Power management for multi-interface device clusters

• US 7,650,433 B2
• Filed: 01/05/2007
• Issued: 01/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Tan, Kun, Wu, Haitao
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel; Haresh N
• Application Number:
  US11/620,403
• Publication Number:
  US 20080168160A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,110 Days
• Field of Search: 709/206, 709/250, 709217-228, 713/300, 713/323
• US Class Current: 709/250
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5087 wherein the managed service relates to voice services management of VoIP services H04M7/0081
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5096 wherein the managed service relates to distributed or central networked applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0817 by checking functioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/281 taking into account user or data type priority
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/34 TPC management, i.e. sharing limited amount of power among users or channels or data types, e.g. cell loading
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/00 Systems for electrical power generation, transmission, distribution or end-user application management characterised by the use of communication or information technologies, or communication or information technology specific aspects supporting them

Abstract

Multi-interface devices with at least a high-power network interface and a low-power network interface may form into power management clusters. Power management clusters may be maintained over low-power networks associated with the low-power network interfaces. One or some relative few of the cluster participants may be designated lead devices. Designated lead devices participate in high-power networks as well as a low-power network of their power management cluster. Designated lead devices may monitor associated high-power networks for messages addressed to any participant in their power management cluster, and may notify a participant of the incoming message. In response, the participant may establish a high-power network connection to receive the message. In this way, each participant in the power management cluster receives a service quality benefit of a continuous high-power network connection, but only a relative few participants suffer the associated power expenditure at any given moment.

Claims

1. A computing device configured to participate in a power management cluster, the computing device comprising:

a high-power network interface;

a low-power network interface;

a power management module comprising;

a power management cluster module configured to, at least, connect to at least one other computing device of a plurality of devices in the power management cluster through the low-power network interface so that the connected computing devices participate in a low-power peer-to-peer network via the low-power network interface, each of the plurality of devices has a probability of being designated as the lead device, the probability based on at least one of;

an amount of time a device has previously served as the lead device, a residual power of the device, or a mobility pattern of the device;

a lead designation module configured to, at least, designate at least one of the devices participating in the network as the lead device of the power management cluster; and

a high-power network monitoring module configured to, at least, connect to a high-power network access point through the high-power network interface in response to being designated lead device of the power management cluster such that the lead device is in communication with the high-power network and the low-power peer-to-peer network.

2. The computing device of claim 1, wherein:

each device in the plurality of devices has a same probability of being designated as the lead device.

3. The computing device of claim 1, wherein:

the high-power network monitoring module is further configured to, at least monitor the high-power network access point for incoming messages addressed to any device in the plurality of devices; and

the power management module further comprises a high-power traffic notification module configured to, at least, notify devices of the plurality of devices, through the low- power network interface, of incoming messages at the high-power network access point.

4. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the probability of being designated as the lead device is based on a combination of the amount of time the device has previously served as the lead device, the residual power of the device, and the mobility pattern of the device.

5. The computing device of claim 1, wherein a default mode of operation for the high-power network interface is inactive for each device not designated as the lead device.

6. The computing device of claim 1, further comprising:

when the probability of being designated as the lead device is based on the amount of time the device has previously served as the lead device, the probability is inversely proportional to the elapsed time previously served as the lead device;

when the probability of being designated as the lead device is based on the residual power of the device, the probability is proportional to the residual power; and

when the probability of being designated as the lead device is based on the mobility pattern of the device, the probability is higher for a device determined to be less likely to leave the power management cluster due to physical motion than for the device determined to be more likely to leave the power management cluster.

7. A computer-readable data storage medium having thereon computer executable instructions for power management comprising:

designating at least one device as a lead device of a power management cluster;

participating, at least temporarily, as the lead device in the power management cluster, the power management cluster comprising;

a low-power peer-to-peer network of a plurality of devices, each one of the devices having a set of network interfaces comprising a high-power network interface and a low-power network interface, and each one of the devices in the low-power peer-to-peer network connected to at least one other device of the plurality of devices of the power management cluster through its low-power network interface, each of the plurality of devices has a probability of being designated as the lead device, the probability based on at least one of an amount of time a device has previously served as the lead device, a residual power of the device, or a mobility pattern of the device;

the lead device designated from among the plurality of devices further connected to a high-power network access point through the high-power network interface, the lead device configured to instantiate the power management cluster; and

connecting to the high-power network access point through the high-power network interface when designated as the lead device of the power management cluster such that the lead device is in communication with the high-power network and the low- power peer-to-peer network.

8. The computer-readable data storage medium of claim 7, wherein a default mode of operation for the high-power network interface of each non-lead device is inactive.

9. The computer-readable data storage medium of claim 7, wherein a non-lead device connects to the high-power network access point through its high-power network interface in response to receiving a message from the lead device.

10. The computer-readable data storage medium of claim 7, wherein the probability of being designated as the lead device is based on a combination of the amount of time the device has previously served as the lead device, the residual power of the device, and the mobility pattern of the device.

11. The computer-readable data storage medium of claim 7 further comprising:

when the probability of being designated as the lead device is based on the amount of time the device has previously served as the lead device, the probability is inversely proportional to the elapsed time previously served as the lead device;

when the probability of being designated as the lead device is based on the residual power of the device, the probability is proportional to the residual power; and

when the probability of being designated as the lead device is based on the mobility pattern of the device, the probability is higher for a device determined to be less likely to leave the power management cluster due to physical motion than for the device determined to be more likely to leave the power management cluster.

when the probability of being designated as the lead device is based on the mobility pattern of the device, the probability is higher for a device determined to be less likely to leave the power management cluster due to physical motion than for the device determined to be more likely to leave the power management cluster.

12. A computer-implemented method of power management, the method comprising:

discovering a power management cluster comprising a plurality of devices forming a low-power peer-to-peer network, each one of the plurality of devices having a high-power network interface and a low-power network interface, and being connected to at least one other device of the plurality of devices through its low-power network interface, each of the plurality of devices has a probability of being designated as the lead device, the probability based on at least one of;

an amount of time a device has previously served as the lead device, a residual power of the device, or a mobility pattern of the device;

joining the power management cluster through the low-power network interface;

when one of the plurality of devices is designated as a lead device of the power management cluster, connecting to a high-power network access point through the high-power network interface such that the lead device is in communication with the high-power network and the low-power network and configured to instantiate the power management cluster; and

when one of the plurality of devices is designated as a non-lead device of the power management cluster, having a probability of later being designated as the lead device.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 12, wherein discovering the power management cluster comprises discovering the lead device of the power management cluster.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, wherein discovering the lead device of the power management cluster comprises searching for the lead device of the power management cluster through the high-power network interface.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, wherein:

discovering the power management cluster further comprises receiving low- power network configuration information through the high-power network interface.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 12, further comprising participating in designating a new lead device of the power management cluster.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 12, further comprising monitoring the high-power network access point for incoming messages addressed to any device in the power management cluster.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 12, further comprising connecting to the high-power network access point through the high- power network interface if notified of an incoming message by the lead device.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 12, wherein the probability of being designated as the lead device is based on a combination of the amount of time the device has previously served as the lead device, the residual power of the device, and the mobility pattern of the device.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 12, further comprising:

when the probability of being designated as the lead device is based on the amount of time the device has previously served as the lead device, the probability is inversely proportional to the elapsed time previously served as the lead device;

when the probability of being designated as the lead device is based on the residual power of the device, the probability is proportional to the residual power; and

when the probability of being designated as the lead device is based on the mobility pattern of the device, the probability is higher for a device determined to be less likely to leave the power management cluster due to physical motion than for the device determined to be more likely to leave the power management cluster.