Wireless Discovery Window Scheduling for Power and Contention
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Solution Overview
Problem
In wireless networks, especially Neighbor Awareness Networks (NANs), the random distribution of discovery and communication transmissions leads to inefficient power usage and increased contention among devices, as all devices typically wake up during the same discovery window, causing power wastage and potential collisions.
Innovation Solution
Implementing an interleaved wake-up schedule where devices can select specific discovery windows based on power saving and latency requirements, allowing devices with different power usage attributes to skip or offset wake-up times, thereby reducing unnecessary power consumption and contention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If devices randomly distribute discovery transmissions over all discovery slots, then all devices can potentially discover services, but power consumption increases and contention collisions occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the discovery process by dividing devices into different groups that wake up at different discovery windows. Instead of all devices participating in every discovery slot, the system segments participation across multiple time slots, allowing devices to skip certain windows and reduce power consumption while maintaining discovery capability through systematic coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic action by establishing regular discovery windows where specific groups of devices wake up at predetermined intervals. Devices follow a periodic schedule where they wake up at certain discovery windows and sleep during others, creating a rhythm that reduces overall power consumption while ensuring services are discovered through repeated periodic opportunities.
2Productivity
If all devices wake up during the same discovery window, then discovery communication can occur, but contention and collisions increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the device population into different groups that operate in different discovery windows. By dividing devices into segments based on their wake-up schedules, the system reduces the number of devices contending for the medium in each individual window, thereby reducing collisions while maintaining overall discovery productivity through the collective coverage of all segments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a temporal dimension to resolve contention by distributing devices across multiple time slots rather than having them all compete simultaneously. This dimensional transformation spreads the discovery load over time, converting a concentrated contention problem into a distributed temporal pattern that reduces collisions while preserving discovery efficiency.
3Reliability
If devices participate in every discovery slot, then service discovery coverage is maximized, but power savings are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by organizing devices into groups with different wake-up patterns across discovery windows. Each segment participates in a subset of discovery slots, ensuring that collectively all segments provide comprehensive coverage while individually consuming less power by skipping certain windows. This segmented approach maintains discovery reliability through systematic coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements partial action by having devices participate in only a portion of all available discovery windows rather than every slot. Devices perform discovery activities partially - waking up at specific intervals and sleeping during other windows - which reduces power consumption while the cumulative effect of all devices across multiple windows ensures sufficient discovery coverage.
Data Source
AI summary
A first wireless device including a timing module and a scheduling module. The timing module is configured to determine a timing of a plurality of discovery windows in a network. A discovery window is a time period in which (i) the first wireless device and (ii) one or more second wireless devices in the network are configured to attempt discovery of a service in the network prior to associating with each other. The scheduling module is configured to generate a schedule including a subset of the plurality of discovery windows in which to allow (i) the first wireless device and (ii) the one or more second wireless devices in the network to attempt discovery of the service. The subset includes fewer discovery windows than the plurality of discovery windows.