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US-12628080-B2 - Wireless device power management

US12628080B2US 12628080 B2US12628080 B2US 12628080B2US-12628080-B2

Abstract

A method of managing power in a first wireless device associated with an additional wireless device includes receiving power management information for a first link of the first wireless device via any of a plurality of links of the first wireless device. Power consumption of the first link of the first wireless device is then managed, based on the power management information that was received from any of the links.

Inventors

  • Liwen Chu
  • Kiseon Ryu
  • Hongyuan Zhang

Assignees

  • NXP USA, INC.

Dates

Publication Date
20260512
Application Date
20230809

Claims (20)

  1. 1 . A method of power management in a first wireless device associated with an additional wireless device, the method comprising: receiving power management information for a first link of the first wireless device via any of a plurality of links of the first wireless device; and managing power consumption of the first link of the first wireless device based on the power management information; wherein managing the power consumption of the first link includes: detecting a PPDU at the first wireless device; determining that the PPDU is not addressed to the first wireless device; in response to determining that the PPDU is not addressed to the first wireless device, transitioning the first wireless device to a first power-save state until an end of the PPDU, wherein during the first power-save state the first wireless device does not perform medium monitoring; and subsequent to the end of the PPDU, transitioning the first wireless device to a second power-save state employing a single RF chain of a plurality of RF chains to perform medium monitoring.
  2. 2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising: in response to the first wireless device detecting a soliciting frame transmitted by the additional wireless device during the second power-save state: transmitting a responding frame from the first wireless device to the additional wireless device; exchanging frames between the first wireless device and the additional wireless device using the plurality of RF chains; and transitioning to use of the single RF chain at a TXOP initiated by the soliciting frame.
  3. 3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising: announcing, by the first wireless device, a TWT mode indicating whether the additional wireless device is required to negotiate an individual TWT agreement with the first wireless device or join a broadcast TWT agreement broadcasted by the first wireless device.
  4. 4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein managing the power consumption of the first link includes: switching to a doze state outside of both an individual target wake time service period (TWT SP) negotiated individually with the additional wireless device, and a broadcast TWT SP; providing, to the additional wireless device, mode and state information allowing the additional wireless device to make frame transmission decisions, wherein providing the mode and state information includes: announcing, to the additional wireless device, a power save mode used by the first wireless device; and announcing, to the additional wireless device, a current active/doze state of the first wireless device.
  5. 5 . The method of claim 4 , further comprising: during a period of time when the first wireless device is in the doze state, buffering frames to be transmitted to the first wireless device by the additional wireless device.
  6. 6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first wireless device is a first multi-link wireless device (MLD) including a plurality of APs, and the additional wireless device is a second MLD, and wherein managing the power consumption of the first link of the first wireless device includes: announcing power save modes and current active/doze states of the plurality of APs to the second MLD via a plurality of different links of the first MLD; and receiving, at the first MLD, a request from the second MLD for the first link to switch to an awake state to receive buffered frames, wherein the request is received during a time the first MLD is operating in one of the power save modes.
  7. 7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein: the request for the first link of the first MLD to switch to an awake state is received at the first MLD through a second link, different than the first link.
  8. 8 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising: selecting, by the first MLD, one link to remain in an awake state to receive wake requests for other links of the plurality of different links of the first MLD.
  9. 9 . The method of claim 6 , further comprising: receiving the request for the first link of the first MLD to switch to an awake state at the first MLD through the first link.
  10. 10 . A method of power management in a first wireless device and associated with an additional wireless device, the method comprising: receiving, in one or more frames, power management information for a first link of the first wireless device via any of a plurality of links of the first wireless device; and managing changes in a power save state of the first link of the first wireless device based on the power management information; wherein the first wireless device is a first multi-link wireless device (MLD) including a plurality of APs, and the additional wireless device is a second MLD, and wherein managing changes in the power save state of the first link of the first wireless device includes: announcing power save modes and current active/doze states of the plurality of APs to the second MLD via a plurality of different links of the first MLD; and receiving, at the first MLD, a request from the second MLD for the first link to switch to an awake state to receive buffered frames, wherein the request is received during a time the first MLD is operating in one of the power save modes.
  11. 11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein managing changes in the power save state of the first link includes: detecting a PPDU at the first wireless device; determining that the PPDU is not addressed to the first wireless device; in response to determining that the PPDU is not addressed to the first wireless device, transitioning the first wireless device to a first power-save state until an end of the PPDU, wherein during the first power-save state the first wireless device does not perform medium monitoring; subsequent to the end of the PPDU, transitioning the first wireless device to a second power-save state employing a single RF chain of a plurality of RF chains to perform medium monitoring; detecting, by the first wireless device, a soliciting frame transmitted by the additional wireless device during the second power-save state; in response to the first wireless device detecting a soliciting frame transmitted by the additional wireless device during the second power-save state: transmitting a responding frame from the first wireless device to the additional wireless device; exchanging frames between the first wireless device and the additional wireless device using the plurality of RF chains; and transitioning to use of the single RF chain at a TXOP initiated by the soliciting frame.
  12. 12 . The method of claim 11 further comprising: announcing, by the first wireless device, a TWT mode indicating whether the additional wireless device is required to negotiate an individual TWT agreement with the first wireless device or join a broadcast TWT agreement broadcasted by the first wireless device.
  13. 13 . The method of claim 10 , wherein managing changes in the power save state of the first link includes: switching to a doze state outside of both an individual target wake time service period (TWT SP) negotiated individually with the additional wireless device, and a broadcast TWT SP; providing, to the additional wireless device, mode and state information allowing the additional wireless device to make frame transmission decisions, wherein providing the mode and state information includes: announcing, to the additional wireless device, a power save mode used by the first wireless device; and announcing, to the additional wireless device, a current active/doze state of the first wireless device.
  14. 14 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising: during a period of time when the first wireless device is in the doze state, buffering frames to be transmitted to the first wireless device by the additional wireless device.
  15. 15 . The method of claim 10 , wherein: the request for the first link of the first MLD to switch to an awake state is received at the first MLD via one of a second link, different than the first link; or at the first MLD via the first link.
  16. 16 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising: selecting, by the first MLD, one link to remain in an awake state to receive wake requests for other links of the plurality of different links of the first MLD.
  17. 17 . A wireless device, comprising: a radio frequency (RF) transceiver configured to implement a plurality of links; the RF transceiver further configured to receive power management information for a first link of the plurality of links via any of the plurality of links; and a processor configured to manage power save states of the first link based on the power management information; wherein the wireless device is a first multi-link wireless device (MLD) including a plurality of APs and is associated with a second MLD, and wherein: the processor is further configured to manage changes in a power save state of the first link by announcing power save modes and current active/doze states of the plurality of APs to the second MLD via a plurality of different links of the first MLD; and the first MLD is configured to receive a request from the second MLD for the first link to switch to an awake state to receive buffered frames, wherein the request is received during a time the first MLD is operating in one of the power save modes.
  18. 18 . The wireless device of claim 17 , wherein the processor is further configured to: detect a PPDU received via a particular link of the plurality of links; determine that the PPDU is not addressed to the wireless device; in response to determining that the PPDU is not addressed to the wireless device, transitioning the wireless device to a first power-save state until an end of the PPDU, wherein during the first power-save state the wireless device does not perform medium monitoring; subsequent to the end of the PPDU, transitioning the wireless device to a second power-save state employing a single RF chain of a plurality of RF chains to perform medium monitoring; detect, during the second power-save state, a soliciting frame transmitted by an additional wireless device associated with the wireless device; in response to detecting the soliciting frame: transmitting a responding frame from the wireless device to the additional wireless device; exchanging frames between the wireless device and the additional wireless device using the plurality of RF chains; and transitioning to use of the single RF chain at a TXOP initiated by the soliciting frame.
  19. 19 . The wireless device of claim 18 , wherein the processor is further configured to: announce a TWT mode indicating whether the additional wireless device is required to negotiate an individual TWT agreement with the wireless device or join a broadcast TWT agreement broadcasted by the wireless device.
  20. 20 . The wireless device of claim 17 , wherein the processor is further configured to: switch the wireless device to a doze state outside of both an individual target wake time service period (TWT SP) negotiated individually with an additional wireless device associated with the wireless device, and a broadcast TWT SP; provide, to the additional wireless device, mode and state information allowing the additional wireless device to make frame transmission decisions, wherein providing the mode and state information includes: announcing, to the additional wireless device, a power save mode used by the wireless device; and announcing, to the additional wireless device, a current active/doze state of the wireless device.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS The present U.S. Utility patent application claims priority pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to the following U.S. Provisional applications: U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/371,047, entitled “Intra-PPDU Power Save, Dynamic SM Power Save”, filed Aug. 10, 2022; U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/371,049, entitled “AP Power Save Under TWT AP Power Save without TWT”, filed Aug. 10, 2022; and U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/371,219, entitled “AP MLD Power Management”, filed Aug. 11, 2022; all of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety, and made part of the present U.S. Utility patent application for all purposes. TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present application relates generally to wireless communications, and more specifically to power management in wireless devices. DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART Wireless devices that include access points APs can go to sleep if all stations (STAs) associated with the wireless device support individual target wake times (TWTs) and have individual TWT agreements with individual APs Currently, however, With the associated STAs support broadcast TWT only, the AP can't go to sleep. It is not clear how a STA does association with the AP that can go to sleep. Also, no procedures are currently defined for AP power save modes under multiple basic service set identifiers (BSSIDs). It is not clear how an AP with multiple RF chains saves power when the AP is always ready to receive the frames addressed to it. It is not clear whether an AP can save power by not decoding the whole PPDU if the PPDU doesn't carry the frames for the AP. Another issue with current wireless device power management schemes is that an AP doesn't have the power management mode and that associated STAs can't request an AP to wake from doze state. One or more APs may be affiliated with an AP MLD. It is not clear how the AP MLD, e.g. the AP MLD with single AP, implements the power management. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S) FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram depicting a multi-link communications system used for wireless (e.g., WiFi) communications according to various embodiments of the present disclosure; FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a relationship between access point (AP) power management modes and AP awake/doze states according to various embodiments of the present disclosure; FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of a wireless device wireless device that keeps one RF chain in an awake power save state to monitor a medium, while other RF chains are in a doze power save state, according to various embodiments of the present disclosure; FIG. 4 is a timing diagram illustrating a transmit opportunity (TXOP) mechanism according to various embodiments of the present disclosure; FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a multi-link access point device (AP MLD) that uses multiple RF chains to communicate with a non-AP MLD according to various embodiments of the present disclosure; FIG. 6 is another timing diagram illustrating a transmit opportunity (TXOP) mechanism according to various embodiments of the present disclosure; FIG. 7 is schematic block diagram illustrating an access point (AP) using different numbers of RF chains for transmission according to various embodiments of the present disclosure; FIG. 8, is a flow chart illustrating additional embodiments of TXOP mechanisms in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure; FIG. 9 is timing diagram illustrating an intra PPDU power save according to various embodiments of the present disclosure; FIG. 10 is a schematic block diagram of a multi-link device (MLD) according to various embodiments of the present disclosure; FIG. 11 is a schematic block diagram of asynchronous transmission mode (ATM) and channel access with simultaneous transmission and receive (STR) according to various embodiments of the present disclosure; FIG. 12 is a timing diagram illustrating broadcast and individual target wake time (TWT) according to various embodiments of the present disclosure; FIG. 13 is a timing diagram illustrating AP announcement of a TWT mode according to various embodiments of the present disclosure; FIG. 14 is a timing diagram illustrating multiple options for station (STA) association time periods in an access point according to various embodiments of the present disclosure; FIG. 15 is a timing diagram illustrating Power Save within a TWT SP according to various embodiments of the present disclosure; FIG. 16 is a flow chart illustrating a method of handling PS mode changes in an AP power save mode without TWT according to various embodiments of the present disclosure; FIG. 17 is another flow chart illustrating an AP power save mode without TWT according to various embodiments of the present disclosure; FIG. 18 is a flowchart illustrating additional features of an AP power save mode without TWT according to various embodiments of the p