Wake-Up Frame System for Power-Efficient Group-Addressed Frames
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wireless communication devices face significant power consumption issues due to frequent wake-ups to receive group-addressed frames, which can be comparable to legacy devices operating in lower-power modes between DTIM beacons, reducing the power-saving advantages of Low Power Wake-Up Radio (LP-WUR) technology.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a wake-up frame system that includes a node and interface circuit to selectively transition the main radio from a lower-power mode to a higher-power mode based on a transmission schedule and urgency criteria, using Flexible Multicast Service (FMS) identifiers and Directed Multicast Service (DMS) attributes, compatible with IEEE 802.11 communication protocols, to reduce unnecessary wake-ups and optimize power usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the main radio wakes up periodically after DTIM beacons to receive group-addressed frames, then group-addressed frames can be received reliably, but power consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the wake-up process into two independent parts: a low-power wake-up radio (WUR) that handles periodic wake-up signals and a main radio that handles actual data reception. The WUR operates at a lower power level and only activates the main radio when necessary, segmenting the functional responsibilities to reduce overall power consumption while maintaining reliable frame reception.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic wake-up scheduling where the main radio transitions between powered-off and powered-on states based on transmission schedules and urgency criteria. The system dynamically adjusts the main radio's operational state rather than keeping it continuously active, reducing power consumption while ensuring frames are received at appropriate times.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the main radio remains in lower-power mode between DTIM beacons, then power consumption is reduced, but the device cannot receive group-addressed frames timely
Solution Approach 1:
The wake-up radio performs preliminary actions by monitoring for wake-up packets from the access point and proactively waking up the main radio before group-addressed frames are transmitted. This preliminary wake-up action ensures the main radio is ready to receive frames timely, reducing time delay while maintaining low power consumption during sleep periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback mechanisms where the wake-up radio monitors transmission schedules and urgency criteria, then provides feedback to control the main radio's activation. This feedback loop ensures the main radio wakes up at the optimal moment to receive frames, balancing power savings with timely reception.
3Productivity
If the wake-up radio wakes up the main radio after every DTIM beacon, then all group-addressed frames are received, but power consumption becomes comparable to legacy devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by implementing selective wake-ups based on transmission schedules and urgency criteria rather than waking up after every DTIM beacon. The system determines whether a wake-up is necessary based on the presence of group-addressed frames and their urgency, avoiding excessive wake-ups and reducing power consumption while maintaining adequate frame reception efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
An interface circuit in an electronic device (such as an access point) may receive a setup request associated with the recipient electronic device. The setup request may specify a group address for which the recipient electronic device wants to receive associated frames and a proposed transmission interval. Based at least in part on the proposed transmission interval, the electronic device may determine a transmission schedule and/or may assign, based at least in part on the group address, the recipient electronic device to an aggregated group having a flexible multicast service identifier (FMSID). Then, the electronic device may provide a wake-up frame for the recipient electronic device, where the wake-up frame includes an identifier of the aggregated group for which a group-addressed frame will subsequently be transmitted by the electronic device. Moreover, the wake-up frame may be provided at a transmission time based at least in part on the transmission schedule.