Wake-Up Radio Packet for Low Power Wireless Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication systems face challenges in efficiently waking up low power devices from sleep mode while balancing power efficiency and low latency, as duty-cycle protocols often conflict with the need for instant wake-up and data reception, reducing battery life and increasing latency.
Innovation Solution
A method for transmitting a wake-up radio signal to low power devices in a wireless local area network, where a wake-up data frame is configured with specific fields such as type, identifier, and cyclic redundancy check, allowing the AP to wake up multiple devices efficiently by broadcasting group WUR frames and using various identifier formats to determine intended devices, thereby reducing power consumption and latency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If beacon signal is used to transmit data to sleep mode devices, then data transmission capability is maintained, but power consumption increases due to instantaneous wake-up requirement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the wake-up signal into two distinct parts: a wake-up radio packet with a preamble that can be detected by the low-power receiver, and the actual data frame that requires the main radio to be active. This segmentation allows the device to remain in sleep mode while still being able to detect and respond to wake-up signals efficiently.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a wake-up radio packet as an intermediary signal between the access point and the sleep mode device. This intermediate signal contains a preamble that can be detected by the low-power wake-up receiver, serving as a mediator that triggers the transition from sleep mode to active mode without requiring the main radio to be continuously active.
2Use of energy by moving object
If duty-cycle protocol is used to manage sleep mode, then power efficiency is improved, but latency increases due to conflict with instant wake-up requirement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by sending the wake-up radio packet with the data frame in advance while the device is still in sleep mode. The preamble in the wake-up packet allows the device to be pre-notified of incoming data, so that when the device wakes up, the data is already prepared for transmission, reducing overall latency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent maintains continuity of useful action by allowing the access point to continuously transmit data frames during the device's sleep period, rather than waiting for the device to wake up. The data transmission preparation continues uninterrupted in the background, ensuring that data is ready immediately when the device becomes active.
3Speed
If main radio is kept active for instant wake-up, then response time is reduced, but battery life decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the radio functionality into two modes: a low-power wake-up receiver that can detect preambles with minimal power consumption, and the full main radio that handles actual data transmission. This segmentation allows the device to maintain fast response capability through the wake-up receiver while preserving battery life by keeping the main radio off during sleep mode.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by enabling different parts of the radio system to operate at different power levels. The wake-up receiver operates in a low-power state with simplified functionality for detecting preambles, while the main radio operates at full power only when needed for actual data transmission, optimizing the balance between response time and power consumption.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments described herein provide a method for transmitting a wake-up radio signal to low power devices in a wireless local area network. At a wireless access point, data for transmission to one or more lower power wireless devices is received. A wake-up radio packet is generated, including a wake-up data frame destined for the one or more lower power wireless devices. The wake-up data frame is configured with: a type field indicative of a type of the wake-up data frame, and a first identifier field indicative of information corresponding to the one or more lower power wireless devices. The wake-up radio packet is transmitted to the one or more lower power wireless devices to turn on wireless receivers at the one or more low power wireless devices prior to initiating data transmission with the one or more lower power wireless devices.