Context-Sensitive WAP Power Management via Airtime Correlation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless access points (WAPs) face challenges in managing power consumption efficiently, leading to increased energy usage with each revision of the IEEE 802.11 standard, despite enhanced capabilities and capacity.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for context-sensitive power management in WAPs, utilizing an airtime correlator, dormancy allocator, and medium access control (MAC) to identify idle and active states, allocating dormant intervals to reduce base power levels and avoid resource demand during contention-free periods, thereby optimizing power usage without service interruptions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If WAP implements enhanced capabilities and capacity in each IEEE 802.11 standard revision, then network performance and functionality are improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The WAP dynamically adjusts its operational state between active and dormant modes based on real-time airtime utilization thresholds. When airtime usage falls below a predetermined threshold, the WAP transitions to a dormant state with reduced base power consumption, and when usage exceeds the threshold, it transitions back to active state, creating a dynamic power management system that adapts to network conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements periodic monitoring of airtime utilization and transitions between power states at predetermined intervals. The airtime correlator continuously measures airtime usage over specific time periods, and the WAP alternates between active and dormant states based on whether measured airtime falls below or exceeds thresholds, creating a rhythmic pattern of power consumption that matches network activity cycles
2Use of energy by moving object
If WAP reduces base power level during idle periods, then power consumption is reduced, but network service continuity may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
Before transitioning to the dormant state with reduced power consumption, the WAP performs preliminary actions including monitoring airtime utilization to confirm it remains below the threshold for a predetermined time period. This preliminary verification ensures that the WAP only enters low-power mode when network conditions genuinely warrant it, preventing premature transitions that could disrupt service
Solution Approach 2:
The airtime correlator continuously provides feedback about network airtime utilization to the power management system. This real-time feedback mechanism allows the WAP to monitor network conditions and immediately transition back to active state if airtime usage exceeds the threshold, ensuring service continuity while maximizing power savings during genuine idle periods
Data Source
AI summary
A wireless access point (WAP) including: an airtime correlator, a dormancy allocator and a medium access control (MAC). The airtime correlator is configured to correlate airtime usage of the selected communication channel by the WAP with one of an idle WLAN state characterized by an absence of upstream or downstream communications and an active WLAN state characterized by at least one of upstream and downstream communications on the WLAN. The dormancy allocator is configured to allocate during at least one of the idle and the active WLAN states, a portion of available airtime to at least one dormancy interval in which a base power level of the WAP is reduced at least below a level required to support downstream communications. The MAC is configured to identify for the plurality of station nodes on the WLAN, a contention free period overlapping in time with the at least one dormancy interval.