Wake-Up Beacon Indication for Low-Power Downlink Data Reception
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Solution Overview
Problem
In wireless networks, stations equipped with wake-up receivers (WURs) experience high power consumption due to frequent waking up to receive beacon frames, especially for stations sensitive to power consumption like sensors with coin batteries, as they receive a small percentage of downlink service data.
Innovation Solution
Implement a method where a wake-up beacon frame is sent to WURs with an indication field for specific stations, allowing them to determine if downlink service data is available without waking the primary transceiver, reducing the need for frequent wake-ups and conserving power.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the primary transceiver wakes up within a listen interval to receive beacon frames according to the 802.11 protocol, then the station can obtain BSS parameter information and check for downlink service data, but the primary transceiver wakes up relatively frequently resulting in high power consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the transceiver functionality by separating the wake-up receiver (WUR) from the main radio (MR). The WUR handles beacon frame reception and downlink data indication, while the MR remains in deep sleep state. This segmentation allows the station to maintain reliable downlink service data reception through the WUR while the MR consumes minimal power, directly resolving the contradiction between reliability and energy consumption.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the station enters deep sleep state to reduce energy consumption, then energy consumption of continuous listening is reduced, but the access point cannot communicate with the station and transmission cannot be performed until the station wakes up resulting in latency
Solution Approach 1:
The wake-up receiver acts as an intermediary between the access point and the main radio. It receives beacon frames and downlink service data indications from the AP while the MR is in deep sleep, then wakes up the MR only when necessary. This intermediary function allows the station to maintain low energy consumption during deep sleep while reducing latency by enabling timely wake-up for data transmission.
3Loss of time
If the station follows a specific sleep policy to periodically wake up and check for data, then latency caused by sleep schedule is reduced, but sleep efficiency of the station is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the wake-up function from the main transceiver operations. The WUR operates independently with its own wake-up schedule to detect beacon frames and downlink data indications, while the MR maintains a separate, more efficient sleep schedule. This segmentation allows the station to achieve low latency through the WUR's periodic wake-up without compromising the MR's sleep efficiency, as the MR only wakes up when the WUR indicates downlink data is available.
Data Source
AI summary
This application provides a method for indicating downlink service data and a device. The method includes: controlling, by a first station STA associated with a radio access point AP, a wake-up receiver of the first STA to wake up within a preset first listen interval, and receive a wake-up beacon frame sent by the AP,; controlling, by the first STA, main radio MR of the first STA not to wake up within a second listen interval to receive a beacon frame sent by the AP. According to the method provided in this application, the MR of the first STA does not need to wake up within the second listen interval to receive the beacon frame broadcast by the AP. This significantly reduces wake-up frequency of the MR and reduces power consumption of the first STA.