Wake-up Broadcast Network Information Ad Hoc Wireless

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Wireless ad hoc networks face inefficiencies in power conservation and network communication due to the need for nodes to constantly listen for broadcasts, leading to high current draw and unnecessary activation of communication components.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a second receiver that activates the two-way communications component only upon receiving a wake-up broadcast with a specific identifier, allowing auxiliary information to be received and stored while the component remains dormant, and using a wake-up transceiver to transmit wake-up broadcasts with reduced power consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If nodes constantly listen for broadcasts to maintain network awareness, then network communication reliability is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork communication reliabilityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The receiver is segmented into two distinct components: a low-power wake-up receiver that listens for broadcast signals and a high-power two-way communications component that remains dormant until activated. This segmentation allows the node to maintain network awareness through periodic wake-up broadcasts while minimizing power consumption by keeping the main communication component inactive between wake-ups.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The wake-up receiver performs preliminary action by listening for and detecting wake-up broadcasts before the two-way communications component is activated. This preliminary wake-up detection allows the system to prepare for communication only when necessary, avoiding continuous high-power operation while ensuring network reliability through periodic awareness maintenance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If the two-way communications component is activated frequently to check for broadcasts, then network responsiveness is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork responsivenessVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the receiver into a wake-up receiver and a two-way communications component, the system can maintain network responsiveness through periodic wake-up broadcasts without frequently activating the power-intensive two-way component. The wake-up receiver handles broadcast listening at low power, while the two-way component activates only when wake-up signals are detected.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements periodic action through scheduled wake-up broadcasts that activate the wake-up receiver at predetermined intervals to listen for network broadcasts. This periodic wake-up mechanism maintains network responsiveness while avoiding continuous activation of the two-way communications component, thereby reducing overall power consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

3Productivity

If auxiliary information is transmitted in wake-up broadcasts, then network communication efficiency is improved, but broadcast range requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork communication efficiencyVSAvoidbroadcast range

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The wake-up broadcast serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a wake-up signal to activate the two-way communications component, provides network awareness information about routing paths, and transmits auxiliary information such as encryption keys and node status. This multi-functionality allows efficient network communication without requiring extended broadcast ranges, as all information is conveyed through the same wake-up broadcast mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS9295099B2Wake-up broadcast including network information in common designation ad hoc wireless networking

Publication Date: 2016.03.22 GOOGLE LLC

AI summary

A data communication device includes both a two-way communications component having a first receiver and transmitter, and a second receiver. The second receiver activates the two-way communications component from a dormant state upon receipt by the second receiver of a wake-up broadcast that includes a wake-up identifier of the data communication device. A method of providing information via the second receiver—which information is auxiliary to the wake-up of the two-way communications component—includes transmitting a wake-up broadcast capable of being received by the second receiver. The wake-up broadcast includes a data construct including a wake-up identifier and the auxiliary information. The wake-up identifier may or may not be a wake-up identifier of the data communication device. Nevertheless, the auxiliary information is received and recorded by the data communication device via the second receiver with the two-way communications component remaining in the dormant state.