Peer-Influenced USB Power Delivery via Dynamic eDPM
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Solution Overview
Problem
In a USB environment, secondary devices acting as power sources lack ecosystem knowledge of connected devices' power status, leading to inefficient power management and potential denial of service to new devices due to static power allocations, which do not account for fluctuating power needs.
Innovation Solution
Implementing an extended device policy management (eDPM) system that allows devices to share power information and dynamically adjust power policies based on peer influence, establishing logical relations between devices to optimize power delivery according to actual needs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If secondary devices allocate maximum theoretical power output to ensure power availability, then power delivery reliability is improved, but device complexity and design costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic power allocation where the power source device continuously monitors power consumption of connected devices and adjusts power delivery in real-time. Instead of static maximum power allocation, the system dynamically adapts power levels based on actual device needs, reducing complexity while maintaining reliability through active power management
Solution Approach 2:
The system establishes feedback loops where connected devices report their power consumption status and the power source device receives this information to adjust power delivery accordingly. This feedback mechanism enables the system to maintain reliable power delivery at optimal power levels without requiring maximum theoretical output capacity
2Reliability
If secondary devices allocate maximum theoretical power output, then power availability is improved, but loss of energy increases due to static allocations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic power allocation where the power source device continuously monitors power consumption of connected devices and adjusts power delivery in real-time. Instead of static maximum power allocation, the system dynamically adapts power levels based on actual device needs, reducing complexity while maintaining reliability through active power management
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the power delivery parameter dynamically based on device power consumption status. By adjusting voltage and current levels according to actual device requirements rather than maintaining maximum theoretical levels, the system reduces energy loss while ensuring power availability when needed
3Device complexity
If static power allocations are used, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability worsens due to inability to account for fluctuating power needs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic power allocation where the power source device continuously monitors power consumption of connected devices and adjusts power delivery in real-time. Instead of static maximum power allocation, the system dynamically adapts power levels based on actual device needs, reducing complexity while maintaining reliability through active power management
Data Source
AI summary
Universal Serial Bus (USB) Power Delivery is augmented by allowing devices that attach to the USB to include and/or have access to an enhanced device policy manager (eDPM) so that device information such as status, state, or requirements, such as power requirements, may be at least be shared by the eDPMs between, for example, a host device on the bus, a secondary device providing power to devices on the bus, and a new device attaching to the bus. Sharing device information facilitates the host having contextual awareness for the attaching device and assists with determining whether the attaching device may be enumerated on the bus. If not, such as due to insufficient power available from the secondary device, the host and/or secondary device may seek to influence bus devices to change an operating mode to accommodate the attaching device.