Always-On Wi-Fi Scan Caching for Low-Power Network Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing number of wireless networks complicates network measurement, reporting, and selection for mobile devices, leading to inefficiencies in network switching and energy consumption.
Innovation Solution
Implementing always-on scan leeching using always-on processors (AOP) to continuously scan for Wi-Fi signals in sleep mode, storing results in an always-on database, and awakening the device for network selection when necessary.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If continuous active scanning is performed to maintain network awareness, then network selection accuracy is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs network scanning and stores scan results in advance during sleep mode using the always-on processor. When the device wakes up, it can quickly access pre-stored scan results without performing a full scan, thereby maintaining network awareness accuracy while reducing energy consumption during active operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The always-on processor continuously performs network scanning and maintains scan results in memory even when the main processor is in sleep mode. This continuous background operation ensures network awareness is maintained without requiring the energy-intensive main processor to remain active, resolving the contradiction between continuous monitoring and energy savings.
2Speed
If the device wakes up frequently to perform network scans, then network switching speed is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs network scanning and stores results in advance during sleep mode. When network switching is needed, the device can immediately access pre-stored scan results without waking up the main processor for a full scan, thereby maintaining fast network switching capability while minimizing wake-up frequency and associated energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The always-on processor acts as an intermediary between the sleep mode and full active mode. It maintains network scan results in a lightweight memory structure that can be quickly accessed by the main processor when needed, enabling fast network switching without requiring the energy-intensive main processor to remain continuously active.
3Reliability
If network scan results are stored in always-on memory, then network awareness is maintained, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the memory system into two segments: a small always-on memory in the always-on processor for storing essential network scan results, and the main device memory for full network operations. This segmentation allows network awareness to be maintained with minimal always-on memory, avoiding the need for large amounts of always-on memory and reducing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The always-on processor and its associated memory structure serve as an intermediary layer between sleep mode and full operation. It maintains a simplified version of network scan results that can be quickly accessed and transferred to the main processor when needed, maintaining network awareness without requiring the full complexity of continuous main processor operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of providing Wi-Fi access point (AP) information in a user equipment (UE) is disclosed. The method comprises performing a scan by a Wi-Fi radio of the UE to obtain scan results of APs operating adjacent to the UE while the UE operates in a sleep mode with one or more processors of the UE operating in the sleep mode. Sending one or more of the scan results of the APs from the Wi-Fi radio to an always on processor (AOP) of the UE. Storing the scan results in an always on database (AON DB). And accessing the AON DB by the one or more processors of the UE when the UE is not operating in the sleep mode to enable the UE to display information for the one or more of the scan results stored in the AON DB.