TWI879129B - Routing system and method for power saving - Google Patents

Abstract

A routing system and a method for power saving are provided. The method includes: generating a signal strength record corresponding to a plurality of wireless routers by a terminal device; configuring a first wireless router to a first slave wireless router by the terminal device according to the signal strength record; and in response to a first triggering event, the first slave wireless router switches from a first power mode to a second power mode.

Description

Wireless networking system and method for power saving

The present invention relates to a wireless networking system and method for saving power.

In a large indoor space or one with multiple floors, users often need to install several wireless networking devices in order to provide good wireless network signals for all places in the space. However, these wireless networking devices are not connected to any device most of the time. For example, after everyone at home goes out to work, the wireless networking devices in the home will be idle for a long time. If the wireless networking devices are still turned on, it will waste power unnecessarily.

The present invention provides a wireless networking system and method for saving power, which can dynamically adjust the power consumption mode of each wireless networking device to achieve the effect of saving power.

A wireless networking system for power saving of the present invention includes a plurality of wireless networking devices and a terminal device. The plurality of wireless networking devices include a first wireless networking device. The terminal device generates signal strength records corresponding to the plurality of wireless networking devices, wherein the terminal device configures the first wireless networking device as a first slave wireless networking device according to the signal strength records. In response to a first triggering event, the first slave wireless networking device switches from a first power mode to a second power mode.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of wireless networking devices mentioned above include a second wireless networking device, and the terminal device configures the second wireless networking device as a main wireless networking device according to the signal strength record.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the first power consumption of the first slave wireless networking device in the first power mode is greater than the second power consumption of the first slave wireless networking device in the second power mode.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the above-mentioned first trigger event includes at least one of the following: the first slave wireless networking device is not connected to the first electronic device during a preset time period; each of the multiple wireless networking devices is not connected to the second electronic device; the terminal device receives user input; the distance between the location of the terminal device and the reference location is greater than the distance threshold; and the signal strength of the terminal device detected by the main wireless networking device is less than or equal to the signal strength threshold.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the first power consumption of the first slave wireless networking device in the first power mode is less than the second power consumption of the first slave wireless networking device in the second power mode.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the first trigger event includes at least one of the following: the distance between the location of the terminal device and the reference location is less than or equal to the distance threshold; and the signal strength of the terminal device detected by the main wireless networking device is greater than the signal strength threshold.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the first power consumption is related to at least one of the following: the distance between the first slave wireless networking device and the main wireless networking device; and the signal strength of the signal transmitted between the first slave wireless networking device and the main wireless networking device.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of wireless networking devices further include a third wireless networking device, wherein the terminal device configures the third wireless networking device as a second slave wireless networking device according to the signal strength record.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the above-mentioned first power consumption is related to at least one of the following: a first distance between the first slave wireless networking device and the main wireless networking device and a second distance between the second slave wireless networking device and the main wireless networking device; and a first signal strength of a first signal transmitted between the first slave wireless networking device and the main wireless networking device and a second signal strength of a second signal transmitted between the second slave wireless networking device and the main wireless networking device.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the signal strength record includes a first signal strength corresponding to the first wireless networking device and a second signal strength corresponding to the second wireless networking device, wherein the second signal strength is greater than the first signal strength.

In one embodiment of the present invention, in response to the second triggering event, the terminal device detects a plurality of wireless network devices to generate a signal strength record.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the second trigger event includes: the distance between the position of the terminal device and the reference position is less than or equal to a distance threshold.

In one embodiment of the present invention, in response to the number of multiple configuration results generated by the terminal device being less than or equal to a quantity threshold, the terminal device configures the first wireless networking device and the second wireless networking device according to the signal strength record to generate a first configuration result.

A method for saving power of the present invention is applicable to a wireless networking system including multiple wireless networking devices and a terminal device, wherein the multiple wireless networking devices include a first wireless networking device, and the method includes: the terminal device generates signal strength records corresponding to the multiple wireless networking devices; the terminal device configures the first wireless networking device as a first slave wireless networking device according to the signal strength records; and in response to a first triggering event, the first slave wireless networking device switches from a first power mode to a second power mode.

Based on the above, the wireless networking system of the present invention can dynamically adjust the power consumption mode of the wireless networking devices according to the triggering events based on the user's usage habits of each wireless networking device, so as to save the power consumed by the wireless networking devices without affecting the user experience.

FIG1 is a schematic diagram of a wireless networking system 10 for power saving according to an embodiment of the present invention. The wireless networking system 10 may include a terminal device 100 and a plurality of wireless networking devices (e.g., N wireless routers, where N is a positive integer greater than 1). For example, the wireless networking system 10 may include wireless networking devices 210, 220, and 230. The terminal device 100 and the plurality of wireless networking devices may be connected to each other through a wireless network. The terminal device 100 may include, but is not limited to, a device with wireless communication function such as a smart phone, a laptop, or a tablet computer.

Multiple wireless networking devices may be distributed in a specific space. FIG2 shows a schematic diagram of a space 200 in which multiple wireless networking devices are installed according to an embodiment of the present invention. Assume that wireless networking device 210 is installed in the living room near the door, wireless networking device 220 is installed in the kitchen, and wireless networking device 230 is installed in the study.

The wireless networking system 10 can automatically learn the user's habit of entering or leaving the space 200 as a reference for adjusting the power mode of the wireless networking device. FIG. 3 shows a flow chart of a learning process of the wireless networking system 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In one embodiment, the learning process of the wireless networking system 10 can be triggered by a triggering event. For example, if the distance between the position of the terminal device 100 and the reference position (e.g., any position in the space 200) is less than or equal to a threshold, it means that the user carrying the terminal device 100 is located in the space 200. Accordingly, the wireless networking system 10 can execute the process of FIG. 3. In one embodiment, the wireless networking system 10 may periodically execute the process of FIG. 3 to perform multiple learning operations.

In step S301, the terminal device 100 can determine whether the number of configuration results that have been generated is greater than the number threshold. If the number is greater than the threshold, the process proceeds to step S302. If the number is less than or equal to the number threshold, the process proceeds to step S303.

Specifically, the wireless networking system 10 can determine the master-slave relationship of multiple wireless networking devices by learning, and then generate a configuration result, wherein the configuration result can select a master wireless networking device (master wireless router) from multiple wireless networking devices, and configure other wireless networking devices that are not selected as the master wireless networking device as slave wireless networking devices (slave wireless routers), thereby generating a configuration result. As time passes, the wireless networking system 10 can continuously generate new configuration results through the process of FIG. 3, thereby accumulating the number of configuration results. The slave wireless networking device can be controlled by the master wireless networking device.

In step S302, the terminal device 100 may select a primary wireless network device from a plurality of wireless network devices according to a plurality of configuration results, and configure other wireless network devices that are not selected as the primary wireless network device as slave wireless network devices. For example, the terminal device 100 may configure the wireless network device that is selected as the primary wireless network device the most times in a plurality of historical configuration results as the final primary wireless network device, and further configure other wireless network devices that are not selected as the primary wireless network device as slave wireless network devices. The slave wireless network device may be controlled by the primary wireless network device.

For example, assuming that in the configuration results over the past period of time, wireless networking device 210 was selected as the main wireless networking device 3 times, wireless networking device 220 was selected as the main wireless networking device 2 times, and wireless networking device 230 was selected as the main wireless networking device 1 time, then the terminal device 100 can select wireless networking device 210 as the main wireless networking device and configure wireless networking devices 220 and 230 as slave wireless networking devices.

Taking FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 as examples, the terminal device 100 may select the wireless networking device 210 as the master wireless networking device and configure the wireless networking device 220 and the wireless networking device 230 as slave wireless networking devices. The wireless networking device 220 and the wireless networking device 230 may be controlled by the wireless networking device 210. The terminal device 100 may display the master-slave relationship of the wireless networking devices 210, 220, and 230 through a graphical user interface. In FIG. 4, the solid line between the wireless networking device 210 and the wireless networking device 220 or the wireless networking device 230 represents that the wireless networking device 210 switches the wireless networking device 220 or the wireless networking device 230 to the normal power mode (or referred to as the first power mode). In FIG5 , the dashed line between the wireless networking device 210 and the wireless networking device 220 or the wireless networking device 230 represents that the wireless networking device 210 switches the wireless networking device 220 or the wireless networking device 230 to the power saving mode (or the second power mode). The power consumption of the wireless networking device in the normal power mode is greater than the power consumption of the wireless networking device in the power saving mode (for example, the wireless networking device in the power saving mode consumes only 50% of the power consumption of the wireless networking device in the normal power mode). For example, assuming that the power consumption of the wireless networking device 210 in the normal power mode is P0 and the power consumption of the wireless networking device 210 in the power saving mode is P1, then P0＞P1.

6, terminal device 100 may select wireless networking device 220 as the master wireless networking device and configure wireless networking device 210 and wireless networking device 230 as slave wireless networking devices. Wireless networking device 210 and wireless networking device 230 may be controlled by wireless networking device 220. Terminal device 100 may display the master-slave relationship of wireless networking devices 210, 220, and 230 through a graphical user interface.

Returning to FIG. 3 , in step S303 , the terminal device 100 may detect multiple wireless networking devices in the space 200 and generate a wireless networking device list. The wireless networking device list may include multimedia access control (MAC) addresses (or identification codes) of one or more wireless networking devices.

In step S304, the terminal device 100 may determine whether the number of wireless networking devices in the wireless networking device list is greater than 0. If the number is greater than 0, it means that the terminal device 100 detects a signal sent by at least one wireless networking device in the space 200, and the terminal device 100 may further execute step S306. If the number is equal to 0, it means that the terminal device 100 does not detect a signal sent by any wireless networking device in the space 200, and the terminal device 100 may further execute step S305.

In step S305, the terminal device 100 may output a prompt message to the user. The prompt message may be used to instruct the user to manually configure the master-slave relationship of the plurality of wireless networking devices in the space 200, thereby generating a configuration result. For example, the user may operate the terminal device 100 to configure the wireless networking device 210 as the master wireless networking device, and configure the wireless networking devices 220 and 230 as slave wireless networking devices, as shown in FIG. 4 .

In step S306, the terminal device 100 may detect and receive wireless RF signals of multiple wireless networking devices in the wireless networking device list, and generate multiple signal strength records of the multiple wireless networking devices accordingly. The signal strength records may include the MAC addresses of the wireless networking devices detected by the terminal device 100 and the signal strengths (e.g., received signal strength indication (RSSI)) of the wireless RF signals transmitted by each of the wireless networking devices.

In step S307, the terminal device 100 may configure the master-slave relationship of multiple wireless networking devices according to the signal strength record to generate a configuration result. In one embodiment, the terminal device 100 may select the wireless networking device with the maximum signal strength as the master wireless networking device according to the signal strength record, and configure the other wireless networking devices as slave wireless networking devices. For example, assume that the signal strength record is as shown in Table 1. Table 1 may include but is not limited to information such as a service set identifier (SSID), a MAC address, and a signal strength. Since the wireless networking device 210 is the wireless networking device with the largest signal strength in the signal strength record, the terminal device 100 can select the wireless networking device 210 as the primary wireless networking device and configure the wireless networking devices 220 and 230 as slave wireless networking devices. Table 1 Time: 6/21, 08:00 Service Set Identifier (SSID) MAC address Signal Strength (RSSI) Wireless networking device 210 1A-2B-3C-4D-5E-6F -45dB Wireless networking device 220 6F-5E-4D-3C-2B-1A -75dB Wireless networking device 230 1F-2E-3D-4C-5B-6A -55dB

FIG7 is a flowchart of switching a wireless networking device to a power saving mode according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the process can be implemented by the wireless networking system 10 shown in FIG1 . In step S701, the wireless networking system 10 can determine whether an idle trigger event occurs. If an idle trigger event occurs, the process proceeds to step S702. If an idle trigger event does not occur, step S701 is executed again after a period of time. In step S702, the slave wireless networking device can be switched from a normal power mode to a power saving mode. That is, the wireless networking system 10 can reduce the power consumption of the slave wireless networking device in response to an idle trigger event.

The power consumption of the slave wireless networking device in the power saving mode may be related to the distance or signal strength between the slave wireless networking device and the master wireless networking device. In one embodiment, the power consumption of the slave wireless networking device that is farther away from the master wireless networking device in the power saving mode is lower. For example, assume that the wireless networking device 210 is the master wireless networking device, the wireless networking devices 220 and 230 are the slave wireless networking devices, and the distance between the wireless networking device 220 and the wireless networking device 210 is greater than the distance between the wireless networking device 230 and the wireless networking device 210. When the wireless networking devices 220 and 230 switch to the power saving mode, the power consumption of the wireless networking device 220 may be less than the power consumption of the wireless networking device 230. For example, assuming that the power consumption of the wireless networking device 220 in the power saving mode is P2 and the power consumption of the wireless networking device 230 in the power saving mode is P3, then P2<P3. In one embodiment, the slave wireless networking device with lower signal strength has lower power consumption in the power saving mode. For example, assuming that the wireless networking device 210 is a master wireless networking device, the wireless networking devices 220 and 230 are slave wireless networking devices, and the signal strength of a signal transmitted between the wireless networking device 220 and the wireless networking device 210 is less than the signal strength of a signal transmitted between the wireless networking device 230 and the wireless networking device 210. When the wireless networking devices 220 and 230 are switched to the power saving mode, the power consumption of the wireless networking device 220 may be less than the power consumption of the wireless networking device 230.

Assume that the wireless networking device 210 in the wireless networking system 10 is a master wireless networking device, and the wireless networking device 220 and the wireless networking device 230 are slave wireless networking devices. In one embodiment, the idle trigger event may include that the slave wireless networking device is not connected to any electronic device (or one or more electronic devices in the white list) during a preset period of time, or that any electronic device does not enter the effective service area of any wireless networking device. For example, assume that the white list includes the terminal device 100. When the terminal device 100 has not been connected to the wireless networking devices 220 and 230 in the past hour, or the terminal device 100 cannot enter the effective service area of the wireless networking devices 220 and 230, the wireless networking system 10 can determine that an idle trigger event occurs.

In one embodiment, an idle trigger event may include that each of a plurality of wireless networking devices (e.g., a primary wireless networking device and a secondary wireless networking device) is not connected to any electronic device (or one or more electronic devices in a white list). For example, assume that the white list includes terminal device 100. If each of wireless networking devices 210, 220, and 230 is not connected to terminal device 100, or terminal device 100 cannot enter the effective service area of wireless networking devices 210, 220, and 230, the wireless networking system 10 may determine that an idle trigger event occurs.

In one embodiment, the idle trigger event may include the terminal device 100 receiving a user input. For example, if the user wants to switch all wireless networking devices in the wireless networking system 10 to a power saving mode, the user may input a command to the terminal device 100. The wireless networking system 10 may determine that an idle trigger event occurs in response to the command input by the user.

In one embodiment, the idle trigger event may include that the distance between the location of the terminal device 100 and the reference location is greater than the distance threshold. For example, assume that the reference location is any location in the space 200. After the user carrying the terminal device 100 leaves the space 200 and moves away from the space 200 (i.e., the user carrying the terminal device 100 has left the effective service area of the wireless networking system 10), the wireless networking system 10 may determine that the idle trigger event has occurred. The wireless networking system 10 may, for example, determine the location of the terminal device 100 through the global positioning system (GPS) function of the terminal device 100.

Assume that the wireless networking device 210 in the wireless networking system 10 is a primary wireless networking device, and the wireless networking devices 220 and 230 are slave wireless networking devices. In one embodiment, the idle trigger event may include that the signal strength of the terminal device 100 detected by the primary wireless networking device (or the signal strength of the primary wireless networking device detected by the terminal device 100) is less than or equal to the signal strength threshold. For example, after the user carrying the terminal device 100 leaves the space 200 and moves away from the space 200 (i.e., the user carrying the terminal device 100 has left the effective service area of the wireless networking system 10), the wireless networking system 10 can respond to the signal strength of the signal transmitted between the main wireless networking device (e.g., the wireless networking device 210) and the terminal device 100 being less than or equal to the signal strength threshold and determine that an idle trigger event has occurred.

FIG8 is a flow chart of switching a wireless networking device to a normal power mode according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the flow can be implemented by the wireless networking system 10 shown in FIG1 . In step S801, the wireless networking system 10 can determine whether a startup trigger event occurs. If a startup trigger event occurs, the process proceeds to step S802. If a startup trigger event does not occur, step S801 is executed again after a period of time. In step S802, the slave wireless networking device can be switched from the power saving mode to the normal power mode. That is, the wireless networking system 10 can increase the power consumption of the slave wireless networking device in response to the startup trigger event.

Assume that the wireless networking device 210 in the wireless networking system 10 is a primary wireless networking device, and the wireless networking device 220 and the wireless networking device 230 are secondary wireless networking devices. In one embodiment, the activation trigger event may include that the distance between the location of the terminal device 100 and the reference location is less than or equal to the distance threshold. For example, assume that the reference location is any location in the space 200. After the user carrying the terminal device 100 approaches the space 200, or the user carrying the terminal device 100 has entered the effective service area of the wireless networking system 10, the wireless networking system 10 can determine that the activation trigger event occurs. The wireless networking system 10 can determine the location of the terminal device 100 through the global positioning system function of the terminal device 100, for example.

Assume that the wireless networking device 210 in the wireless networking system 10 is a primary wireless networking device, and the wireless networking devices 220 and 230 are slave wireless networking devices. In one embodiment, the activation trigger event may include that the signal strength of the terminal device 100 detected by the primary wireless networking device (or the signal strength of the primary wireless networking device detected by the terminal device 100) is greater than the signal strength threshold. For example, after a user carrying the terminal device 100 approaches the space 200 (i.e., the user carrying the terminal device 100 has entered the effective service area of the wireless networking system 10), the wireless networking system 10 can respond to the signal strength of the signal transmitted between the main wireless networking device (e.g., the wireless networking device 210) and the terminal device 100 being greater than the signal strength threshold and determine that an activation trigger event has occurred.

FIG9 is a flow chart of a method for saving power according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the method can be implemented by the wireless networking system 10 shown in FIG1. In step S901, a terminal device generates a signal strength record corresponding to a plurality of wireless networking devices. In step S902, the terminal device configures a first wireless networking device as a first slave wireless networking device according to the signal strength record. In step S903, in response to a first triggering event, the first slave wireless networking device switches from a first power mode to a second power mode.

In summary, the wireless networking system of the present invention can automatically learn the wireless networking devices that users are accustomed to using, and use the user's habits as a reference for adjusting the power mode of the wireless networking devices. When it is detected that the user leaves the space, the wireless networking system can adjust the power consumption of each wireless networking device based on, for example, the distance between multiple wireless networking devices, thereby saving electricity without affecting the quality of the wireless network provided to the user. When it is detected that the user is about to enter the space, the wireless networking system can increase the output power of each wireless networking device to prepare to serve the user who is about to enter the space.

10: Wireless networking system

100: Terminal device

200: Space

210, 220, 230: Wireless networking device

S301, S302, S303, S304, S305, S306, S307, S701, S702, S801, S802, S901, S902, S903: Step

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a wireless networking system for power saving according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a space in which a plurality of wireless networking devices are set according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a flow chart of a learning process of a wireless networking system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4, FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 are schematic diagrams of a master-slave relationship of wireless networking devices displayed by a graphical user interface of a terminal device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a flow chart of switching a wireless networking device to a power saving mode according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a flow chart of switching a wireless networking device to a normal power mode according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a flow chart of a method for power saving according to an embodiment of the present invention.

S901, S902, S903: Steps

Claims (12)

A wireless networking system for power saving, comprising: a plurality of wireless networking devices, including a first wireless networking device and a second wireless networking device; and a terminal device, generating signal strength records corresponding to the plurality of wireless networking devices, wherein the signal strength record comprises a first signal strength corresponding to the first wireless networking device and a second signal strength corresponding to the second wireless networking device, wherein the terminal device configures the first wireless networking device as a first slave wireless networking device and the second wireless networking device as a master wireless networking device according to the signal strength record, wherein the second signal strength is greater than the first signal strength, wherein in response to a first trigger event, the first slave wireless networking device switches from a first power mode to a second power mode. A wireless networking system as described in claim 1, wherein the first power consumption of the first slave wireless networking device in the first power mode is greater than the second power consumption of the first slave wireless networking device in the second power mode. A wireless networking system as described in claim 2, wherein the first triggering event includes at least one of the following: the first slave wireless networking device is not connected to the first electronic device during a preset period of time; each of the multiple wireless networking devices is not connected to the second electronic device; the terminal device receives user input; The distance between the location of the terminal device and the reference location is greater than a distance threshold; and the signal strength of the terminal device detected by the master wireless networking device is less than or equal to the signal strength threshold. A wireless networking system as described in claim 1, wherein the first power consumption of the first slave wireless networking device in the first power mode is less than the second power consumption of the first slave wireless networking device in the second power mode. A wireless networking system as described in claim 4, wherein the first triggering event includes at least one of the following: the distance between the location of the terminal device and the reference location is less than or equal to the distance threshold; and the signal strength of the terminal device detected by the main wireless networking device is greater than the signal strength threshold. A wireless networking system as described in claim 4, wherein the first power consumption is related to at least one of the following: the distance between the first slave wireless networking device and the main wireless networking device; and the signal strength of the signal transmitted between the first slave wireless networking device and the main wireless networking device. A wireless networking system as described in claim 4, wherein the plurality of wireless networking devices further includes a third wireless networking device, wherein the terminal device configures the third wireless networking device as a second slave wireless networking device according to the signal strength record. A wireless networking system as described in claim 7, wherein the first power consumption is associated with at least one of the following: a first distance between the first slave wireless networking device and the main wireless networking device and a second distance between the second slave wireless networking device and the main wireless networking device; and a second signal strength of a first signal transmitted between the first slave wireless networking device and the main wireless networking device and a third signal strength of a second signal transmitted between the second slave wireless networking device and the main wireless networking device. A wireless networking system as described in claim 1, wherein in response to a second triggering event, the terminal device detects the plurality of wireless networking devices to generate the signal strength record. A wireless networking system as described in claim 9, wherein the second triggering event includes: the distance between the location of the terminal device and the reference location is less than or equal to the distance threshold. A wireless networking system as described in claim 1, wherein in response to the number of multiple configuration results generated by the terminal device being less than or equal to a quantity threshold, the terminal device configures the first wireless networking device and the second wireless networking device according to the signal strength record to generate a first configuration result. A method for saving power is applicable to a wireless networking system including a plurality of wireless networking devices and a terminal device, wherein the plurality of wireless networking devices include a first wireless networking device and a second wireless networking device, and the method includes: the terminal device generates a signal strength record corresponding to the plurality of wireless networking devices, wherein the signal strength record includes a first signal strength corresponding to the first wireless networking device and a second signal strength corresponding to the second wireless networking device, wherein the second signal strength is greater than the first signal strength; the terminal device configures the first wireless networking device as a first slave wireless networking device and the second wireless networking device as a master wireless networking device according to the signal strength record; and in response to a first trigger event, the first slave wireless networking device switches from a first power mode to a second power mode.

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