EP4635235A1 - Method for reducing the energy consumption of a wi-fi access point in a communication network - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for reducing the energy consumption of a Wi-Fi access point in a communication network comprising a set of Wi-Fi stations, this set being associated with the access point; the method comprising: - verifying the following conditions: - whether the set of Wi-Fi stations is at a distance less than or equal to a predetermined distance, and - whether a Wi-Fi repeater is not associated with the Wi-Fi access point, - and activating an energy management mode in the access point only when all the conditions are fulfilled.

Description

Description

Title of the invention: Method for reducing the energy consumption of a Wi-Fi access point in a communications network.

[0001] Technical field

The present invention relates to a method for reducing the energy consumption of a Wi-Fi access point in a communications network comprising a set of Wi-Fi stations, this set being associated with the access point.

[0003] Such a network is in particular a home network equipped with a gateway as an access point making it possible to connect local equipment to the Internet.

[0004] The repeater makes it possible to connect equipment to the access point, this equipment being too far from the access point but close to the repeater.

[0005] The present invention relates in particular to an access point equipped with at least one Wi-Fi module communicating at the 5 GHz frequency band and a Wi-Fi module communicating at the 6 GHz frequency band.

[0006] State of the prior art

[0007] Generally speaking, Wi-Fi is the most used medium for transmitting data at home. It is used for a large and growing number of different devices (Smartphone, tablet, PC, TV decoder, IOT equipment, etc.) and for a wide variety of uses: email, telephony, “Live” video, “Video” OTT”, IOT monitoring. . .

[0008] Wi-Fi technologies are becoming more complex and provide additional tools which make it possible to optimize certain characteristics of the flows, while taking into account certain constraints: 802.11e, 802.1 lu, 802.1 lax, OFDMA,. . .

The 6 GHz frequency band supports the same bandwidth and the same throughput as the 5 GHz band. It almost doubles the Wi-Fi bandwidth available in the home. Furthermore, the absence of interference and the exclusive presence on this band of equipment whose standard is 802.1 lax makes it possible to provide unrivaled quality of service and to fully benefit from the improvements brought by the latest standards.

[0010] Today Wi-Fi technology increasingly uses the 2.4GHz, 5GHz and 6GHz frequency bands. The use of these frequency bands implies an increase in the power consumption of the home gateway. [0011]

The present invention aims to reduce the electrical consumption of the access point.

[0013] Another aim of the invention is the implementation of a new mechanism for reducing consumption while maintaining a satisfactory level of performance.

[0014] Presentation of the invention

[0015] At least one of the aforementioned objectives is achieved with a method for reducing the energy consumption of a Wi-Fi access point in a communications network comprising a set of Wi-Fi stations, this set being associated with the access point; the process comprising:

- a verification of the following conditions:

- if the set of Wi-Fi stations is at a distance less than or equal to a predetermined distance, and

- if a Wi-Fi repeater is not associated with the Wi-Fi access point,

- activation of an energy management mode in the access point only when all conditions are met.

[0016] According to the invention, the conditions are met when all of the verified conditions are respected, that is to say that all the Wi-Fi stations associated with the access point are at a distance less than the predetermined distance, and the access point is not connected in Wi-Fi mode to a repeater. When all the conditions are not met, then there is no activation of an energy management mode.

[0017] Furthermore, a station is associated with an access point when the association phase, known to those skilled in the art, has concluded positively between this station and the access point.

[0018]

[0019] With the method according to the invention, the energy consumption of a domestic gateway is reduced by dynamically activating or deactivating energy saving mechanisms.

[0020] In order to reduce this electrical consumption, the user's Wi-Fi usage is analyzed and a policy for reducing their electrical consumption is deduced without reducing Wi-Fi performance.

[0021] Thus, the user has no perception of change, however his electricity consumption can be reduced, reducing the environmental impact of the access point. The reduction in consumption for a household may remain small but nevertheless not negligible for an entire fleet of access points from a national operator.

[0022] The present invention is remarkable in that conditions are automatically checked between the Wi-Fi stations and the access point and the activation Automatic energy management allows a reduction in consumption without impacting the performance of Wi-Fi communication.

[0023]

[0024] According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the energy management mode can include management of the Wi-Fi signal transmission power of the access point. Indeed, an energy management mode can therefore advantageously be the management of the electrical power, current and/or voltage, generated by the access point to communicate via Wi-Fi with the Wi-Fi stations.

[0025]

[0026] Preferably, the transmission power management may consist of reducing the transmission power to a predetermined minimum power level. Power reduction may consist of reducing the transmit power by a predefined percentage or several predefined percentages. For example, if we apply a reduction to 15%, this means that the Wi-Fi transmit power for this frequency is reduced to 15%. If we apply a reduction to 50% for a power of 30dBm, then the transmission power will be 27dBm (- 3).

[0027]

[0028] According to another advantageous characteristic of the invention, the energy management mode can include the management of a number of active Wi-Fi antennas in the access point.

[0029] With the method according to the invention, energy saving mechanisms are dynamically activated or deactivated on the different Wi-Fi cards available. We optimize the number of antennas used depending on the situation in order to reduce consumption.

[0030]

[0031] Activating or deactivating the management of the number of antennas does not impact the radio performance of the communication between the access point and all the Wi-Fi stations.

[0032] According to another advantageous embodiment of the invention, the management of the number of active Wi-Fi antennas in the access point can only be activated when the following additional condition is met: if the band consumption bandwidth of a Wi-Fi station does not exceed a predetermined consumption threshold.

[0033] In other words, in the management of the number of antennas, we add, in addition to or in place of the previous condition, an additional condition to be respected before activating this management mode.

We do not want to reduce the number of antennas if the Wi-Fi communication bandwidth between the access point and a Wi-Fi station exceeds the predetermined threshold.

[0035] This consumption threshold is for example equal to 50%, for example between 30 and 60%.

[0036] According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the management of a number of active Wi-Fi antennas in the access point may include deactivation of one or more antennas so as to allow operation of the access point with a predetermined minimum number of Wi-Fi antennas. We can consider a reduction in the number of antennas depending on the bandwidth, 3 then 2 then 1 according to different configurable thresholds.

[0037] Thus, in management mode for the number of antennas, we can consider systematically going from four to 2 antennas, that is to say by dividing the maximum number of antennas by two.

[0038]

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, said predetermined distance can be the distance corresponding to a predetermined RSSI signal intensity (Received Signal Strength Indication), such as for example - 55dBm. The value of -55 is configurable.

[0040]

[0041] According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the access point can be an internet connection router or a Wi-Fi repeater within the communications network.

[0042] The invention can thus make it possible to reduce consumption on all the access points of a communication network.

[0043] The access point according to the invention can generally be considered, for a home communications network, as a home gateway or a “homegateway” in English or any other device capable of connecting user equipment to the Internet.

[0044]

[0045] According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the verification can be periodic.

[0046] Thus, checks of the conditions are carried out regularly. And depending on the thresholds, one or more energy management is activated or not. As Wi-Fi stations can be mobile devices, periodic verification helps optimize energy management.

[0047]

[0048] According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, when the access point is configured to operate at different frequencies, the activation of an energy management mode applies to all frequencies.

[0049] Thus, when one of the energy managements is active, the restrictions apply for all frequencies in order to ensure homogeneity in the radiation diagram of the domestic gateway. For example, if a station is connected to 5GHz and if the economy criteria are met, then a reduction in the number of active antennas will be made at a time on the 5GHz, 2.4GHz and also 6GHz.

[0050]

[0051] According to another aspect of the invention, a communication network is proposed comprising an access point and a set of Wi-Fi stations. According to the invention, the access point is configured to implement a process as described above.

[0052]

[0053] The invention also relates to a computer program product comprising instructions which, when the program is executed by a processing unit in an access point and/or in a repeater in a communications network comprising a set of Wi-Fi stations, lead it to implement the process as described above.

[0054] Description of the figures and embodiments.

[0055] Other advantages and particularities of the invention will appear on reading the detailed description of implementations and embodiments in no way limiting, and the following appended drawings:

[0056] [Fig. 1] Figure 1 is a schematic view of a house equipped with an access point in the form of an internet gateway, a repeater and a user's Wi-Fi stations;

[0057] [Fig. 2] Figure 2 is a flowchart illustrating steps of a method according to the invention;

[0058] [Fig. 3] Figure 3 is a schematic view illustrating an embodiment without energy saving management;

[0059] [Fig. 4] Figure 4 is a schematic view illustrating an embodiment with energy saving activation according to the invention; And

[0060] [Fig. 5] Figure 5 is a schematic view illustrating two simultaneous connections between the access point and two successive repeaters according to the inv Figure 5 is a schematic view illustrating an embodiment with energy saving deactivation according to the inv invention.

[0061] The embodiments which will be described below are in no way limiting; it will be possible in particular to implement variants of the invention comprising only a selection of characteristics described subsequently isolated from the other characteristics described, if this selection of characteristics is sufficient to confer a technical advantage or to differentiate the invention from to the prior art. This selection includes at least one preferably functional characteristic without structural details, or with only part of the structural details if only this part is sufficient to confer a technical advantage or to differentiate the invention from the prior art. [0062] Figure 1 is a schematic view illustrating a house 1 equipped with an access point 2 which is a router or gateway allowing access to the Internet 3 via a wired connection 4 based on coaxial cable or fiber optical.

[0063] The access point 2 comprises a processing unit 7, such as a microprocessor for example, to implement the method according to the invention; a Wi-Fi 8 module for 2.4GHz communication; a Wi-Fi 9 module for 5GHz communication; and a Wi-Fi 10 module for 6GHz communication.

[0064] There is also a repeater 11. This repeater is intended to extend the coverage of the three Wi-Fi frequency bands. In this case, the repeater 11 is equipped with a microprocessor 12 to manage a Wi-Fi module 13 at the 2.4 GHz frequency band, a Wi-Fi 14 module at the 5 GHz frequency band and a Wi-Fi 15 module at the 6 GHz frequency band. Its function is to serve as a relay between communications between access point 2 and equipment or stations that are too far from access point 2 but close to the repeater.

The repeater 11 is directly connected by wire to the access point 2. Communication between the gateway 2 and the repeater 11 is done via a wired connection 211 based on coaxial cable or optical fiber.

[0066] Home equipment can connect wired or wirelessly to access point 2 to access internet 3.

[0067] In the example of Figure 1, we can see a television 5 and a mobile phone 6a of the “smartphone” type, both connected to the gateway 2 wirelessly by Wi-Fi. When the television 5 is on , a digital television service is activated in particular between the television 5 and the access point 2.

[0068] We can see another mobile phone 6b connected to the repeater 11 to access the internet by implementing different types of services: web, downloading, telephony, etc. . .

The access point 2, repeater 11, television 5 and mobile phones 6a and 6b assembly forms a home network.

[0070] The access point 2 and the repeater 11 comprise conventional hardware and software means to serve as an access point and repeater between equipment and the Internet and furthermore comprise one and/or the other a product computer program to implement the method according to the invention.

[0071] When the mobile phone 6a arrives near the access point 2, an association is made for example via the Wi-Fi module 9 to the 5 GHz frequency band.

[0072] The present invention can be applied to such a network as described in Figure 1 but can also be applied to a communications network not including a repeater. [0073] Figure 2 is a flowchart illustrating steps in implementing the method according to the invention. This may be the process implemented within access point 2. It is considered that only the television 5 and the telephone 6a are associated with access point 2.

[0074] The verification process starts at step 16, for example provided that there is at least one Wi-Fi station associated with the access point. We can consider checking if at least one Wi-Fi station is connected to the access point. If yes, we start the process, otherwise we wait before testing again.

[0075] After step 16, the first check consists of checking during step 17 that all the Wi-Fi stations are at a distance less than or equal to a predetermined distance.

[0076] If not, for example when the telephone 6a has moved away beyond the maximum required distance, we move on to step 19.

[0077] If so, the second check 18 is carried out consisting of knowing whether a repeater is not connected in Wi-Fi mode to the access point. In the case of Figure 1, we consider the repeater 11 as a second access point. The connection between access point 2 and repeater 11 being wired, in verification 18, the condition is met, so the output is “yes”.

However, if for example the link 211 was wireless, this would mean that it is necessary to maintain sufficient transmission power to ensure communication with the repeater 11. In this case, the condition of step 18 would not be fulfilled and the output of step 18 would be “no”.

The two checks 17 and 18 can be carried out in parallel or one after the other without any importance in the order, that is to say first check 17 or first check 18.

[0080] When the conditions required in checks 17 and 18 are met, that is to say an output equal to “yes”, then management of the transmission power is triggered. For example, we can lower the transmission power of Wi-Fi modules 8, 9 and 10 to a predetermined minimum value.

[0081] On the other hand, when at least one of the checks 17 and 18 does not meet the required condition, that is to say when the output is “no”, then step 19 is carried out consisting of deactivating a transmission power management mode if such a mode was previously in active state. Indeed, a no to step 17 or 18 means that the conditions are not or are no longer met for the implementation of transmission power management.

[0082] If a transmission power management mode was not previously in an active state, we simply move to a time delay step 24 before the start 16 of a next verification process.

[0083] When the two checks 17 and 18 are positive, management of the transmission power is applied in step 20 and a fourth is carried out in parallel verification 21. This step 20 can be implemented immediately after step 18 or at the end of the process after step 21.

[0084] Step 21 consists of knowing whether the bandwidth consumption of a Wi-Fi station does not exceed a predetermined consumption threshold. In the case of Figure 1, if the threshold is for example 50% and if the television consumes more than 50% of the WIFI bandwidth, then the condition is not met, the output of step 21 is "no » and we move on to step 22.

[0085] Furthermore, in the case of an access point that can communicate at different frequencies, for example 5GHz and 6GHz, the conditions according to the invention apply to each of the frequency bands. For example, regarding the consumption threshold if the 5GHz band is used at 20% and the 6GHz band at 52% then the deactivation threshold at 50% is reached.

[0086] Step 22 consists of deactivating a mode for managing the number of active Wi-Fi antennas if such a mode was previously in an active state. Indeed, a no to step 21 means that the conditions are not or are no longer met for the implementation of management of the number of Wi-Fi antennas.

[0087] If a mode for managing the number of Wi-Fi antennas was not previously in an active state, we simply move on to a timing step 24 before the start 16 of a next verification cycle.

[0088]

[0089] When the verification in step 21 gives a positive result, that is to say that the consumption of each Wi-Fi band remains below a predetermined threshold, then antenna management is implemented at the step 23 and we move into the timing phase in step 24.

[0090] Generally speaking, the verification steps 17, 18 and 21 can be carried out completely successively, successively in pairs or in parallel. When they are carried out in parallel, it is necessary to wait for the end of all the verifications before deducing the management(s) to be implemented.

[0091]

[0092] Figures 3 to 5 show three situations within a communication network 26 according to the invention.

[0093] In Figure 3, no energy saving management mode is activated. This may be the case before the implementation of the method according to the invention or when the energy saving management modes are rendered inoperative.

[0094] We can see an antenna 25 which can be representative of the Wi-Fi antennas of the access point 2 in Figure 1. The telephone 6a and the television 5 are associated with the access point equipped with the antenna 25.

[0095] In Figure 4, the energy saving management modes are operational. The checks show that the television 5 and the telephone 6a respect the conditions for the implementation of transmission power management. For example, TV 5 and Phone 6a are included in a circle 27 respecting the distance conditions. Indeed, inside this circle 27 we consider that the RSSI intensity is satisfactory. In such a situation, the transmission power via the antenna 25 is controlled, more precisely reduced.

[0096] On the other hand, in Figure 5, the telephone 6a has moved beyond circle 27, this leads to the deactivation of the transmission power management mode because the thresholds are no longer reached. This power must in fact be sufficient to allow acceptable communication with the telephone 6a which has moved away.

[0097]

[0098] The present invention can be broken down into two types of energy management:

- Management of radio transmission power, and

- Management of the number of active radio antennas.

[0099] Each management has its own activation and deactivation thresholds; if one of the thresholds is not reached, this energy saving function is deactivated.

[0100] The thresholds linked to the management of the transmission power may include:

- RSSI, the stations should not be too far from the access point so as not to see their performance decrease, if the station is associated with -55dBm of RSSI and lower, the power saving function is not activated.

- A Wi-Fi repeater must not be connected.

[0101] The thresholds linked to the management of the number of active antennas of the radio can include:

- RSSI, the stations should not be too far from the access point so as not to see their performance decrease, if the station is associated with -55dBm of RSSI and lower, the power saving function is not activated.

- A Wi-Fi repeater must not be connected.

- The home gateway must not be connected via Wi-Fi to other equipment.

The radio bandwidth consumption of currently connected Wi-Fi equipment must not exceed 50% otherwise its overall performance may be reduced. We are therefore talking here about talk time on the Wi-Fi channel.

[0102] If the global energy saving mechanism is activated, it analyzes all the energy management configured in the system, such as for example the management of the transmission power only or the management of the transmission power but also active management of antennas.

[0103] If energy management meets all of its trigger criteria, this management is activated.

[0104] [0105] With the method according to the invention, the energy consumption of a home gateway is reduced by dynamically activating or deactivating energy saving mechanisms on the different Wi-Fi cards available.

[0106]

[0107] Of course, the invention is not limited to the examples which have just been described. Numerous modifications can be made to these examples without departing from the scope of the present invention as described.

Claims

Claims [Claim 1] Method for reducing the energy consumption of a Wi-Fi access point in a communications network comprising a set of Wi-Fi stations, this set being associated with the access point; the process comprising: - a verification of the following conditions: - if the set of Wi-Fi stations is at a distance less than or equal to a predetermined distance, and - if a Wi-Fi repeater is not associated with the Wi-Fi access point, - activation of an energy management mode in the access point only when all conditions are met. [Claim 2] Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the energy management mode comprises the management of Wi-Fi signal transmission power of the access point. [Claim 3] Method according to claim 2, characterized in that the transmission power management consists of reducing the transmission power to a predetermined minimum power level. [Claim 4] Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the energy management mode comprises the management of a number of active Wi-Fi antennas in the access point. [Claim 5] Method according to claim 4, characterized in that the management of the number of active Wi-Fi antennas in the access point is only activated when the following additional condition is met: if the bandwidth consumption of a Wi-Fi station does not exceed a predetermined consumption threshold. [Claim 6] Method according to claim 5, characterized in that the consumption threshold is 50%. [Claim 7] Method according to any one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that the management of the number of active Wi-Fi antennas in the access point comprises deactivation of one or more antennas so as to allow operation of the access point with a predetermined minimum number of Wi-Fi antennas. [Claim 8] Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said predetermined distance is the distance corresponding to an RS SI (“Received Signal Strength Indication”) signal intensity of -55dBm. [Claim 9] Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the access point is an internet connection router or a Wi-Fi repeater within the communications network. [Claim 10] Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the verification is periodic. [Claim 11] Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that when the access point is configured to operate at different frequencies, the activation of an energy management mode applies to all frequencies. [Claim 12] Communication network comprising an access point and a set of Wi-Fi stations, characterized in that the access point is configured to implement a method according to any one of the preceding claims. [Claim 13] Computer program product comprising instructions which, when the program is executed by a processing unit in an access point and/or in a repeater in a communications network comprising a set of Wi-Fi stations, lead it to implement the method according to any one of claims 1 to 11.