Method for low power radio operation in a wireless packet network

• US 8,009,602 B2
• Filed: 02/27/2009
• Issued: 08/30/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Culler, David E, Hui, Jonathan W
• Primary Examiner(s): ADDY, ANTHONY S
• Application Number:
  US12/380,590
• Publication Number:
  US 20090279465A1
• Time in Patent Office: 914 Days
• Field of Search: 455/127.5, 4553431-3436, 455/522, 455572-574, 455/127.1, 455/500, 455/502, 455/507, 455/515, 455/516, 370/241, 370/311, 370/328, 370/329, 370/310, 370/318, 370/338, 370346-348, 370/445, 370/448, 370/449, 713/320, 713/321, 713/323, 713/324, 340 732- 734, 340/7.36, 340/7.37
• US Class Current: 370/311
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0261 managing power supply demand, e.g. depending on battery level
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A system and method allows devices to send and receive packets while using power to do so to the extent needed, thereby conserving power.

Claims

1. A method for broadcasting a data packet in a network, the method comprising:

sending information from a first radio of a first network device to a second radio of a second network device, the information comprising a sleep period value and channel information;

generating instructions, in the second network device, for the second radio to monitor at least one frequency channel based on the channel information received from the first radio of the first device;

generating instructions, in the second network device, for the second radio to monitor communications received from at least one network address based on the channel information;

generating instructions, in the second network device, for the second radio to enter a sleep mode, the instructions for the sleep mode comprising;

information to reduce an amount of energy consumption of the second radio;

information to prevent the second radio from receiving a packet; and

information to activate a counter involved in operations to calculate a first time period from when the second radio entered sleep mode;

generating instructions, in the second network device, for the second radio to identify an energy level based on the at least one frequency channel, the instructions to identify the energy level being related to a first time when the first time period is at least equal to the sleep period value;

generating instructions, in the second network device, to compare the energy level on the at least one frequency channel with a predetermined value;

generating instructions, in the second network device, for increasing the energy consumption of the second radio to enable the second radio to receive a first packet, when the value of the energy level on the at least one frequency channel is determined to be at least equal to the predetermined value;

generating instructions, in the second network device, for restarting the counter when the second radio determines that the value of the energy level is less than the predetermined value; and

sending the generated instructions from the second device to the second radio.

2. The method of claim 1, additionally comprising generating instructions, in the second network device, for causing the second radio to at least attempt to broadcast an additional at least one packet when the value of the energy level on the at least one frequency channel is determined to be at least equal to the predetermined value.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

generating instructions, in the second network device, for the second radio to be configured to receive a chirp packet as the first packet;

generating instructions, in the second network device, to determine, a second period of time associated with the broadcasting of a first data packet; and

generating instructions, in the second network device, for the second radio to enter the sleep mode upon receiving the chirp packet.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising:

generating instructions, in the second network device, for increasing, when the second time period is at least equal to the value of the sleep period, the energy consumption of the second radio to enable the second radio receive a second packet; and

generating instructions, in the second network device, for the second radio to be configured to receive the data packet as the second packet.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the chirp packet comprises information for a size of the first data packet.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising:

determining, in the second network device, a third period of time from the chirp packet, the third period of time being associated with the broadcasting of the first data packet and the size of the first data packet.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

generating instructions, in the second network device, for increasing, when the third time period is at least equal to the value of the sleep period, the energy consumption of the second radio to receive a second packet.

8. The method of claim 3, wherein the chirp packet comprises information on a total transmission time of the first data packet.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

determining, in the second network device, a fourth period of time from the chirp packet, the third period of time associated with the broadcasting of a first data packet and the total transmission time of the first data packet.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

generating instructions, in the second network device, for increasing, when the fourth time period is at least equal to the value of the sleep period, the energy consumption of the second radio to receive a second packet.

11. The method of claim 3, wherein the chirp packet comprises at least a second data packet.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

generating instructions, in the second network device, for the second radio to be configured to receive a data packet as the first packet.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

generating instructions, in the second network device, for the second radio to broadcast a second data packet in the at least one frequency channel.

14. A method for broadcasting a data packet in a network, the method comprising:

receiving, at a second radio of a second network device, information from a first radio of a first network device, the information comprising a sleep period value and channel information;

receiving, at the second radio, instructions from the second network device to monitor at least one frequency channel based on the channel information received from the first radio of the first network device;

receiving, at the second radio, instructions from the second network device to monitor communications received from at least one network address based on the channel information;

monitoring the at least one frequency channel based on the channel information received;

monitoring the communications received from the at least one network address based on the channel information;

receiving, at the second radio, instructions from the second network device to enter a sleep mode, the instructions for the sleep mode comprising;

information to reduce an amount of energy consumption of the second radio;

information to prevent the second radio from receiving a packet; and

information to activate a counter involved in operations to calculate a first time period from when the second radio entered sleep mode;

receiving, at the second radio, instructions from the second network device to identify an energy level based on the at least one frequency channel, the instructions to identify the energy level being related to a first time when the first time period is at least equal to the sleep period value;

identifying the energy level based on the instructions received from the second network device;

receiving, at the second radio, instructions from the second network device, to compare the energy level on the at least one frequency channel with a predetermined value;

computing the energy level on the at least one frequency channel based on the instructions received from the second network device;

receiving, at the second radio, instructions from the second network device, for increasing the energy consumption of the second radio to enable the second radio to receive a first packet, when the value of the energy level on the at least one frequency channel is determined to be at least equal to the predetermined value;

determine, based on the instructions received from the second network device, whether to increase the energy consumption of the second radio when the value of the energy level on the at least one frequency channel is determined to be at least equal to the predetermined value;

increasing the energy consumption of the second radio based on the determination; and

receiving, at the second radio, instructions from the second network device, for restarting the counter when the second radio determines that the value of the energy level is less than the predetermined value.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium for broadcasting a data packet in a network, the non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions to cause a computer to perform operations comprising:

receiving information from a first radio to a second radio, the information comprising a sleep period value and channel information;

generating, with at least one processor, instructions for the second radio to monitor at least one frequency channel based on the channel information received from the first radio;

generating, with at least one processor, instructions for the second radio to monitor communications received from at least one network address based on the channel information;

generating, with at least one processor, instructions for the second radio to enter a sleep mode, the instructions for the sleep mode comprising;

information to reduce an amount of energy consumption of the second radio;

information to prevent the second radio from receiving a packet; and

information to activate a counter involved in operations to calculate a first time period from when the second radio entered sleep mode;

generating instructions for the second radio to identify an energy level based on the at least one frequency channel, the instructions to identify the energy level being related to a first time when the first time period is at least equal to the sleep period value;

generating instructions to compare the energy level on the at least one frequency channel with a predetermined value;

generating instructions for increasing the energy consumption of the second radio to enable the second radio to receive a first packet, when the value of the energy level on the at least one frequency channel is determined to be at least equal to the predetermined value;

generating instructions for restarting the counter when the second radio determines that the value of the energy level is less than the predetermined value; and

sending the generated instructions from the at least one processor to the second radio.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, additionally comprising instructions to cause a computer to perform operations to generate instructions, in the second network device, for causing the second radio to at least attempt to broadcast an additional at least one packet when the value of the energy level on the at least one frequency channel is determined to be at least equal to the predetermined value.

17. A system for broadcasting a data packet in a network, the system comprising:

a radio electrically connected to a network device and wirelessly with a network, the radio being configured to;

receive, from the network, a sleep period value and channel information;

receive, from the network device, control instructions; and

send, to the network device, the sleep period value and the channel information received from the network; and

the network device connected to the radio, the network device configured to;

generate instructions for the radio to monitor at least one frequency channel based on the channel information received;

generate instructions for the radio to monitor communications received from at least one network address based on the channel information;

generate instructions for the radio to enter a sleep mode, the instructions for the sleep mode comprising;

information to reduce an amount of energy consumption of the second radio;

information to prevent the second radio from receiving a packet; and

information to activate a counter involved in operations to calculate a first time period from when the second radio entered sleep mode;

generate instructions for the radio to identify an energy level based on the at least one frequency channel, the instructions to identify the energy level being related to a first time when the first time period is at least equal to the sleep period value;

generate instructions to compare the energy level on the at least one frequency channel with a predetermined value;

generate instructions for increasing the energy consumption of the second radio to enable the radio to receive a first packet, when the value of the energy level on the at least one frequency channel is determined to be at least equal to the predetermined value;

generate instructions for restarting the counter when the radio determines that the value of the energy level is less than the predetermined value; and

send the generated instructions to the radio.