U.S. patent application number 16/546960 was filed with the patent office on 2019-12-12 for method and apparatus for power autoscaling in a resource-constrained network.
The applicant listed for this patent is Blackbird Technology Holdings, Inc.. Invention is credited to John Peter Norair.
Application Number | 20190380100 16/546960 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46753245 |
Filed Date | 2019-12-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20190380100 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Norair; John Peter |
December 12, 2019 |
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR POWER AUTOSCALING IN A
RESOURCE-CONSTRAINED NETWORK
Abstract
An electronic device may adaptively manage power consumption
associated with transmission and/or reception of signals by the
electronic device, wherein the adaptive power management may
comprise adjusting transmit power and/or one or more power-related
thresholds used during transmission or reception operations in the
electronic device. Adjustments to the transmit power and/or the one
or more power-related thresholds may be determined based on
comparison between power measurement associated with signals
received by said electronic device with original transmit power for
the signals. The reception power measurement may be determined
based on detected received signal strength indication (RSSI). The
original transmit power may be determined based on signal
transmission information embedded in at least one frame carried via
said signals. The original transmission power may be embedded as an
equivalent isotropic radiated power (EIRP) value.
Inventors: |
Norair; John Peter; (San
Francisco, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Blackbird Technology Holdings, Inc. |
Dover |
DE |
US |
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|
Family ID: |
46753245 |
Appl. No.: |
16/546960 |
Filed: |
August 21, 2019 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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16220194 |
Dec 14, 2018 |
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16546960 |
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15954977 |
Apr 17, 2018 |
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16220194 |
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15680660 |
Aug 18, 2017 |
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15954977 |
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15400249 |
Jan 6, 2017 |
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15680660 |
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15162786 |
May 24, 2016 |
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15400249 |
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15002427 |
Jan 21, 2016 |
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15162786 |
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14874808 |
Oct 5, 2015 |
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15002427 |
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13408466 |
Feb 29, 2012 |
9154392 |
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14874808 |
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61464376 |
Mar 2, 2011 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y02D 30/70 20200801;
H04W 48/08 20130101; H04W 28/0205 20130101; H04W 52/242 20130101;
H04L 47/822 20130101; H04W 52/0235 20130101; H04W 52/36 20130101;
H04W 74/0816 20130101; H04L 1/0083 20130101; H04B 17/318 20150115;
H04L 43/0847 20130101; H04W 52/245 20130101; H04W 40/023 20130101;
H04L 1/0061 20130101; H04L 49/555 20130101; H04W 72/0473 20130101;
H04W 74/085 20130101; H04W 52/06 20130101; H04W 56/0025 20130101;
H04W 28/04 20130101; H04W 56/002 20130101; H04W 74/0808 20130101;
Y02D 70/142 20180101; H04W 52/54 20130101; H04W 72/0446 20130101;
H04W 4/023 20130101; Y02D 70/164 20180101; H04L 69/22 20130101;
Y02D 70/144 20180101; H04L 43/0882 20130101; H04L 47/12 20130101;
H04W 52/243 20130101; H04W 56/001 20130101; H04L 43/16 20130101;
Y02D 70/166 20180101 |
International
Class: |
H04W 56/00 20060101
H04W056/00; H04L 29/06 20060101 H04L029/06; H04W 74/08 20060101
H04W074/08; H04L 1/00 20060101 H04L001/00; H04W 52/24 20060101
H04W052/24; H04W 52/36 20060101 H04W052/36; H04B 17/318 20060101
H04B017/318; H04L 12/26 20060101 H04L012/26; H04L 12/801 20060101
H04L012/801; H04L 12/911 20060101 H04L012/911; H04W 72/04 20060101
H04W072/04; H04W 40/02 20060101 H04W040/02; H04W 48/08 20060101
H04W048/08; H04W 4/02 20060101 H04W004/02; H04W 52/02 20060101
H04W052/02; H04W 52/06 20060101 H04W052/06; H04W 52/54 20060101
H04W052/54; H04L 12/939 20060101 H04L012/939; H04W 28/02 20060101
H04W028/02; H04W 28/04 20060101 H04W028/04 |
Claims
1. A method, comprising: adaptively managing power consumption of
an electronic device by adaptively adjusting transmit power used
during transmission of signals by said electronic device, wherein:
said adaptive adjusting is based on received signal strength of a
received frame and based on a power at which said received frame
was transmitted; and said power at which said received frame was
transmitted is embedded in said received frame.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein said power at which said received
frame was transmitted is embedded in said received frame as an
equivalent isotropic radiated power (EIRP) value.
3. The method of claim 1, comprising adjusting said transmit power
used during transmission of signals by said electronic device based
on a determination of a desired maximum communication range and/or
a particular target peer device.
4. The method of claim 3, comprising determining said desired
maximum communication based on power loss associated with
communication of said received frame.
5. The method of claim 4, comprising determining said power loss
associated with communication of said received frame based on
difference between said received signal strength of said received
frame and said power at which said received frame was
transmitted.
6. The method of claim 1, comprising selectively activating or
deactivating said adaptive power management.
7. The method of claim 1, comprising applying said adaptive power
management in accordance with a particular algorithm selected from
a plurality of available algorithms, said plurality of available
algorithms comprise standard based algorithms and/or proprietary
algorithms.
8. A method, comprising: adaptively managing power consumption of
an electronic device by adaptively adjusting reception sensitivity
applicable during reception of signals by said electronic device,
wherein: said adaptive adjusting is based on received signal
strength of a received frame and based on a power at which said
received frame was transmitted; said power at which said received
frame was transmitted is embedded in said received frame; and said
reception sensitivity adaptively controls terminating processing of
or discarding of said received frame.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein said power at which said received
frame was transmitted is embedded in said received frame as an
equivalent isotropic radiated power (EIRP) value.
10. The method of claim 8, comprising adaptively adjusting said
reception sensitivity of said electronic device by adaptively
adjusting one or more power-related thresholds used during
reception of signals by said electronic device.
11. The method of claim 10, comprising adjusting said one or more
power-related thresholds based on a location of said electronic
device.
12. The method of claim 10, wherein said one or more power-related
thresholds comprise a threshold for controlling Carrier Sense
Multiple Access (CSMA) based operations in said electronic device,
said threshold being compared to received signal strength
indication (RSSI) detected by said electronic device.
13. The method of claim 10, wherein said one or more power-related
thresholds comprise a threshold for controlling link quality, said
controlling comprising discarding frames carried via received
signals based on comparison of link utilization with said link
quality threshold.
14. The method of claim 8, comprising selectively activating or
deactivating said adaptive power management.
15. The method of claim 8, comprising applying said adaptive power
management in accordance with a particular algorithm selected from
a plurality of available algorithms, said plurality of available
algorithms comprise standard based algorithms and/or proprietary
algorithms.
16. A system, comprising: an electronic device operable to
adaptively manage its power consumption by adjusting transmit power
used during transmission of signals by said electronic device
and/or by adjusting reception sensitivity applicable during
reception of signals by said electronic device, wherein: said
adaptive adjusting is based on received signal strength of a
received frame and based on a power at which said received frame
was transmitted; and said power at which said received frame was
transmitted is embedded in said received frame.
17. The system of claim 16, wherein said power at which said
received frame was transmitted is embedded in said received frame
as an equivalent isotropic radiated power (EIRP) value.
18. The system of claim 16, wherein said electronic device is
operable to adjust said transmit power based on determination of a
desired maximum communication range and/or a particular target peer
device.
19. The system of claim 18, wherein said electronic device is
operable to adjust said transmit power based on a difference
between said received signal strength of said received frame and
said power at which said received frame was transmitted.
20. The system of claim 16, wherein said electronic device is
operable to adaptively adjust said reception sensitivity of said
electronic device by adaptively adjusting one or more power-related
thresholds used during reception of signals by said electronic
device.
Description
CLAIM OF PRIORITY
[0001] This patent application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 16/220,194, filed on Dec. 14, 2018, which is a
continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/954,977, filed
on Apr. 17, 2018, which is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 15/680,660 filed on Aug. 18, 2017, which is a
continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/400,249, filed
on Jan. 6, 2017, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application
Ser. No. 15/162,786, filed on May 24, 2016, which is a continuation
of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/002,427, filed on Jan. 21,
2016, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.
14/874,808, filed on Oct. 5, 2015, which is a continuation of U.S.
patent application Ser. No. 13/408,466 which was, filed on Feb. 29,
2012 (now U.S. Pat. No. 9,154,392), which in turn claims priority
to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/464,376 which
was, filed on Mar. 2, 2011. Each of the above-referenced documents
is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS/INCORPORATION BY
REFERENCE
[0002] This patent application also makes reference to: [0003] U.S.
Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/464,376, entitled
"Advanced Communication System for Wide-Area Low Power Wireless
Applications and Active RFID" and filed on Mar. 2, 2011; [0004]
U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/572,390, entitled
"System for Adding Dash7-Based Applications Capability to a
Smartphone" and filed on Jul. 15, 2011; [0005] U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 13/267,640, entitled "Method and Apparatus for
Adaptive Searching of Distributed Datasets" and filed on Oct. 6,
2011; [0006] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/267,621, entitled
"Method and Apparatus for Low-Power, Long-Range Networking" and
filed on Oct. 6, 2011; [0007] U.S. patent application Ser. No.
13/270,802, entitled "Method and Apparatus for a Multi-band,
Multi-mode Smartcard" and filed on Oct. 11, 2011; [0008] U.S.
patent application Ser. No. 13/270,959, entitled "Method and
Apparatus for an Integrated Antenna" and filed on Oct. 11, 2011;
[0009] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/289,054, entitled
"Method and Apparatus for Electronic Payment" and filed on Nov. 4,
2011; [0010] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/289,050, filed on
Nov. 4, 2011; [0011] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/297,348,
entitled "Method and Apparatus for Interfacing with a Smartcard"
and filed on Nov. 16, 2011; [0012] U.S. patent application Ser. No.
13/354,513, entitled "Method and Apparatus for Memory Management"
and filed on Jan. 20, 2012; [0013] U.S. patent application Ser. No.
13/354,615, entitled "Method and Apparatus for Discovering, People,
Products, and/or Services via a Localized Wireless Network" and
filed on Jan. 20, 2012; [0014] U.S. patent application Ser. No.
13/396,708, entitled "Method and apparatus for Plug and Play,
Networkable ISO 18000-7 Connectivity" and filed on Feb. 15, 2012;
[0015] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/396,739, entitled
"Method and Apparatus for Serving Advertisements in a Low-Power
Wireless Network" and filed on Feb. 15, 2012; [0016] U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 13/408,440, entitled "Method and Apparatus for
Forward Error Correction (FEC) in a Resource-Constrained Network"
and filed on Feb. 29, 2012; [0017] U.S. patent application Ser. No.
13/408,447, entitled "Method and Apparatus for Adaptive Traffic
Management in a Resource-Constrained Network" and filed on Feb. 29,
2012; [0018] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/408,453, entitled
"Method and Apparatus for Dynamic Media Access Control in a
Multiple Access System" and filed on Feb. 29, 2012; [0019] U.S.
patent application Ser. No. 13/408,457, entitled "Method and
Apparatus for Rapid Group Synchronization" and filed on Feb. 29,
2012; [0020] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/408,461, entitled
"Method and Apparatus for Addressing in a Resource-Constrained
Network" and filed on Feb. 29, 2012; and U.S. patent application
Ser. No. 13/408,464, entitled "Method and Apparatus for Query-Based
Congestion Control" and filed on Feb. 29, 2012.
[0021] Each of the above stated applications is hereby incorporated
herein by reference in its entirety.
FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0022] [Not Applicable].
MICROFICHE/COPYRIGHT REFERENCE
[0023] [Not Applicable].
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0024] Certain embodiments of the invention relate to
communications. More specifically, certain embodiments of the
invention relate to a method and an apparatus for power autoscaling
in a resource-constrained network.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0025] Existing methods of power management in wireless devices
often result in inefficient use of power. Further limitations and
disadvantages of conventional and traditional approaches will
become apparent to one of skill in the art, through comparison of
such systems with some aspects of the present invention as set
forth in the remainder of the present application with reference to
the drawings.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0026] A system and/or method is provided for power autoscaling in
a resource- constrained network, substantially as shown in and/or
described in connection with at least one of the figures, as set
forth more completely in the claims.
[0027] These and other advantages, aspects and novel features of
the present invention, as well as details of an illustrated
embodiment thereof, will be more fully understood from the
following description and drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0028] FIG. 1A is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary
communication setup comprising a plurality of
spatially-distributed, resource-constrained devices, which may be
utilized in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
[0029] FIG. 1B is a block diagram illustrating use of adaptive
power autoscaling in electronic devices, in accordance with the
embodiment of the invention.
[0030] FIG. 2A is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary
electronic device that may support adaptive power autoscaling, in
accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
[0031] FIG. 2B is a diagram of an exemplary transmit front-end (FE)
and an exemplary receive front-end (FE) in an electronic device
that supports adaptive power autoscaling, in accordance with an
embodiment of the invention.
[0032] FIG. 3A is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary
implementation of the OSI model within an electronic device that
may support adaptive power autoscaling, in accordance with an
embodiment of the invention.
[0033] FIG. 3B is a block diagram illustrating exemplary structure
of physical layer (PHY) packet carrying a data link layer frame, in
accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
[0034] FIG. 3C is block diagram illustrating implementation of
various aspects of the invention at different layers of the OSI
model, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention
[0035] FIG. 4A is a flow chart that illustrates exemplary steps for
supporting adaptive power autoscaling in an electronic device, in
accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
[0036] FIG. 4B is a flow chart that illustrates exemplary steps for
performing clear channel assessment using thresholds configured
based on adaptive autoscaling to adjust reception sensitivity, in
accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
[0037] FIG. 4C is a flow chart that illustrates exemplary steps for
performing link quality assessment using thresholds configured
based on adaptive autoscaling to adjust reception sensitivity, in
accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0038] Certain embodiments of the invention may be found in a
method and apparatus for power autoscaling in a
resource-constrained network. In various embodiments of the
invention, an electronic device may utilize adaptive power
management to adaptively control power consumption associated with
communications by the electronic device. In this regard, the
adaptive power management may comprise adaptively adjusting
transmit power used during transmission of signals by the
electronic device. The transmit power used during transmission of
signals by the electronic device may be adjusted based on a
determination of a desired maximum communication range and/or
selection (and locating) a particular target peer device. The
adaptive adjusting of transmit power may be based on received
signal strength of a received frame and based on a power at which
the received frame was transmitted, and power at which the received
frame was transmitted is embedded in the received frame. The
original transmittal power may be embedded in the received frame as
an equivalent isotropic radiated power (EIRP) value. Accordingly,
the desired maximum communication range (and/or locating the target
peer device) may be determined based on calculation of power loss
associated with communication of received frames. In this regard,
the power loss associated with communication of the received frames
may be determined based on difference between the received signal
strength of the received frame and the power at which the received
frame was transmitted. The adaptive power management may also
comprise adaptively adjusting reception sensitivity applicable
during reception of signals by the electronic device. The reception
sensitivity may be adjusted based on a determination of a desired
maximum communication range and/or selection (and locating) a
particular target peer device. The reception sensitivity may
control discarding of received frames, and terminating processing
thereof. The reception sensitivity of the electronic device may be
adjusted by adaptively adjusting one or more power-related
thresholds used during reception of signals by the electronic
device. The one or more power-related thresholds may comprise a
threshold for controlling Carrier Sense Multiple Access (CSMA)
based operations in the electronic device, whereby such threshold
may be compared to received signal strength indication (RSSI)
detected by the electronic device. The one or more power-related
thresholds may also comprise a threshold for controlling link
quality, whereby the controlling comprise discarding frames carried
via received signals based on comparison of link utilization with
the link quality threshold. The adaptive power management may be
configured and/or applied in accordance with a particular power
management algorithm selected from a plurality of available
algorithms; comprising standards based algorithms and/or
proprietary algorithms. Furthermore, the adaptive power management
may be selectively activate or deactivated.
[0039] FIG. 1A is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary
communication setup comprising a plurality of
spatially-distributed, resource-constrained devices, which may be
utilized in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
Referring to FIG. 1 there is shown a first device 102, second
devices 104.sub.1-104.sub.16, and perimeters
106.sub.1-106.sub.3.
[0040] The first device 102 may comprise suitable logic, circuitry,
interfaces, and/or code operable to transmit and receive wireless
signals in accordance with one or more wireless protocols.
Exemplary protocols which may be supported by the device 102 may
include the ISO 18000-7 protocol, and protocols described in the
above-incorporated U.S. Provisional Patent Application having Ser.
No. 61/464,376 and filed on Mar. 2, 2011. The first device 102 may
be less resource-constrained device. In this regard, the first
device 102 may be, for example and without limitation, a laptop
computer, a desktop computer, a tablet computer, a smart phone, a
server, a set-top box, a gateway, a base station, a meter or code
reader, or may comprise a combination of one or more such
devices.
[0041] Each of the second devices 104.sub.1-104.sub.16 may comprise
suitable logic, circuitry, interfaces, and/or code operable to
transmit and receive wireless signals in accordance with one or
more wireless protocols, which may include the ISO 18000-7
standard, and protocols described in the above-incorporated U.S.
Provisional Patent Application having Serial No. 61/464,376 and
filed on Mar. 2, 2011. Each of the second devices
104.sub.1-104.sub.16 may be operable to store data (e.g., in the
form of delimited strings of characters). At least some of the
second devices 104.sub.1-104.sub.16 may be more
resource-constrained devices. In this regard, one or more of the
second devices 104.sub.1-104.sub.16 may have relatively little
memory, relatively little processing power, operate on battery
power, and/or may otherwise be constrained in terms of one or more
resources. The second devices 104.sub.1-104.sub.16 may comprise,
for example, RFID tags, smartcards, keyfobs, cellphones, portable
media players, appliances, and/or utility meters.
[0042] The second devices 104.sub.1-104.sub.16 may be located at
different distances relative to the first device 102. Accordingly,
the perimeters 1061-1063 may represent and/or delineate different
zones of operations for the first device 102. Perimeters
106.sub.1-106.sub.3 may correspond to, for example, three different
transmit powers that may be utilized by device 102. That is, the
device 102 may utilize a first transmit power T.sub.1 to
communicate with devices within the first perimeter 106.sub.1,
utilize a second transmit power T.sub.2 to communicate with devices
within the second perimeter 106.sub.2, and utilize a third transmit
power T.sub.3 to communicate with devices within the third
perimeter 106.sub.3, wherein T.sub.3>T.sub.2>T.sub.1.
[0043] In operation, the device 102 may communicate one or more of
the devices 104.sub.1-104.sub.16. In this regard, communications
among the devices 102 and 104.sub.1-104.sub.16 may be based on the
ISO 18000-7 protocol, and/or similar protocols such as the
protocols described in the above-incorporated U.S. Provisional
Patent Application having Ser. No. 61/464,376 and filed on Mar. 2,
2011. Use of such protocols may be used for low-power, long range
communication, such as to enable RFID and like exchanges among the
devices 102 and 104.sub.1-104.sub.16. For example, at the 433 MHz
band, low power communication based on such protocols may be in the
range of 1-2000 m.
[0044] In various embodiments of the invention, the devices 102 and
104.sub.1-104.sub.16 may be operable to support and/or use adaptive
power control mechanisms, to enhance power consumption in the
network established among these devices. In this regard, such
adaptive power control mechanism may incorporate use of adaptive
power autoscaling, in which transmission and/or reception
operations, and parameter(s) related thereto, in the devices may be
continually adjusted in accordance with increases or decreases in
transmission and/or reception ranges. For example, the device 102
may selectively communicate with a subset of the devices
104.sub.1-104.sub.16. Such selective communication may enable use
of different transmission powers, based on determination of
particular target devices for communication therewith. In this
regard, the device 102 may initially search for particular one or
more of the devices 104.sub.1-104.sub.16. The search may be
performed by locating devices having a particular string (e.g., a
group of one or more ASCII or UNICODE characters). The device 102
may generate a search request packet and transmit the search
request packet. If the search request packet is transmitted at
power T.sub.1, the search request packet may be received by
data-bearing devices 104.sub.1-104.sub.4. If the search request
packet is transmitted at power T2, the search request packet may be
received by devices 104.sub.1-104. If the search request packet is
transmitted at power T.sub.3, the search request packet may be
received by devices 104.sub.1-104.sub.16. Note that the above
assumes signal propagation in the absence of interference or
physical obstructions that critically impair communications between
the device 102 and one or more of the devices
104.sub.1-104.sub.16.
[0045] FIG. 1B is a block diagram illustrating use of adaptive
power autoscaling in electronic devices, in accordance with the
embodiment of the invention. Referring to FIG. 1B, there is shown
devices 102, 104.sub.2, 104.sub.8, and 104.sub.15 of FIG. 1A.
[0046] In operation, devices in a resource-constrained network,
such as devices 102, 104.sub.2, 104.sub.8, and 104.sub.15 may
utilize adaptive power autoscaling to enhance and/or optimize power
consumption in these devices during interactions therebetween. In
this regard, adaptive power autoscaling may comprise adaptively
and/or dynamically adjusting power-related parameters associated
with communication operations, to control power consumption and/or
requirement. Power scaling is adaptive in that power-related
parameters may be set and/or adjusted based on specific
communication objectives. These objectives may comprise reaching
(or not) particular device(s) when transmitting, and/or being able
to receive (or not) signals from particular device(s).
[0047] For example, during adaptive power autoscaling, transmission
power and/or minimum receive power-related thresholds may be
adjusted, such as based on selection and/or locating of other
devices to engage in communication therewith. The transmit power
may be, for example, increased or decreased to ensure that a
particular device is (not) reached. In other words, the
transmitting device would only apply, at any given point, the
maximum transmit power required to reach, at most, the target
device. For example, the device 102 may use transmit power (Tx_Pwr)
value 1, corresponding to transmission range 150.sub.1, when
seeking to only communicate with device 104.sub.2. The device 102
may then increase its transmit power to higher value, Tx_Pwr value
2, corresponding to increased transmission range 150.sub.2, when
trying to transmit to device 104.sub.8; and may then increase its
transmit power to even higher value, Tx_Pwr value 3, corresponding
to increased transmission range 150.sub.3, when trying to transmit
to device 104.sub.15.
[0048] Similarly, the adaptive power autoscaling may be applied by
setting and/or adjusting parameters and/or threshold used in and/or
relating to signal reception, thus effectively adjusting the
reception range. For example, if the device 102 were to transmit at
a fixed power T1, reception sensitivity and/or thresholds in the
device 104.sub.2 may be initially set such that the device
104.sub.2 may receive the signal transmitted at power T.sub.1 over
a reception range 152.sub.2. When the device 104.sub.2 no longer
desires to receive signals from device 102, reception sensitivity
and/or thresholds in the device 104.sub.2 may be set or modified
such that the device 104.sub.2 may receive a signal transmitted at
T1 over a smaller reception range 152.sub.1, and thus signals
transmitted by device 102 would not be received, or would be
received but then ignored or discarded.
[0049] In some instances adjusting one side (e.g. transmission) may
be performed adaptively based on monitoring of the other side (e.g.
reception). For example, if the device 102 transmits at Tx_Pwr=2 in
an attempt to communicate with device 104.sub.8), but the receive
sensitivity and/or threshold(s) of device 104.sub.8 is configured
such that it receives signals transmitted at Tx_Pwr=2 only over the
reception range 154.sub.1, then the device 104.sub.8 may not
receive the signals transmitted by device 102. Consequently, the
device may abort its attempt to communicate with device 104.sub.8
or may increase its transmit power to Tx_Pwr=3 in an attempt to
reach device 104.sub.8. If the device 102 aborts attempting to
communicate with device 104.sub.8, it may return (e.g., after a
preconfigured interval) to transmitting at Tx_Pwr=1, which requires
less transmit power thus reducing unnecessary power
consumption.
[0050] While the invention has been described herein with respect
to the device 102, which is previously described as being the less
resource-constrained device, the invention is not so limited. In
this regard, in various embodiments of the invention, each of the
devices, both less resource-constrained devices and more
resource-constrained devices, may be operable to implement similar
mechanisms for adaptive controlling and/or adjusting transmission
and/or reception operations. For example, the device 102 may also
be continually adjusting its reception range, by adjusting various
parameters that may control reception sensitivity; and each of the
devices 104.sub.2, 104.sub.8, and 104.sub.15 may also be operable
to adjust their transmission ranges, by adjusting the transmission
power for example, based on target devices for communication.
[0051] FIG. 2A is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary
electronic device that may support adaptive power autoscaling, in
accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Referring to FIG.
2A there is shown an electronic device 200.
[0052] The electronic device 200 may be similar to the electronic
devices 102 and/or 104x of FIGS. 1A and 1B, and may comprise
suitable logic, circuitry, interfaces, and/or code that may be
operable to implement various aspects of the invention. The
electronic device 200 may comprise, for example, a host processor
202, a system memory 204, a signal processing module 206, a
transmit front-end (FE) 210, a transmission antenna 220, a
plurality of receive front-ends (FE) 212.sub.A-212.sub.N, and
plurality of reception antennas 222.sub.A-222.sub.N.
[0053] The host processor 202 may comprise suitable logic,
circuitry, interfaces, and/or code that may be operable to process
data, and/or control and/or manage operations of the electronic
device 200, and/or tasks and/or applications performed therein. In
this regard, the host processor 202 may be operable to configure
and/or control operations of various components and/or subsystems
of the electronic device 200, by utilizing, for example, one or
more control signals. The host processor 202 may enable execution
of applications, programs and/or code, which may be stored in the
system memory 204, for example.
[0054] The system memory 204 may comprise suitable logic,
circuitry, interfaces, and/or code that may enable permanent and/or
non-permanent storage, buffering, and/or fetching of data, code
and/or other information, which may be used, consumed, and/or
processed in the electronic device 200. In this regard, the system
memory 204 may comprise different memory technologies, including,
for example, read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM),
Flash memory, solid-state drive (SSD), and/or field-programmable
gate array (FPGA). The system memory 204 may store, for example,
configuration data, which may comprise parameters and/or code,
comprising software and/or firmware.
[0055] The signal processing module 206 may comprise suitable
logic, circuitry, interfaces, and/or code for enabling processing
of signals transmitted and/or received by the electronic device
200. The signal processing module 206 may be operable to perform
such signal processing operation as filtering, amplification,
up-convert/down-convert baseband signals, analog-to-digital
conversion and/or digital-to-analog conversion, encoding/decoding,
encryption/decryption, and/or modulation/demodulation. The signal
processing module 206 may be operable and/or configured to support
low-power wireless protocol, such as ISO 18000-7, protocols
described in the above-incorporated U.S. Provisional Patent
Application having Ser. No. 61/464,376, and/or similarly structured
standards.
[0056] The transmit FE 210 may comprise suitable logic, circuitry,
interfaces, and/or code that may be operable to perform wireless
transmission, such as over a plurality of supported RF bands. The
transmit FE 210 may enable, for example, performing wireless
communications of RF signals via the transmission antenna 220. In
this regard, the transmission antenna 220 may comprise suitable
logic, circuitry, interfaces, and/or code that may enable
transmission of wireless signals within certain bandwidths and/or
based on certain protocols. For example, one or more of the
transmission antenna 220 may enable transmission over the 433 MHz
band, which may be suitable for ISM communication based on, for
example, ISO 18000-7, protocols described in the above-incorporated
U.S. Provisional Patent Application having Ser. No. 61/464,376,
and/or similar related protocols.
[0057] Each of the plurality of receive FEs 212.sub.A-212.sub.N may
comprise suitable logic, circuitry, interfaces, and/or code that
may be operable to perform wireless reception, such as over a
plurality of supported RF bands. Each of the plurality of receive
FEs 212.sub.A212.sub.N may enable, for example, performing wireless
communications of RF signals via corresponding one of the plurality
of reception antennas 222.sub.A-222.sub.N. Each of the plurality of
reception antennas 222.sub.A-222.sub.N may comprise suitable logic,
circuitry, interfaces, and/or code that may enable reception of
wireless signals within certain bandwidths and/or based on certain
protocols. For example, one or more of the plurality of reception
antennas 222.sub.A-222.sub.N may enable reception of signals
communicated over different channels within the 433 MHz band, which
may be suitable for ISM communication based on, for example, ISO
18000-7, protocols described in above-incorporated U.S. Provisional
Patent Application having Ser. No. 61/464,376, and/or similar
related protocols.
[0058] In various embodiments of the invention, the electronic
device 200 may support and/or implement adaptive power autoscaling.
In this regard, power consumption during transmission and/or
reception of signals may be adaptively scaled by continually
controlling and/or adjusting components, processes, and/or
functions relating to and/or affecting (or being affected by)
transmission and/or reception of signals. In this regard, the power
scaling may be achieved by adjusting transmit and/or reception
related parameters in a manner that causes changes to power
requirement and/or consumption. This may particularly impact and/or
relate to the transmit FE 210 and the receive FEs
212.sub.A-212.sub.N (or their components), and/or operations
thereof, as described in more detail with respect to FIG. 2B.
[0059] FIG. 2B is a diagram of an exemplary transmit front-end (FE)
and an exemplary receive front-end (FE) in an electronic device
that supports adaptive power autoscaling, in accordance with an
embodiment of the invention. Referring to FIG. 2B, there is shown
the transmit FE 210 of FIG. 2A, and receive FE 212.sub.x, which
corresponds to any of the receive FEs 212.sub.A-212.sub.N of FIG.
2A.
[0060] The transmit FE 210 may comprise a digital-to-analog
converter (DAC) 230, a filter 232, a local oscillator (LO) 234, a
mixer 236, and an amplifier 238. The filter 232 may comprise a low
pass filter (LPF). The amplifier 238 may be a power amplifier
(PA).
[0061] The receive FE 212.sub.x may comprise amplifiers 260 and
266, a mixer 264, a local oscillator (LO) 262, a filter 268, and an
analog-to-digital converter (ADC) 270. The filter 268 may comprise
a low pass filter (LPF). The amplifiers 260 and/or 266 may be, for
example, low noise amplifiers (LNAs).
[0062] In operation, the transmit FE 210 may be utilized in
handling signals transmitted wirelessly via corresponding antenna
220, to facilitated proper transmission thereby. In this regard,
the digital-to-analog converter (DAC) 230 may receive digital
signals from, for example, the signal processing module 206. The
digital-to-analog converter (DAC) 230 may convert the digital
signals to analog signals, and the analog signals may be
communicated to the filter 232. The filter 232, which may be low
pass filter (LPF), may attenuate frequencies above a determined
frequency, while passing frequencies below the determined
frequency. The filter 232 may also provide amplification to the
filtered signal such that the amplitude of the output signal may
have a gain with respect to the amplitude of the input signal. The
output of the filter 232 may be communicated to the mixer 236. The
mixer 236 may be an amplifying mixer that may up-convert the
frequency of the input signal to generate an output signal. The
output signal may also have an amplitude gain with respect to the
amplitude of the input signal. The frequency of the output signal
of the mixer 236 may depend on, for example, a frequency of a
signal generated by the local oscillator (LO) 234. The output
frequency may be a sum of the frequency of the signal from the
filter 232 and the frequency of the signal from the local
oscillator (LO) 234. The output of the mixer 236 may be
communicated to the amplifier 238, which may generate an output
signal that may have an amplitude gain with respect to the
amplitude of the input signal. The amplifier 238 may be a power
amplifier whose output may be transmitted by the antenna 201, for
example.
[0063] The receive FE 212.sub.x may be utilized in handling signals
received via corresponding antenna 222.sub.x, to facilitated
subsequent processing thereof, such as via the signals processing
module 206, to enable extracting data carried thereby. In this
regard, the amplifier 260, which may be a low noise amplifier
(LNA), may amplify received RF signals from the antenna 222.sub.x.
The mixer 264 may be an amplifying mixer that may down-convert the
frequency of the input signal to generate an output signal. The
output signal may also have an amplitude gain with respect to the
amplitude of the input signal. The frequency of the output signal
of the mixer 264 may depend on, for example, a frequency of a
signal generated by the local oscillator (LO) 262. The output
frequency may be a difference of the frequency of the signal from
the amplifier 260 and the frequency of the signal from the local
oscillator (LO) 262. The output of the mixer 264 may be
communicated to the amplifier 266, which may generate an output
signal that may have an amplitude gain with respect to the
amplitude of the input signal. The output of the amplifier 266 may
be communicated to the filter 268. The filter 268 may attenuate
frequencies above a determined frequency, while passing frequencies
below the determined frequency. The filter 268 may also provide
amplification to the filtered signal such that the amplitude of the
output signal may have a gain with respect to the amplitude of the
input signal. The output of the filter 268 may be communicated to
the analog-to-digital converter (ADC) 270. The analog-to-digital
converter (ADC) 270 may convert the analog signals to digital
signals by periodically sampling the analog signals. The output of
the analog-to-digital converter (ADC) 270 may be communicated, for
example, to the signal processing module 206 for further
processing.
[0064] In an exemplary aspect of the invention, various components
of the transmit FE 210 and/or the receive FE 212.sub.x may be
adaptively controlled, and/or their operations may be adjusted. For
example, gain of the amplifiers 260 and 266, as well as the mixer
264 and the filter 268 of the receive FE 212.sub.x may be set
and/or adjusted up or down, to provide appropriate signal levels at
each block, for enabling or blocking handling of particular signals
at that block. The frequency of the signal generated by the local
oscillator (LO) 262 may also be controlled to enable adjusting
and/or controlling the signals outputted by mixer 264--e.g., to
generate an output with a constant frequency as the frequency of
the signal from the amplifier 260 varies. This may allow the
electronic device 200 to tune to different channels, or
frequencies. Similarly, gain of the amplifier 238, as well as the
mixer 236 and the filter 232 may be set and/or adjusted up or down
to provide appropriate signal levels at each block, for enabling or
blocking handling of particular signals at that block. Also, the
frequency of the signal generated by the local oscillator (LO) 234
may also be controlled so that the mixer 236 may generate a
particular desired output frequency for transmission.
[0065] In an embodiment of the invention, the adaptive control of
the transmit FE 210 and/or the receive FE 212.sub.x, and/or their
components, and/or the adjustment of operations thereof, may be
utilized to enable adaptive power autoscaling operations in the
electronic device 200. In this regard, the ability to control
various parameters for the receive FE 212.sub.x and/or the
transmitter 210 may be useful in instances when different transmit
power and/or different reception sensitivities are desired.
Accordingly, gain for the various components in the receive FE
212.sub.x and/or the transmit FE 210 may be adjusted to use
particular transmit power level, during transmission operations,
and/or to be optimized for particular power levels when handling
received signals.
[0066] In an embodiment of the invention, the configuring may be
performed by use of control signals (shown in FIG. 3B as
Tx_Ctrl_Data and Rx_Ctrl_Data) which may specify particular changes
to the receive FE 212.sub.x and/or the transmitter 210, or any
components thereof, to achieved optimized transmission and/or
reception power consumption. In this regard, the electronic device
200 may maintain a data structure that may specify the particular
required adjustment corresponding to particular transmission power
level and/or reception sensitivity.
[0067] FIG. 3A is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary
implementation of the OSI model within an electronic device that
may support adaptive power autoscaling, in accordance with an
embodiment of the invention. Referring to FIG. 3A, there is shown
the device 200 of FIG. 2A.
[0068] The device 200 may be operable and/or configured to
incorporate an OSI-mode-based implementation in accordance with,
for example, the protocol described in the above-incorporated U.S.
Provisional Patent Application having Ser. No. 61/464,376 and filed
on Mar. 2, 2011. In this regard, the 7 OSI layers may be
implemented via one or more physical components of the device 200.
For example, the Physical (PHY) Layer (layer 1 of the OSI model)
may be implemented via the transmit FE 210 and the receive FE
212.sub.A-212.sub.N; the Data Link Layer (layer 2 of the OSI model)
and the Network Layer (layer 3 of the OSI model) may be implemented
via the signal processing module 206; while the remaining layers,
comprising the Transport Layer (layer 4 of the OSI model), the
Session Layer (layer 5 of the OSI model), the Presentation Layer
(layer 6 of the OSI model), and the Patent Application Layer (layer
7 of the OSI model) may be implemented via the main processor 202.
In an exemplary embodiment, the main processor 202, the system
memory 204, and the signal processing module 206 may be implemented
in a first chip (e.g., a microcontroller) and the FEs 210,
212.sub.A-212.sub.N may be implemented in a second chip.
[0069] During communication from and/or to the device 200, the
seven OSI layers may perform different functions and/or processes
that may enable such communication, and/or enable controlling
various aspects related thereto. In this regard, the OSI module
implementation may typically be utilized in facilitating
communication of data, which may comprise providing required
header/footer encapsulation and/or stripping, with data being
internally exchanged between the OSI layers, or the physical
components in which they are implemented, via data buses for
example. The handling of data (e.g. encapsulation or stripping) may
require buffering of data by one or more OSI layers, as
demonstrated by use of transmit/receive (Tx/Rx) buffers 310 in the
Data Link Layer 304.
[0070] During control and/or configuration of the OSI model, the
OSI layers may exchange information and/or signals enabling
configuring and/or adjustment of functions and/or modules in the
layers. For example, the Physical Layer 302 may provide to the Data
Link Layer 304 various information, shown as PHY_Ctrl_Info, which
may in turn enable configuring and controlling the Physical Layer
302 (e.g., via PHY_Config) by the Data Link Layer 304 (and by
higher layers operating via the Data Link Layer 304). The
PHY_Ctrl_Info may comprise status information relating to the
Physical Layer 302, and/or to various functions or modules thereof.
The PHY_Ctrl_Info may also comprise information obtained via the
Physical Layer 302.
[0071] Similarly, the Data Link Layer 304 may provide to the higher
OSI layers 306 with various information, shown as DL_Ctrl_Info,
which enable configuring and controlling the Data Link Layer 304
(e.g., via DL_Config) by the higher OSI layers 306. The
DL_Ctrl_Info may comprise status information relating to the Data
Link Layer 304 (and Physical Layer 302), and/or to various
functions or modules thereof. The DL_Ctrl_Info may also comprise
information obtained via the Data Link Layer 304. Dedicated
configuration registers, such as configuration registers 312 of the
Data Link Layer 304 may be utilized to store and maintain
parameters used in effectuating requested configurations and/or
adjustments.
[0072] In an exemplary aspect of the invention, the OSI module
implemented by the device 200 may be configured and/or adjusted to
enable and/or support power autoscaling operations. In this regard,
implementing adaptive power autoscaling in the OSI model may
comprise adding new, dedicated functions and/or modules, and/or
modifying or adjusting existing functions and/or modules performing
operations that may affect power consumption in the device 200
during communication. FIG. 3C describes in more details an
exemplary implementation of power autoscaling into the OSI
model.
[0073] FIG. 3B is a block diagram illustrating exemplary structure
of physical layer (PHY) packet carrying a data link layer frame, in
accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Referring to FIG.
3B, there is shown an exemplary physical layer (PHY) packet
carrying a data link layer frame, which may be structured in
accordance with wireless protocols utilized by electronic devices
that implement various aspects of the invention. Cross-referenced
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/408,453 (Attorney Docket Number
24667US02), filed on Feb. 29, 2012, provides more details on the
structures of exemplary PHY packets and/or data link layer
frames.
[0074] The frame header may comprise a field (TxEIRP 320)
indicating equivalent isotropic radiated power (EIRP) the
transmitting device uses in transmitting the packet and frame. In
other word, the TxEIRP field 320 embedded in the frame header
provides the receiving device with information pertaining to the
transmit power applied by the transmitting device. The TxEIRP field
320 may be utilized during power autoscaling operations, by
enabling a receiving device to precisely determine the original
transmit power for received signals being handled by the receiving
device.
[0075] FIG. 3C is block diagram illustrating implementation of
various aspect of the invention at different layers of the OSI
model, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. As shown
in FIG. 3C, the device 200 may comprise various modules and/or
processes that may be run in different layers of the OSI model, and
may interact to facilitate performing various functions and/or
operations of the device 200. For example, the device 200 may
comprise a received signal strength indication (RSSI) module 330,
which may operate at the Physical Layer (layer 1 of the OSI model);
a link quality assessment module 340, which may operate at the Data
Link Layer (layer 2 of the OSI model); and a power autoscaling
module 350, which may operate at a higher layer, such as the
Session Layer (layer 4 of the OSI model). The device 200 may also
comprise a clear channel assessment (CCA) process 360, which may be
implemented, accessible and/or executable by various modules and/or
processes of one or more layers, such as the Physical Layer (layer
1 of the OSI model) and the Data Link Layer (layer 2 of the OSI
model).
[0076] The RSSI module 330 may implement RSSI measurement
operations, in which the strength of received signals may be
determined, and reported as a value corresponding to particular
relative level between the minimum and maximum values.
[0077] The link quality assessment module 340 may implement link
quality assessment, during which certain checks are perform to
determine whether a received frame (extracted from received packet)
may be discarded, or processing of the frame is continued. In this
regard, during link quality assessment, the TxEIRP field is
extracted from the frame's header, and the value of detected RSSI
for the frame is subtracted from the TxEIRP field to derive a
corresponding link budget utilization value. If link quality
filtering is enabled (e.g., by assertion of LQ.sub.EN), the frame
would be discarded and Data Link Layer processing of the received
frame terminated when the derived link budget utilization value is
greater than a particular link quality threshold (shown as
LQ.sub.thr).
[0078] The LQ.sub.thr may be configurable. Setting LQ.sub.thr to a
relatively-high value may reduce power consumption because: the
device may process fewer received packets (because they are dropped
rather than being processed), the device may transmit fewer packets
(because there are fewer successfully-received packets to respond
to), and/or the average transmit power is lower (because responses
are only being sent to devices which are reachable via a
short/low-attenuation path). The value of LQ.sub.thr may be
configured based, for example, on one or more of: location of the
device (e.g., determined by GPS and/or other wireless signals),
type of device (e.g., whether the device is a laptop, a smartphone,
or a battery-powered tag), power source of the device (e.g.,
plugged-in or running on battery), remaining battery charge, which
particular and/or types of the devices are desired to be
communicated with, and results of past communications (e.g., number
of responses received to previous requests).
[0079] The clear channel assessment (CCA) process 360 may be run to
ensure that a particular channel that may be utilized during
communication (transmission or reception) may be clear for use.
This determination may be based on particular, predetermined
conditions. For example, certain channel classes utilized during
communication by the device 200 in accordance with supported
protocol may require use of a carrier sense multiple access (CSMA)
prior to transmission of data over a channel. In certain instances,
upper layers of the OSI module, particularly the Data Link Layer
and Transport Layer, may execute processes that utilize CSMA and
Collision Avoidance models (CSMA-CA), which may incorporate CCA
process 360 to ensure that a particular channel being evaluated is
clear for use. The CCA process 360 may determine the status of
particular channel based on measure RSSI, obtained from the RSSI
module 330, and based on a particular energy threshold, E.sub.CCA.
In this regard, during CCA, the detected RSSI of the channel may be
used to determine if it meets the following requirement in order
for CCA to be declared successful: detected channel
RSSI.ltoreq.E.sub.CCA. The RSSI detection performed for CCA may
have to meet particular precision criteria (e.g. be precise to
within 6 dBm). The E.sub.CCA parameter may be provided by upper
layers or configured as a default within the implementation of the
Physical Layer.
[0080] The power autoscaling module 350 may be utilized to
implement adaptive power autoscaling functionality and/or
operations. In this regard, adaptive power autoscaling may comprise
adaptively and/or dynamically adjusting power consumption
associated with, and/or resulting from communication operations
and/or processing in the device 200. Modifying power consumption
and/or requirement may be, for example, performed by adjusting
transmission power and minimum receive power thresholds. The power
autoscaling module 350 may specify the transmit power levels,
ramp-up/down steps, and/or idle intervals for use (e.g. via the
Physical Layer) in controlling signal transmission. Exemplary
receive power thresholds that may be set and/or adjusted via the
power autoscaling module 350 may comprise the link quality
threshold LQ.sub.thr, which may be utilized in configuring and/or
controlling link quality assessment; and the clear channel
assessment energy threshold, ECCA, which may be utilized in
controlling clear control assessment. In other words, the power
autoscaling module 350 may adjust reception related power by
configuring and/or modifying reception related thresholds, such as
LQ.sub.thr and ECCA. Modifying at least some of the receive power
thresholds may depend on measurements relating to reception of
signals (e.g., RSSI) and/or parameters obtained from frames carried
by the received signals (e.g., TxEIRP). Use of adaptive power
autoscaling may be optional. In this regard, the power autoscaling
module 350 may be activated (and thus perform power autoscaling) by
assertion of a particular control signal/input, shown here as
AP.sub.EN. Applying changes to transmission and/or reception
operations, necessitated by modifications to communication related
parameters or threshold (e.g., LQ.sub.thr and E.sub.CCA) may be
achieved by means of control signals (e.g. Tx_Ctrl_Data and
Rx_Ctrl_Data of FIG. 3B), which may be used in controlling and/or
configuring physical components utilized in such transmission
and/or reception.
[0081] FIG. 4A is a flow chart that illustrates exemplary steps for
supporting adaptive power autoscaling in an electronic device, in
accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Referring to FIG.
4A, there is shown a flow chart 400 comprising a plurality of
exemplary steps that may be performed by an electronic device, such
as device 200, to enable adaptive power autoscaling in a
resource-constrained network during communications therein.
[0082] In step 402, a determination whether adaptive autoscaling is
enabled may be performed. In this regard, adaptive autoscaling may
be enabled (or disabled) by asserting (or de-asserting) a control
signal or control parameters (e.g. in register), such as PA.sub.EN,
which may in turn activate corresponding function or module (e.g.
power autoscaling module 350) for performing and/or managing power
autoscaling operations. In instances where it may be determined
that adaptive autoscaling is not enabled, the process may
terminate.
[0083] Returning to step 402, in instances where it may be
determined that adaptive autoscaling is enabled, the process may
proceed to step 404. In step 404, the applicable power algorithm
may be determined. In this regard, a plurality of algorithms for
performing adaptive power autoscaling may be available for
selection. The algorithms may comprise standard defined algorithms
and/or proprietary algorithms. Each of the power autoscaling
algorithms may define particular conditions for applying power
scaling adjustments, and/or for each of such condition may define
corresponding adjustments and/or configuration parameters that may
cause modifications in power consumption, such as during transmit
and/or receive operations. The electronic device 200 may maintain
parameters for defining available algorithms. In this regard, each
of available algorithms may be assigned a unique identifier, and a
particular parameter may define which algorithm to select and/or
particular condition for selecting each one of the available
algorithm. This information may be maintained as part of a control
database in the electronic device 200. Different algorithms may be
selected based, for example, on one or more of: location of the
device (e.g., determined by GPS and/or other wireless signals),
type of device (e.g., whether the device is a laptop, a smartphone,
or a battery-powered tag), power source of the device (e.g.,
plugged-in or running on battery), remaining charge in a battery of
the device, which particular and/or types of the devices are
desired to be communicated with, and results of past communications
(e.g., number of responses received to previous requests). In step
406, the selected algorithm may be applied.
[0084] FIG. 4B is a flow chart that illustrates exemplary steps for
performing clear channel assessment using thresholds configured
based on adaptive autoscaling to adjust reception sensitivity, in
accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Referring to FIG.
4B, there is shown a flow chart 430 comprising a plurality of
exemplary steps for performing clear channel assessment, which may
be performed in an electronic device, such as device 200.
[0085] In step 432, the received signal strength indication (RSSI)
may be determined. In step 434, a determination whether the RSSI is
less than or equal to the clear channel energy threshold
(E.sub.CCA) may be performed. In this regard, the E.sub.CCA
threshold may be utilized to control transmission and/or reception
with respect to particular channel based on specific energy level
associated with that particular channel. In instances where it may
be determined that the RSSI is less than or equal to EccA, the
process may proceed to step 436. In step 436, transmission and/or
reception operations may be configured in accordance with the
condition that RSSI.ltoreq.E.sub.CCA. Particularly, on the transmit
(Tx) side, under such condition the corresponding channel may be
utilized for transmitting signals. The use of the channel may be
done after a brief wait and a recheck of the condition (i.e., step
434). On the reception (Rx) side, under such condition
packet/frames carried via received signals may be dropped. In other
words, when the RSSI is less than or equal to E.sub.CCA, the signal
is perceived as being too low to be reliable, and packets/frames
carried via such signal are discarded.
[0086] Returning to step 434, in instances where it may be
determined that the RSSI is greater than EccA, the process may
proceed to step 438. In step 438, transmission and/or reception
operations may be configured in accordance with the condition that
RSSI>E.sub.CCA. Particularly, on the transmit (Tx) side, under
such condition, the corresponding channel may be deemed as not
clear, and as such is unsuited for transmitting signals. On the
reception (Rx) side, under such condition, handling and/or
processing of packet/frames carried via received signals may
proceed. In other words, when the RSSI is greater than E.sub.CCA,
the signal is perceived to be sufficiently reliable, and
packets/frames carried via such signal may be processed.
[0087] In an embodiment of the invention, the value of the
E.sub.CCA threshold may be adjusted in accordance with applicable
power autoscaling operations. In this regard, adjusting the
E.sub.CCA threshold may modify reception sensitivity--that is
setting the E.sub.CCA threshold lower would enable handling `weak`
signals whereas setting the E.sub.CCA threshold to higher value
would cause the electronic device to ignore stronger signals. The
E.sub.CCA threshold may also be adjusted to modify transmission
sensitivity--that is setting the E.sub.CCA threshold lower may
cause the electronic device to determine that a channel is unsuited
for transmission whereas setting the E.sub.CCA threshold to higher
value would allow the electronic device to use that channel.
Because E.sub.CCA threshold affects both signal reception and
transmission, different thresholds for transmission and reception
(e.g., Tx_E.sub.CCA and Rx_E.sub.CCA) may be used to ensure that a
particular effect on one side (e.g. reception) would not cause an
unintended effect on the other side (e.g. transmission).
[0088] FIG. 4C is a flow chart that illustrates exemplary steps for
performing link quality assessment using thresholds configured
based on adaptive autoscaling to adjust reception sensitivity, in
accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Referring to FIG.
4C, there is shown a flow chart 460 comprising a plurality of
exemplary steps for performing link quality assessment, which may
be performed in an electronic device, such as device 200.
[0089] In step 462, a determination whether link quality assessment
is enabled may be performed. In this regard, link quality
assessment may be enabled (or disabled) by asserting (or
de-asserting) a control signal or control parameters (e.g. in
register), such as LQ.sub.EN, which may in turn activate
corresponding function or module (e.g. link quality assessment
module 340) for performing and/or managing power autoscaling
operations. In instances where it may be determined that link
quality assessment is not enabled the process may terminate.
Returning to step 462, in instances where it may be determined that
link quality assessment is enabled the process may proceed to step
464. In step 464, a determination whether a received (data link)
frame comprises a TxEIRP field may be performed. In this regard,
the TxEIRP field may indicate the equivalent isotropic radiated
power (EIRP)--i.e., power--that the transmitting device originally
utilized in transmitting the packet (or frame) which is being
handled by the receiving device. In instances where it may be
determined that the received frame does not comprise the TxEIRP
field the process may terminate.
[0090] Returning to step 464, in instances where it may be
determined that the received frame comprises the TxEIRP field the
process may proceed to step 466. In step 466, the TxEIRP field (or
value thereof) may be extracted. In step 468, the received signal
strength indication (RSSI) may be determined. In this regard, the
RSSI may measure the strength of the signal(s) carrying the packet
that comprise the frame in question, as determined by the receiving
device. In step 470, the link budget utilization value may be
determined, by subtracting the measured RSSI value from the
extracted TxEIRP. In other words, the link budget utilization value
may correspond to the loss of power during communication of the
signals carrying the packet (frame) between the transmitting device
and the receiving device. In step 472, it may be determined whether
the calculated link budget utilization value is less than a
particular link quality threshold. In this regard, the link quality
threshold LQ.sub.thr may be configurable value. Specifically, the
LQ.sub.thr parameter may be set and/or adjusted during adaptive
power autoscaling, to enable modifying signal reception sensitivity
in the device 200. The value of the LQ.sub.thr threshold, and/or
any adjustment thereof, may be dictated by the applicable power
autoscaling algorithm. In instances where it may be determined that
the link budget utilization value is less than the link quality
threshold (LQ.sub.thr), the process may proceed to step 474,
enabling handling and/or processing of the frame to continue.
Returning to 472, in instances where it may be determined that the
link budget utilization value is not less than the link quality
threshold (LQ.sub.thr), the process may proceed to step 476, where
handling and/or processing of the frame may be stopped and the
frame may be discard.
[0091] Adjusting the LQ.sub.thr threshold may modify reception
sensitivity. In this regard, when the LQ.sub.thr threshold is set
to a low value, received signals communicated over links having
high link budget value (i.e. large power loss) may be perceived
(the signal) as being sufficiently unreliable, and packets/frames
carried via such signal may be discarded; whereas when the
LQ.sub.thr threshold is set to a high value, received signals
communicated over links having low link budget value (i.e. small
power loss) may perceived as being sufficiently reliable, and
packets/frames carried via such signals are processed. In an
embodiment of the invention, the value of the LQ.sub.thr threshold
may be adjusted in accordance with applicable power autoscaling
operations. In this regard, adjusting the LQ.sub.thr threshold may
enable modifying reception sensitivity--that is setting the
LQ.sub.thr threshold to a high value would enable handling and/or
processing packets/framed carried via signal communicated over a
link having a particular link budget value (power loss) whereas
packets/frames, carried via similar signals communicated over link
with similar link budget value would be discarded when the
LQ.sub.thr threshold is decreased.
[0092] Other embodiments of the invention may provide a
non-transitory computer readable medium and/or storage medium,
and/or a non-transitory machine readable medium and/or storage
medium, having stored thereon, a machine code and/or a computer
program having at least one code section executable by a machine
and/or a computer, thereby causing the machine and/or computer to
perform the steps as described herein for power autoscaling in a
resource-constrained network.
[0093] Accordingly, the present invention may be realized in
hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software. The
present invention may be realized in a centralized fashion in at
least one computer system, or in a distributed fashion where
different elements are spread across several interconnected
computer systems. Any kind of computer system or other apparatus
adapted for carrying out the methods described herein is suited. A
typical combination of hardware and software may be a
general-purpose computer system with a computer program that, when
being loaded and executed, controls the computer system such that
it carries out the methods described herein.
[0094] The present invention may also be embedded in a computer
program product, which comprises all the features enabling the
implementation of the methods described herein, and which when
loaded in a computer system is able to carry out these methods.
Computer program in the present context means any expression, in
any language, code or notation, of a set of instructions intended
to cause a system having an information processing capability to
perform a particular function either directly or after either or
both of the following: a) conversion to another language, code or
notation; b) reproduction in a different material form.
[0095] While the present invention has been described with
reference to certain embodiments, it will be understood by those
skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents
may be substituted without departing from the scope of the present
invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a
particular situation or material to the teachings of the present
invention without departing from its scope. Therefore, it is
intended that the present invention not be limited to the
particular embodiment disclosed, but that the present invention
will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the
appended claims.
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