Power efficient communications

• US 10,057,858 B2
• Filed: 02/12/2018
• Issued: 08/21/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sunrise Micro Devices, Inc. (SoftBank Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sunrise Micro Devices, Inc. (SoftBank Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Callaway, Jr., Edgar H., Gorday, Paul E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kassa, Zewdu
• Application Number:
  US15/893,785
• Publication Number:
  US 20180206194A1
• Time in Patent Office: 190 Days
• Field of Search: 375259, 375316, 375219, 375295
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 1/66 Regulating electric power
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3883 Arrangements for mounting batteries or battery chargers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/2614 Peak power aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/748 Negotiation of resources, e.g. modification of a request
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/14 using intermediate storage
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0261 managing power supply demand, e.g. depending on battery level
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A method, system, and device provide power-efficient communications within the context of available power. Transmission and receipt data rates are scalable in accordance with output power available from a power source. Data is transmitted at a data rate determined, at least in part, by the available output power.

Claims

1. A wireless communication system, comprising:

a transmitter capable of transmitting data at a data transmission rate; and

an energy harvesting electrical power source, capable of producing an output power that is available to the transceiver,

wherein the transmitter is configured in operation to maximize an average power consumption of the available output power of the energy harvesting power source while maintaining a peak power consumption below the available output power of the energy harvesting power source, and

wherein the transmitter is further configured in operation to;

increase the data transmission rate of the transceiver after a number of consecutive successful transmissions or when the available output power is predicted to increase, unless the data transmission rate is at a maximum value; and

decrease the data transmission rate of the transceiver after one or more unsuccessful transmissions or when the available output power is predicted to decrease.

2. The wireless transmitter system in accordance with claim 1, where decreasing the data transmission rate comprises lengthening the bit duration of the transmitted data.

3. The wireless transmitter system in accordance with claim 1, where decreasing the data transmission rate comprises transmitting data with increased redundancy through coding.

4. The wireless transmitter system in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

a receiver capable of receiving data at a data reception rate,

wherein the receiver is configured in operation to maximize the average power consumption of the available output power of the energy harvesting power source while maintaining a peak power consumption below the available output power of the energy harvesting power source.

5. The wireless transmitter system in accordance with claim 4, where the receiver is configured to:

increase the data reception rate when the available output power of the energy harvesting power source is predicted to increase, unless the data reception rate is at a maximum value; and

decrease the data reception rate when the available output power is predicted to decrease.

6. A method of communication, comprising:

determining an available output power of an energy harvesting power source that is currently available for operation;

maximizing an average power used to transmit data while maintaining a peak power consumption below the available output power of the energy harvesting power source;

transmitting data at a data transmission rate;

increasing the data transmission rate after a number of consecutive successful transmissions or when the available output power is predicted to increase, unless the data transmission rate is at a maximum value; and

decreasing the data transmission rate after one or more unsuccessful transmissions or when the available output power is predicted to decrease.

7. The method of claim 6, where decreasing the data transmission rate comprises lengthening the bit duration of the transmitted data.

8. The method of claim 6, where decreasing the data transmission rate comprises transmitting data with increased redundancy through coding.