternates between awake and sleep states. By synchronizing its operation with these periodic transmission windows, the terminal ensures it is awake only when necessary for data transmission and sleeps during non-transmission periods, thereby reducing overall power consumption while maintaining communication effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

2Productivity

If terminal operates continuously to maintain communication readiness, then communication efficiency is improved, but battery life decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication efficiencyVSAvoidbattery life

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The terminal employs periodic awake-sleep cycles synchronized with TXOP intervals. During each TXOP period, the terminal wakes up to handle data transmission, then returns to sleep mode. This periodic operation pattern maintains communication efficiency by ensuring the terminal is awake when transmission occurs while extending battery life through extended sleep periods between transmissions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The terminal autonomously manages its own power state transitions based on the TXOP timing information it receives from the access point. It self-regulates by waking up before expected transmissions and returning to sleep afterward, eliminating the need for continuous monitoring and manual intervention, thus improving both communication efficiency and power savings.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS10334526B2Communication method of a terminal and an access point for power saving

Publication Date: 2019.06.25 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

Provided is a communication technology of an access point and a terminal that may decrease power consumption by changing an operation state of the terminal from an awake state to a sleep state when a data stream to be transmitted to the terminal is absent or has completed in a transmission opportunity (TXOP) duration.