Hierarchical Traffic Indication Map Segmentation for Wireless Power Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication systems face challenges in efficiently communicating traffic indication maps to a large number of devices, particularly in terms of power consumption and data rate, especially for low-power devices like sensors, which require efficient data transmission and low power usage.
Innovation Solution
A hierarchical data structure for traffic indication mapping (TIM) is implemented, segmenting the TIM into TIM segment bitmaps and using a page bitmap to indicate data buffering status, allowing for efficient transmission and reduced power consumption by enabling devices to enter low power states when no data is buffered.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a traditional flat TIM structure is used to support a large number of devices, then the number of devices that can be addressed increases, but the power consumption increases and data rate decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The TIM is divided into multiple pages, with each page containing multiple blocks. This hierarchical segmentation allows the system to manage a large number of devices efficiently by organizing them in a structured manner, enabling low-power devices to selectively wake up and check only relevant pages and blocks, thereby reducing overall power consumption while supporting extensive device quantities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a hierarchical dimension to the TIM structure by organizing devices across multiple pages and blocks rather than using a single flat array. This multi-dimensional organization allows efficient addressing of large numbers of devices while enabling power-saving mechanisms where devices can determine their presence indication location more quickly, reducing the data rate requirement and power consumption.
2Use of energy by moving object
If a hierarchical data structure with TIM segmentation is implemented, then power consumption is reduced and data transmission is optimized, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The TIM is segmented into pages and blocks with defined hierarchical relationships. While this increases structural organization, it also enables simplified device-side processing where low-power devices only need to check their specific block within a page, rather than scanning the entire TIM. The segmentation reduces the active processing required at device level, offsetting the increased data structure complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The access point preliminarily organizes the TIM into a hierarchical structure with pages and blocks before transmission. This pre-organization allows receiving devices to quickly navigate to their relevant information without complex runtime processing. The preliminary structuring of TIM elements and their relationships simplifies the operational complexity during actual power-saving mode execution.
3Productivity
If TIM is transmitted frequently to maintain data rate, then data transmission efficiency improves, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic TIM transmission at access point intervals, where the access point transmits TIM information elements in beacon frames at predetermined intervals. Low-power devices can enter sleep mode between these periodic transmissions and only wake up to check for their presence indication, maintaining data transmission efficiency while significantly reducing power consumption compared to continuous monitoring.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts between active and low-power states based on the periodic TIM transmission schedule. Devices transition to low-power mode when no data is pending and wake up periodically to check the TIM, creating a dynamic power management system that maintains data transmission efficiency while optimizing power consumption based on actual data availability and transmission intervals.
Data Source
AI summary
Logic may implement a hierarchical data structure for traffic indication mapping (TIM) and segment the TIM into TIM segment bitmaps to facilitate transmissions for wireless communications devices. The traffic indication provides information as to whether a device associated with an access point (AP) has data buffered by the AP. Logic of the AP may inform devices about the range of devices represented by each of the TIM segments by including a block start and block range or a TIM segment index that can be associated with a range of blocks. Logic may provide at least one page bitmap to devices for the TIM segment bitmaps to provide an indication to the devices as to whether a particular block includes an indication that any client devices have data buffered by the access point.