Ultra wide band power save
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of conserving power in a first wireless network node on a wireless network having a plurality of network nodes, the first network node having a depletable power source having a remaining power capacity, the method comprising:
- detecting at the first wireless network node the remaining power capacity of the depletable power source;
comparing the remaining power capacity of the depletable power source to a plurality of sleep level thresholds, the sleep level thresholds each being associated with a different respective remaining power capacity level and being associated with a respective sleep level, the sleep levels comprising;
a first sleep level representative of the first wireless network node having a power capacity level below a first sleep level threshold and above a second sleep level threshold, the first sleep level requiring the first wireless network node not to be used as a mesh node except for communicating control messages;
a second sleep level representative of the first wireless network node having a power capacity level below the second sleep level threshold and above a third sleep level threshold, the second sleep level requiring the first wireless network node not to be used as a mesh node; and
a third sleep level representative of the first wireless network node having a power capacity level below the third sleep level threshold and above a fourth sleep level threshold, the third sleep level requiring the first wireless network node to be in a deep sleep mode for a predetermined number of flames and to selectively transmit data after the predetermined number of frames;
selecting, based on the step of comparing, a sleep level for the first wireless network node to enter; and
transmitting, to the one or more of the plurality of network nodes, an identification of the selected sleep level, whereby subsequent communications to and from the first wireless network node are consistent with at least one requirement of the selected sleep level.
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Abstract
A network node selects a “sleep” level based on its current or projected battery capacity. In an embodiment of the invention, sleep levels define the physical radius within which the wireless network node will engage other devices. The node in question communicates its selected sleep level to the rest of the network so that the other network nodes can communicate accordingly with the node.
28 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method of conserving power in a first wireless network node on a wireless network having a plurality of network nodes, the first network node having a depletable power source having a remaining power capacity, the method comprising:
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detecting at the first wireless network node the remaining power capacity of the depletable power source; comparing the remaining power capacity of the depletable power source to a plurality of sleep level thresholds, the sleep level thresholds each being associated with a different respective remaining power capacity level and being associated with a respective sleep level, the sleep levels comprising; a first sleep level representative of the first wireless network node having a power capacity level below a first sleep level threshold and above a second sleep level threshold, the first sleep level requiring the first wireless network node not to be used as a mesh node except for communicating control messages; a second sleep level representative of the first wireless network node having a power capacity level below the second sleep level threshold and above a third sleep level threshold, the second sleep level requiring the first wireless network node not to be used as a mesh node; and a third sleep level representative of the first wireless network node having a power capacity level below the third sleep level threshold and above a fourth sleep level threshold, the third sleep level requiring the first wireless network node to be in a deep sleep mode for a predetermined number of flames and to selectively transmit data after the predetermined number of frames; selecting, based on the step of comparing, a sleep level for the first wireless network node to enter; and transmitting, to the one or more of the plurality of network nodes, an identification of the selected sleep level, whereby subsequent communications to and from the first wireless network node are consistent with at least one requirement of the selected sleep level. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A computer storage medium having thereon computer-executable instructions for performing a method of conserving power in a first wireless network node on a wireless network having a plurality of network nodes, the first network node having a depletable power source having a remaining power capacity, the instructions including instructions for:
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detecting at the first wireless network node the remaining power capacity of the depletable power source; comparing the remaining power capacity of the depletable power source to a plurality of sleep level thresholds, the sleep level thresholds each being associated with a different respective remaining power capacity level and being associated with a respective sleep level, the sleep levels comprising; a first sleep level representative of the first wireless network node having a power capacity level below a first sleep level threshold and above a second sleep level threshold, the first sleep level indicating that communications to the first wireless network node are restricted to communications from other devices situated within a first physical radius of the first wireless network node; a second sleep level representative of the first wireless network node having a power capacity level below the second sleep level threshold and above a third sleep level threshold, the second sleep level indicating that communications to the first wireless network node are restricted to communications from other devices situated within a second physical radius of the first wireless network node, the second physical radius being different than the first physical radius; and a third sleep level representative of the first wireless network node having a power capacity level below the third sleep level threshold and above a fourth sleep level threshold, the third sleep level indicating that communications to the first wireless network node are restricted to communications from other devices situated within a third physical radius of the first wireless network node, the third physical radius being different than the first and second physical radius; selecting, based on the step of comparing, a sleep level for the first wireless network node to enter; and transmitting, to one or more of the plurality of network nodes, an identification of the selected sleep level, and whereby communication is controlled such that the other devices restrict subsequent communications to the first wireless network mode consistent with at least one requirement defining the physical radius of the selected sleep level of the first wireless network node. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A wireless network node having a depletable power source having a remaining capacity, the node comprising:
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a connection module for detecting that one or more other wireless devices are within communication range of the wireless network node and for establishing respective connections with the one or more other wireless devices; a power management module for; evaluating the remaining capacity of the depletable power source; determining a sleep level, from a plurality of available sleep levels, for the wireless network node based on the remaining capacity, the plurality of available sleep levels comprising; a first sleep level representative of the first wireless network node having a power capacity level below a first sleep level threshold and above a second sleep level threshold, the first sleep level restricting communications of the first wireless network node to other devices situated within a first physical radius of the first wireless network node; a second sleep level representative of the first wireless network node having a power capacity level below the second sleep level threshold and above a third sleep level threshold, the second sleep level restricting communications of the first wireless network node to other devices situated within a second physical radius of the first wireless network node, the second physical radius being different than the first physical radius; and a third sleep level representative of the first wireless network node having a power capacity level below the third sleep level threshold and above a fourth sleep level threshold, the third sleep level restricting communications of the first wireless network node to other devices situated within a third physical radius of the first wireless network node, the third physical radius being different than the first and second physical radius; and transmitting an indication of the determined sleep level to the one or more other wireless devices, and wherein engaging other devices in accordance with at least one requirement defining the physical radius of the determined sleep level comprises suppressing communications to devices outside of the physical radius of the determined sleep level other than by setting a transmit power level. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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Specification