WLAN Access Point Power Management via Peripheral Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Medium to large Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs) face significant energy consumption issues due to under-utilized access points, which can lead to substantial energy costs without impacting coverage or user performance, especially during low network usage intervals.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method where peripheral access points detect mobile device movement and power on the closest non-peripheral access points and their concentric set to provide coverage, while deactivating radio frequency chains in non-peripheral access points during low usage, ensuring continuous coverage and power savings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If access points are completely powered down during low usage intervals, then energy consumption is reduced, but the access point cannot re-initialize in time to provide coverage when needed
Solution Approach 1:
The access point enters a hibernation state before complete shutdown, performing preliminary actions to preserve critical data and configuration information. This allows the access point to quickly re-initialize when needed rather than starting from a cold state, resolving the contradiction between energy savings and rapid reactivation capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the power state of access points based on real-time network conditions and usage patterns. Rather than static on/off states, the access points transition through multiple power states (active, hibernation, shutdown) with different energy consumption levels and reactivation times, allowing optimization of both energy efficiency and coverage availability.
2Reliability
If access points are kept always-on to ensure coverage, then coverage availability is maintained, but energy consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic monitoring of network usage patterns and client device locations to determine when access points can be safely powered down or placed in hibernation. This periodic assessment allows the system to alternate between active and power-saving states while maintaining coverage availability when needed, reducing overall energy consumption compared to always-on operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from client devices and network traffic monitoring to dynamically control access point power states. When clients are detected in a coverage area, the system activates appropriate access points; when no clients are present for extended periods, access points are deactivated. This feedback-driven approach maintains coverage availability while minimizing energy consumption.
3Loss of energy
If threshold-based power saving schemes are implemented, then energy consumption is reduced, but signal strength degradation occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies different power management strategies to different access points based on local conditions such as client density, usage patterns, and coverage requirements. Rather than applying a uniform threshold to all access points, the system individually optimizes each access point's power state, preventing signal strength degradation in areas where it would impact user experience while still achieving energy savings in low-usage areas.
4Loss of energy
If schedule-based power saving schemes are implemented, then energy consumption is reduced, but coverage impact occurs during switch off periods
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-activating access points before scheduled high-usage periods and pre-deactivating them during confirmed low-usage periods. This lookahead approach, based on historical usage patterns and scheduled events, ensures that access points are available when needed while maximizing energy savings during low-usage intervals, avoiding coverage gaps that occur with rigid schedule-based schemes.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for conserving the power usage of access points in a WLAN is disclosed. The method includes detecting, by a peripheral access point during periods of low network usage, that a mobile device has entered a wireless network coverage area. The method also includes providing, by the peripheral access point, initial services to the mobile device and monitoring movements of the mobile device in the network coverage area. Upon determining that the mobile device is in a vicinity of a powered-off non-peripheral access point, powering on a first non-peripheral access point which is determined to be closest to the mobile device and a set of first concentric access points to provide a coverage buffer around the first access point and using the first non-peripheral access point and the set of first concentric access points as serving access points for the mobile device.