Dynamic power saving mode and configuration changing based on traffic pattern

• US 10,368,309 B2
• Filed: 08/22/2017
• Issued: 07/30/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kang, Hyeoksang, Kim, Seung Goo, Lee, Sang Ku, Kim, Heedong, Yun, Chanphill
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Warner
• Application Number:
  US15/682,980
• Publication Number:
  US 20180288702A1
• Time in Patent Office: 707 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0833 for reduction of network energy consumption
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0882 Utilisation of link capacity
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/16 Threshold monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/08 Testing, supervising or monitoring using real traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0225 using monitoring of external events, e.g. the presence of a signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

In some aspects, the disclosure is directed to methods and systems for providing dynamic power saving. A wireless device generates traffic statistics by determining density and periodicity of data traffic with a network. The data traffic is categorized into a first traffic pattern of a plurality of traffic patterns using the generated traffic statistics. The wireless device dynamically selects one of a plurality of predefined power management mechanisms in accordance to the first traffic pattern. The wireless device is configured to use the selected power management mechanism in accordance to the first traffic pattern.

Claims

1. A method of power management, the method comprising:

determining, by a wireless device, for each of a plurality of periodic decision periods, whether data traffic of a network satisfies a corresponding periodic decision criteria;

counting a number of periodic decision periods satisfying the corresponding periodic decision criteria;

determining, by the wireless device, density and periodicity of the data traffic according to the counted number of periodic decision periods satisfying the corresponding periodic decision criteria;

generating, by the wireless device, traffic statistics based on the density and the periodicity of the data traffic;

categorizing, by the wireless device, the data traffic into a first traffic pattern of a plurality of traffic patterns using the generated traffic statistics;

dynamically selecting, by the wireless device in accordance to the first traffic pattern, one of a plurality of power management mechanisms; and

configuring the wireless device to use the selected power management mechanism in accordance to the first traffic pattern.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising transitioning the wireless device from a first power state to a second power state according to the selected power management mechanism.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein generating the traffic statistics comprises generating the traffic statistics using at least one of incoming data to the wireless device or outgoing data from the wireless device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of power management mechanisms comprise a first power management mechanism, under which the wireless device is always in a power saving mode and the wireless device communicates data with the network in the power saving mode.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the plurality of power management mechanisms comprise a second power management mechanism, under which the wireless device is in the power saving mode when there is no data transmission and switches to an active mode when the wireless device communicates data with the network.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the plurality of power management mechanisms comprise a third power management mechanism, under which the wireless device switches between a doze state and an awake state periodically, a switching period determined by negotiating an awake period and a service period, wherein the wireless device switches to the awake state when the wireless device is triggered by a trigger frame indicating that an exchange packet exists, and enters the doze state after the service period.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein configuring the selected power management mechanism comprises determining a packet interval and configuring a period for sending a query packet using the determined packet interval when the selected power management mechanism is the first power management mechanism.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

determining a current power management mechanism of the wireless device;

monitoring the data traffic during a period of time by determining a traffic density during the period of time;

when the current power management mechanism is the first power management mechanism;

determining a traffic periodicity of the wireless device during the period of time;

switching the wireless device from the first power management mechanism to the second power management mechanism according to the determined traffic periodicity; and

determining whether the traffic density of the wireless device exceeds a first density threshold;

in response to determining that the traffic density exceeds the first density threshold, switching the wireless device from the second power management mechanism to the third power management mechanism; and

when the wireless device is in the third power management mechanism;

determining whether the traffic density is below a second density threshold; and

in response to determining that the traffic density is below the second density threshold, switching the wireless device from the third power management mechanism to the first power management mechanism.

9. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

determining a current power management mechanism of the wireless device;

monitoring the data traffic of the wireless device during a period of time by determining a traffic density during the period of time;

when the current power management mechanism is a third power management mechanism;

determining a traffic periodicity of the wireless device during the period of time;

determining whether the traffic density is below a second density threshold; and

in response to determining that the traffic density is below the second density threshold and the data traffic is periodic, switching the wireless device from the third power management mechanism to a second power management mechanism according to the traffic periodicity; and

when the wireless device is in the first power management mechanism;

determining whether the traffic density exceeds a first density threshold; and

in response to determining the data traffic is not periodic or determining the traffic density exceeds the first density threshold, switching from the second power management mechanism to the third power management mechanism.

10. A system for power management, the system comprising:

one or more processors configured to;

determine, for each of a plurality of periodic decision periods, whether data traffic of a network satisfies a corresponding periodic decision criteria;

count a number of periodic decision periods satisfying the corresponding periodic decision criteria;

determine density and periodicity of the data traffic according to the counted number of periodic decision periods satisfying the corresponding periodic decision criteria;

generate traffic statistics based on the density and the periodicity of the data traffic;

categorize the data traffic into a first traffic pattern of a plurality of traffic patterns using the generated traffic statistics;

dynamically select one of a plurality of power management mechanisms in accordance to the first traffic pattern; and

apply the selected power management mechanism in accordance to the first traffic pattern.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the plurality of power management mechanisms comprise a first power management mechanism, under which a wireless device is always in a power saving mode and the wireless device communicates data with the network in the power saving mode.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the plurality of power management mechanisms comprise a second power management mechanism, under which the wireless device is in the power saving mode when there is no data transmission and switches to an active mode when the wireless device communicates data with the network.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the plurality of power management mechanisms comprise a third power management mechanism, under which the wireless device switches between a doze state and an awake state periodically, a switching period determined by negotiating an awake period and a service period, wherein the wireless device switches to the awake state when the wireless device is triggered by a trigger frame indicating that an exchange packet exists, and enters the doze state after the service period.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the plurality of power management mechanisms comprise a fourth power management mechanism, under which the wireless device switches between the doze state and the awake state periodically, the switching period determined by negotiating a target awake period and a wakeup interval.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein applying the selected power management mechanism comprises determining a packet interval and configuring a period for sending a query packet using the determined packet interval when the selected power management mechanism is the first power management mechanism.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein applying the selected power management mechanism comprises configuring a traffic absence period (TAP) monitoring time using the determined density of the data traffic.

17. An apparatus for conducting network communications, comprising:

one or more processors configured to;

determine, for each of a plurality of periodic decision periods, whether data traffic of a network satisfies a corresponding periodic decision criteria;

count a number of periodic decision periods satisfying the corresponding periodic decision criteria;

determine density and periodicity of the data traffic according to the counted number of periodic decision periods satisfying the corresponding periodic decision criteria;

generate traffic statistics based on the density and the periodicity of the data traffic;

categorize the data traffic into a first traffic pattern of a plurality of traffic patterns using the generated traffic statistics; and

dynamically select one of a plurality of predefined power management mechanisms in accordance to the first traffic pattern, and apply the selected power management mechanism.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the one or more processors are configured to count the number of periodic decision periods satisfying the corresponding periodic decision criteria from a subset of continuous periodic decision periods of the plurality of periodic decision periods.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the one or more processors are configured to:

count another number of periodic decision periods satisfying the corresponding periodic decision criteria from a subset of the plurality of periodic decision periods;

compare the another counted number with a threshold value;

count the number of periodic decision periods satisfying the corresponding periodic decision criteria from another subset of the plurality of periodic decision periods, in response to the another counted number being below the threshold value;

compare the counted number of periodic decision periods with the threshold value; and

determine the density and the periodicity of the data traffic according to the counted number of periodic decision periods satisfying the corresponding periodic decision criteria, in response to the counted number of periodic decision periods satisfying the threshold value.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the subset of the plurality of periodic decision periods partially overlaps with the another subset of the plurality of periodic decision periods.