Wi-Fi Chip Sleep Mode for Streaming Systems

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Solution Overview

Problem

Wireless streaming systems face challenges in power efficiency due to high power consumption by Wi-Fi chips when not receiving content, necessitating a low power mode to conserve energy.

Innovation Solution

A wireless streaming system with a processor and memory that enters a sleep mode by periodically toggling the Wi-Fi chip's state and using wake packets from either a remote control or a wireless router to exit sleep mode, allowing for efficient power preservation and immediate activation when content is needed.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If the wireless interface chip remains operative to ensure immediate content reception, then the system responsiveness is improved, but the power consumption increases significantly during idle periods

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem responsivenessVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The wireless interface chip dynamically transitions between operative and off states based on system activity. The chip is turned off during idle periods to save power and turned on when content needs to be received, making the system state variable rather than fixed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system employs periodic wake-up intervals where the wireless interface chip is temporarily activated to check for incoming content or remote control commands. This periodic activation balances power savings with the need to maintain system responsiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

2Loss of energy

If the wireless interface chip is turned off to save power during idle periods, then energy efficiency is improved, but the time to activate when content is needed increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower savingsVSAvoidactivation time

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by maintaining a low-power listening mode or using wake-up triggers (such as magic packets or periodic wake-up intervals) that can quickly activate the wireless interface chip when content or commands are detected, reducing the effective activation time while still achieving power savings.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Use of energy by moving object

If the system enters sleep mode to reduce power consumption, then energy efficiency is improved, but the ability to immediately respond to remote control input deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidremote control responsiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses an intermediary mechanism (such as a wake-up packet receiver or periodic wake-up routine) that allows the sleep mode to coexist with remote control functionality. The intermediary detects incoming commands and triggers system activation without requiring the full system to remain continuously powered.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS11026174B2Wireless streaming system with low power mode and associated remote control

Publication Date: 2021.06.01 ROKU INC

AI summary

A wireless streaming system includes a wireless network interface circuit to receive streaming content from a wireless router. A processor is connected to the wireless network interface circuit. A memory is connected to the processor. The memory stores instructions executed by the processor to enter a sleep mode that periodically invokes a wireless interface chip off state and a wireless interface chip on state. The sleep mode is exited in response to the receipt of a wake packet observed during the wireless interface chip on state.