Wireless Power Management via Dynamic Beacon Intervals

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current power management mechanisms in wireless mesh networks, such as those defined in IEEE 802.11s Draft Standard 1.08, are inefficient and often result in undesirable network operations, particularly when devices attempt to enter power saving modes without centralized control, leading to synchronization challenges and increased power consumption.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a distributed power management system that uses a power management module to determine beacon and wakeup intervals, allowing devices to operate in power saving modes by alternating between awake and doze states based on specified intervals and traffic conditions, with the ability to negotiate these intervals with peers and advertise awake windows to ensure efficient data exchange.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If devices enter power saving modes without centralized control, then power consumption is reduced, but synchronization challenges occur and network operations become undesirable

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidsynchronization

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Each mesh point autonomously manages its own power saving operations by determining beacon intervals and wakeup intervals based on local traffic conditions and peer capabilities, eliminating the need for centralized control while maintaining synchronization through distributed negotiation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Devices exchange capability information and traffic condition data through beacon frames to dynamically adjust beacon intervals and wakeup intervals, creating a feedback mechanism that adapts power saving parameters to current network conditions while maintaining synchronization

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Duration of action of moving object

If devices alternate between awake and doze states to save power, then battery life is extended, but data exchange efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebattery lifeVSAvoiddata exchange efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of moving objectVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts beacon intervals and wakeup intervals based on real-time traffic conditions and device capabilities, allowing flexible adaptation between power saving mode and data exchange requirements without fixed operational patterns

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

Devices use periodic beacon transmissions at adjusted intervals to synchronize state information and maintain peer links during doze periods, enabling efficient data exchange windows that balance power consumption with communication needs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

3Use of energy by moving object

If beacon intervals are increased to reduce power consumption, then battery life is extended, but network responsiveness decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidnetwork responsiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes beacon interval parameters dynamically based on network conditions, traffic patterns, and device capabilities, allowing optimization of the balance between power consumption and network responsiveness for different operational scenarios

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS11678270B2Power management for wireless networks

Publication Date: 2023.06.13 INTEL CORP

AI summary

Embodiments provide techniques for device power management in wireless networks. For instance, an apparatus may include a power management module, and a transceiver module. The power management module determines a beacon interval and a wakeup interval. The transceiver module to send a transmission to one or more remote devices that includes the beacon interval and the wakeup interval. The beacon interval indicates a time interval between consecutive beacon transmissions of the apparatus, and the wakeup interval indicates a time interval between when the apparatus receives two consecutive beacons from a peer device.