Reduced power consumption in a wireless network device

• US 9,736,777 B2
• Filed: 12/23/2016
• Issued: 08/15/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Silicon Laboratories Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Silicon Laboratories Incorporated
• Inventors: Spero, Perry J., Taylor, Haley April
• Primary Examiner(s): Morlan, Robert M
• Application Number:
  US15/389,557
• Publication Number:
  US 20170105177A1
• Time in Patent Office: 235 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0225 using monitoring of external events, e.g. the presence of a signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0229 where the received signal is a wanted signal
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Various techniques for reducing power in a wireless network device are disclosed. In some embodiments, software routines within the device are modified to minimize the time during which the analog circuitry in a radio is powered. In some embodiments, the techniques make use of knowledge of implied delays associated with a particular network protocol. For example, in a CSMA network, there is a defined minimum period before the device can attempt to gain access to the media. The radio may be powered off during this defined period. In other embodiments, modifications to a protocol are disclosed which allow additional power savings.

Claims

1. A method of reducing power while attempting to transmit a packet over a channel using a device having a radio component, said radio component comprising analog circuitry for receiving and transmitting packets and digital circuitry, comprising:

performing a check to determine if said channel is available;

transmitting said packet after said check if said channel is available;

waiting a delay time before a second check is performed if said channel is not available;

powering off the analog circuitry during said delay time;

performing said second check after said delay time, wherein said second check is performed while said analog circuitry is powered off;

receiving, by software executing on said device, an indication that said second check failed;

powering on said analog circuitry after receiving said indication;

waiting a minimum delay time before a third check is to be performed to determine if said channel is available;

performing said third check after said minimum delay time; and

transmitting said packet after said third check if said channel is available.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said analog circuitry is powered on and powered off by said software executing on said device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

waiting a second delay time before a fourth check is performed if said channel is not available after said third check; and

powering off said analog circuitry during said second delay time.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said device comprises a wireless device and said channel is air.

5. A method of reducing power while attempting to transmit a packet over a channel using a device having a radio component, said radio component comprising analog circuitry for receiving and transmitting packets and digital circuitry, comprising:

using said radio component to perform a hardware-controlled check to determine if said channel is available;

transmitting said packet after said hardware-controlled check if said channel is available; and

if said channel is not available;

providing an indication from said digital circuitry to software executing on said device that said channel is not available;

powering down said analog circuitry, using said software, after receiving said indication;

waiting a delay time before a second hardware-controlled check is performed;

using said radio component to perform said second hardware-controlled check after said delay time, where said analog circuitry is powered off during said second hardware-controlled check;

providing a second indication to said software that said second hardware-controlled check failed;

powering up said analog circuitry, using said software, after said second indication; and

initiating a third hardware-controlled check using a minimum delay.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said packet is transmitted if said channel is available after said third hardware-controlled check.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

providing a third indication to said software if said channel is not available after said third hardware-controlled check;

powering down said analog circuitry using said software after said third indication; and

initiating a fourth hardware-controlled check using a random delay.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein said device comprises a wireless device and said channel is air.

9. A device having a radio component with reduced power operation comprising:

analog circuitry for receiving and transmitting a packet of information over a channel; and

digital circuitry including control circuitry for performing a check to determine if the channel is available, enabling transmission of said packet of information if the channel is available, and otherwise waiting a delay time before a second check is performed while powering off the analog circuitry during the delay time, wherein said second check is performed while the analog circuitry is powered off and said digital circuitry provides to software executing on said device, an indication that said second check failed and powers on said analog circuitry after the indication, the digital circuitry waiting a minimum delay time before a third check is performed to determine if the channel is available, and the analog circuitry transmitting the packet after the third check if the channel is available.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein said analog circuitry is powered off and powered on by software executing on said device.

11. The device of claim 9, wherein the digital circuitry implements a second delay time before a fourth check is performed if the channel is not available after said third check and powers off the analog circuitry during the second delay time.

12. The device of claim 9, wherein the device comprises a wireless device and the channel is air.