Network node power management methods and apparatus

• US 20060258322A1
• Filed: 05/13/2005
• Published: 11/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Conner, W. Steven, Yang, Luiyang Lily
• Granted Patent: US 7,702,352 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/343.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0296 switching to a backup power supply
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Network node power management methods and apparatus are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

detecting, by a node operating in a mesh network, a change event associated with power available to the node; and

performing a transition, by the node, from a current operational mode to a desired operational mode in response to the change event, wherein a rate of power consumption of the node can be altered by the transition.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the change event comprises:

determining that the node has switched from line power to battery power, and wherein performing the transition includes performing a transition to a desired operational mode which can have lesser power consumption than the current operational mode.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the change event comprises:

determining that the node has switched from battery power to line power, and wherein performing the transition includes performing a transition to a desired operational mode which can have greater power consumption than the current operational mode.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the change event comprises:

determining that available battery power has fallen to or below a battery charge threshold, and wherein performing the transition includes performing a transition to a desired operational mode which can have lesser power consumption than the current operational mode.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the change event comprises:

determining that available battery power has risen to or above a battery charge threshold, and wherein performing the transition includes performing a transition to a desired operational mode which can have greater power consumption than the current operational mode.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein performing the transition comprises:

performing a transition from a mesh point mode to a power saving mesh point mode when the change event indicates that the power available to the node has decreased, wherein within the mesh point mode, the node is always awake to communicate with neighbor nodes, and wherein within the power saving mesh point mode, the node performs power management, and alternates between an active mode and a power-save mode.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein performing the transition comprises:

performing a transition from a power saving mesh point mode to a mesh point mode when the change event indicates that the power available to the node has increased, wherein within the mesh point mode, the node is always awake to communicate with neighbor nodes, and wherein within the power saving mesh point mode, the node performs power management, and alternates between an active mode and a power-save mode.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein performing the transition comprises:

performing a transition from a station mode to a power saving mesh point mode when the change event indicates that the power available to the node has increased, wherein within the station mode, the node only communicates with a mesh access point, and wherein within the power saving mesh point mode, the node is capable of communicating with multiple neighbor nodes, performs power management, and alternates between an active mode and a power-save mode.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein performing the transition comprises:

performing a transition from a power saving mesh point mode to a station mode when the change event indicates that the power available to the node has decreased, wherein within the station mode, the node only communicates with a mesh access point, and wherein within the power saving mesh point mode, the node is capable of communicating with multiple neighbor nodes, performs power management, and alternates between an active mode and a power-save mode.

10. A method comprising:

transitioning, by a node operating in a mesh network, between at least three operational modes based on power available to the node, wherein a first operational mode is a mesh point mode, within which the node may communicate with one or more neighbor nodes, a second operational mode is a power saving mesh point mode, within which the node may communicate with the one or more neighbor nodes during an active mode, and a third operational mode is a station mode, within which the node may communicate with a mesh access point.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein transitioning comprises:

transitioning from the mesh point mode or the power saving mesh point mode to the station mode by disassociating from the one or more neighbor nodes and associating with the mesh access point.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein transitioning further comprises:

communicating with the mesh access point using a power management technique.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein transitioning comprises:

transitioning from the mesh point mode to the power saving mesh point mode by indicating the power saving mesh point mode to the one or more neighbor nodes, and communicating with the one or more neighbor nodes using a power management technique.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein transitioning comprises:

transitioning from the station mode to the mesh point mode or the power saving mesh point mode by disassociating from the mesh access point, and associating with the one or more neighbor nodes.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein transitioning further comprises:

communicating with the one or more neighbor nodes using a power management technique.

16. A computer-readable medium having program instructions stored thereon to perform a method, which when executed within an electronic device, result in:

detecting, by a node operating in a mesh network, a change event associated with power available to the node; and

performing a transition, by the node, from a current operational mode to a desired operational mode in response to the change event, wherein a rate of power consumption of the node can be altered by the transition.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the performing the method further results in:

determining that the node has switched from line power to battery power, and wherein performing the transition includes performing a transition to a desired operational mode which can have lesser power consumption than the current operational mode.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein performing the method further results in:

determining that the node has switched from battery power to line power, and wherein performing the transition includes performing a transition to a desired operational mode which can have greater power consumption than the current operational mode.

28. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein performing the transition further results in:

performing a transition from a mesh point mode to a power saving mesh point mode when the change event indicates that the power available to the node has decreased, wherein within the mesh point mode, the node is always awake to communicate with neighbor nodes, and wherein within the power saving mesh point mode, the node performs power management, and alternates between an active mode and a power-save mode.

29. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein performing the transition further results in:

performing a transition from a power saving mesh point mode to a mesh point mode when the change event indicates that the power available to the node has increased, wherein within the mesh point mode, the node is always awake to communicate with neighbor nodes, and wherein within the power saving mesh point mode, the node performs power management, and alternates between an active mode and a power-save mode.

30. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein performing the transition further results in:

performing a transition from a station mode to a power saving mesh point mode when the change event indicates that the power available to the node has increased, wherein within the station mode, the node only communicates with a mesh access point, and wherein within the power saving mesh point mode, the node is capable of communicating with multiple neighbor nodes, performs power management, and alternates between an active mode and a power-save mode.

31. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein performing the transition further results in:

performing a transition from a power saving mesh point mode to a station mode when the change event indicates that the power available to the node has decreased, wherein within the station mode, the node only communicates with a mesh access point, and wherein within the power saving mesh point mode, the node is capable of communicating with multiple neighbor nodes, performs power management, and alternates between an active mode and a power-save mode.

19. An apparatus comprising:

a wireless transmission system to communicate with one or more other network nodes within a wireless mesh network according to a current operational mode of the apparatus, wherein the current operational mode of the apparatus is determined by how much power is available to the apparatus, and wherein the apparatus may perform a transition from the current operational mode to a desired operational mode in response to a change event relating to how much power is available to the apparatus; and

one or more processing elements, coupled to the wireless transmission subsystem, to process information.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising:

one or more line power connectors to enable the apparatus to be connected to line power.

21. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising:

one or more battery receptacles to receive one or more batteries, which may provide power to the apparatus.

32. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the one or more processing elements is configured to determine that the apparatus has switched from line power to battery power, and to perform a transition to a desired operational mode which can have lesser power consumption than the current operational mode.

33. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the one or more processing elements is configured to detect the change event by determining that the apparatus has switched from battery power to line power, and to perform a transition to a desired operational mode which can have greater power consumption than the current operational mode.

34. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the one or more processing elements is configured to detect the change event by determining that available battery power has fallen to or below a battery charge threshold, and to perform a transition to a desired operational mode which can have lesser power consumption than the current operational mode.

35. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the one or more processing elements is configured to detect the change event by determining that available battery power has risen to or above a battery charge threshold, and to perform a transition to a desired operational mode which can have greater power consumption than the current operational mode.

36. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the one or more processing elements is configured to perform a transition from a mesh point mode to a power saving mesh point mode when the change event indicates that the power available to the apparatus has decreased, wherein within the mesh point mode, the apparatus is always awake to communicate with neighbor nodes, and wherein within the power saving mesh point mode, the apparatus performs power management, and alternates between an active mode and a power-save mode.

37. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the one or more processing elements is configured to perform a transition from a power saving mesh point mode to a mesh point mode when the change event indicates that the power available to the apparatus has increased, wherein within the mesh point mode, the apparatus is always awake to communicate with neighbor nodes, and wherein within the power saving mesh point mode, the apparatus performs power management, and alternates between an active mode and a power-save mode.

38. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the one or more processing elements is configured to perform a transition from a station mode to a power saving mesh point mode when the change event indicates that the power available to the apparatus has increased, wherein within the station mode, the apparatus only communicates with a mesh access point, and wherein within the power saving mesh point mode, the apparatus is capable of communicating with multiple neighbor nodes, performs power management, and alternates between an active mode and a power-save mode.

39. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the one or more processing elements is configured to perform a transition from a power saving mesh point mode to a station mode when the change event indicates that the power available to the apparatus has decreased, wherein within the station mode, the apparatus only communicates with a mesh access point, and wherein within the power saving mesh point mode, the apparatus is capable of communicating with multiple neighbor nodes, performs power management, and alternates between an active mode and a power-save mode.

22. A system comprising:

a wireless transmission subsystem to communicate with one or more other network nodes within a wireless mesh network according to a current operational mode of the apparatus, wherein the current operational mode of the system is determined by how much power is available to the system, and wherein the apparatus may perform a transition from the current operational mode to a desired operational mode in response to a change event relating to how much power is available to the system; and

one or more battery receptacles to receive one or more batteries, which may provide power to the apparatus system.

23. The system of claim 22, further comprising:

one or more line power connectors to enable the system to be connected to line power.

24. The system of claim 22, further comprising:

one or more processing elements to process information.

25. A system comprising:

one or more antennas adapted to receive an information-carrying signal over an air interface;

a wireless transmission subsystem, coupled to the one or more antennas, to communicate with one or more other network nodes within a wireless mesh network according to a current operational mode of the system, wherein the current operational mode of the system is determined by how much power is available to the system, and wherein the system may perform a transition from the current operational mode to a desired operational mode in response to a change event relating to how much power is available to the system; and

one or more battery receptacles to receive one or more batteries, which may provide power to the system.

26. The system of claim 25, further comprising:

one or more line power connectors to enable the system to be connected to line power.

27. The system of claim 25, further comprising:

one or more processing elements to process information.