Power Management for Wireless Devices Using Secondary Processor
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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 energy usage.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a secondary processor to offload unnecessary packet processing and modifying IEEE 802.11 standards to reduce wake-up frequency, combined with location-based power management techniques that adjust power settings based on user proximity, such as entering extended sleep mode when the user is home.
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 connection maintenance are improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the processor into two distinct modes: a low-power sleep mode for basic beacon reception and a full-power active mode for complete packet processing. The device segments its operational states to handle different levels of network activity appropriately, waking up only when necessary for beacon reception while maintaining full processing capability only when actual data packets are present.
Solution Approach 2:
The wireless device implements periodic wake-up cycles synchronized with beacon intervals, rather than continuously processing packets. The device wakes up at predetermined intervals to receive beacons and check for buffered packets, then returns to sleep mode. This periodic action reduces power consumption by keeping the processor in a low-power state most of the time while maintaining network connectivity.
2Speed
If the device wakes up frequently to check for packets, then network responsiveness is improved, but battery life decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The device uses periodic wake-up cycles aligned with beacon intervals to check for network activity. Instead of continuous monitoring or overly frequent wake-ups, the device wakes up at regular intervals corresponding to the beacon transmission schedule, balancing network responsiveness with power conservation.
Solution Approach 2:
The device implements a feedback mechanism where the presence of buffered packets (indicated by the Traffic Indication Map or TIM in beacons) triggers full packet processing. The device receives feedback from the network about pending packets and adjusts its activity level accordingly, processing packets only when necessary rather than continuously.
3Use of energy by moving object
If location-based power management is implemented, then power consumption is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a location management component that acts as an intermediary between the network and power management system. This component receives location information (such as GPS coordinates or network location data), determines whether the device is at home or away, and automatically adjusts power management parameters accordingly. This intermediary layer simplifies the overall system by centralizing location-based decision-making.
Solution Approach 2:
The device dynamically changes operational parameters based on location state. When at home, the device uses shorter beacon intervals and more frequent wake-ups for rapid response. When away, it extends beacon intervals and reduces wake-up frequency to conserve power. These parameter changes are automatically adjusted based on location without requiring complex user intervention.
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.