Power Management for Wireless Devices Using Secondary Processor Filtering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Power-sensitive wireless devices, such as battery-operated digital cameras, face high power consumption due to unnecessary packet processing and frequent wake-ups for beacon reception, which reduces battery life and increases maintenance costs.
Innovation Solution
Implementing techniques like filtering unnecessary information transmission, modifying IEEE 802.11 standards to reduce wake-up frequency, and using a secondary processor to handle less power-intensive tasks, along with improved synchronization methods to minimize power consumption based on user location and geo-fencing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the wireless device processes all received packets and frequently wakes up for beacon reception, then network responsiveness and synchronization are improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the processing of wireless packets by introducing a secondary processor that handles specific packet types (beacon packets, probe requests, management frames) independently from the main processor. This segmentation allows the main processor to remain in low-power states while the secondary processor selectively processes only necessary packets, thereby maintaining network responsiveness while reducing overall power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The secondary processor acts as an intermediary between the wireless communication interface and the main processor. It filters and pre-processes incoming packets, forwarding only relevant information to the main processor. This intermediary role enables the system to maintain network awareness and responsiveness without requiring the main processor to frequently wake up and process all packets, thus reducing power consumption while preserving reliability.
2Measurement precision
If the device wakes up frequently to receive beacons, then synchronization accuracy is improved, but battery life decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements partial action by having the secondary processor handle beacon reception and initial synchronization tasks without requiring full main processor activation. The secondary processor performs sufficient synchronization operations to maintain timing accuracy, then allows the main processor to remain dormant. This partial processing approach maintains adequate synchronization accuracy while significantly extending battery life compared to full processor wake-ups.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes operational parameters by switching between different processing modes based on activity levels. During low-activity periods, the secondary processor handles synchronization with reduced frequency and lower precision requirements, extending battery life. During high-activity periods, synchronization accuracy is increased. This parameter adjustment strategy balances synchronization needs with power conservation throughout the device's operational duration.
3Use of energy by moving object
If filtering mechanisms are implemented to reduce unnecessary information transmission, then power consumption is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The filtering complexity is segmented by distributing processing responsibilities between two processors with different capabilities. The secondary processor handles basic packet classification and filtering of common packet types using simple rule-based logic. More complex filtering and analysis tasks are handled by the main processor only when necessary. This segmentation reduces the filtering complexity burden on any single processor while achieving effective power consumption reduction through selective filtering.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques are disclosed for reducing power consumption on a power sensitive wireless device, such as for example a digital wireless camera operating on a battery. According to some techniques, power can be reduced when a portable device is in close proximity to the power sensitive wireless device, such as when a person is home and the recording of video on a digital wireless security camera can be disarmed. Some techniques include filtering mechanisms, which reduce unnecessary information being transmitted to the wireless network circuit of the power sensitive wireless device. Other techniques include modifying or adapting IEEE 802.11 standards to achieve power reducing results such as for example reducing the number of times to wake up to receive the beacons. Also, improved synchronization techniques are implemented such as for example improved synchronization accuracy allows reducing the duration of the wake time for receiving the beacons.