Wi-Fi Wake-Up Control for Low-Power Wearable Connectivity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Wearable devices with integrated Wi-Fi modules experience excessive power consumption due to frequent wake-up events from receiving irrelevant data packets, leading to prolonged system activation.

Innovation Solution

A network connection method that disables the Wi-Fi module when the device is in a low power mode and detects frequent wake-up events or non-use scenarios, switching to alternative communication methods like Bluetooth or NFC when necessary.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the Wi-Fi module is kept enabled to maintain network connectivity, then communication reliability is improved, but power consumption increases due to frequent wake-up events

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork connectivityVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The Wi-Fi module's operational state is dynamically adjusted based on device usage patterns. The system transitions the module between enabled and disabled states according to whether the device is in low-power mode or active mode, optimizing the balance between connectivity reliability and power consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the operational parameters of the Wi-Fi module by disabling it under specific conditions (low-power mode with frequent wake-up events) and enabling it when needed. This parameter change allows the system to reduce power consumption while maintaining connectivity when necessary.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Use of energy by moving object

If the Wi-Fi module is disabled to reduce power consumption, then energy usage is reduced, but network connectivity is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidnetwork connectivity
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system introduces an intermediary mechanism (the conditional control logic) that manages the Wi-Fi module's state. This intermediary evaluates device state and wake-up event frequency to determine whether to enable or disable the module, allowing indirect control that balances power savings with connectivity needs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary assessment of device state and wake-up patterns before disabling the Wi-Fi module. By evaluating whether the device is in low-power mode and whether wake-up events exceed a threshold, the system proactively decides to disable the module, preventing unnecessary power consumption before it occurs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Speed

If the device wakes up frequently to process data packets, then network responsiveness is improved, but system activation time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork responsivenessVSAvoidsystem activation time
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system extracts the Wi-Fi module from continuous operation and isolates it in a disabled state when not needed. By taking out the module from the active power chain during low-power mode, the system eliminates the time and energy associated with frequent wake-up cycles while maintaining the ability to re-enable connectivity when necessary.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP4694381A1Network connection method and system, and related apparatus
Publication Date: 2026.02.11 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP4694381A1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP4694381A1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP4694381A1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

This application discloses a network connection method, a system, and a related apparatus. A first electronic device establishes a Wi-Fi connection to a network connection device by using a wireless fidelity Wi-Fi module. The Wi-Fi module is disabled when it is detected that a quantity of occurrences of wake-up events in a first time period is greater than a first quantity of times, and the first electronic device is in a low power mode. The wake-up event is an event that when the first electronic device receives a data packet through the Wi-Fi connection, an interrupt controller is triggered to wake up the first electronic device from a sleep state to a working state. In this way, power consumption caused by frequent wake-up in a low power mode can be avoided.