WO2023161218A1

WO2023161218A1 - Automatic activation of a 6 ghz access point

Info

Publication number: WO2023161218A1
Application number: PCT/EP2023/054292
Authority: WO
Inventors: Baptiste SOUCHIER; Quentin FERABOLI
Original assignee: Softathome
Priority date: 2022-02-22
Filing date: 2023-02-21
Publication date: 2023-08-31
Also published as: FR3133000A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for optimising the energy consumption of an access point using WiFi technology; the access point comprising a first WiFi module operating at a 2.4 GHz frequency band, a second WiFi module operating at a 5 GHz frequency band and a third WiFi module operating at a 6 GHz frequency band, characterised in that the first and the second WiFi module are active by default and the third is inactive by default, and the method is carried out by a processing unit and comprises the following steps: - during the association of at least one station with the access point, receiving, by the access point, via the first or the second WiFi module, compatibility data transmitted by the station, - if the station is compatible with the 6 GHz frequency band, activating the third WiFi module.

Description

Title of the invention: Automatic activation of a 6GHz access point

[0001] Technical area

The present invention relates to a method for optimizing the energy consumption of an access point using WIFI technology within a private communication network, this access point being configured to allow connected stations by WIFI to access the internet.

[0003] State of the prior art

[0004] Today Wi-Fi technology offers several frequency bands. Many devices are compatible with the 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequency bands. The last frequency band set up is the 6GHz one. It is advantageous for operators to offer all frequency bands to their users in order to benefit from additional bandwidth and to limit the interference suffered during numerous transmissions.

[0005] However, the integration of several WIFI modules within an access point increases the number of energy-consuming components.

The present invention aims to optimize the energy consumption in such an access point.

Another object of the invention is to improve the distribution of traffic between the various WIFI modules.

[0008] Disclosure of the invention

[0009] At least one of the objectives is achieved with a method for optimizing the energy consumption of an access point using WIFI technology within a private communication network. This access point is configured to allow stations connected by WIFI to access the internet via this access point. This access point includes a first WIFI module at the 2.4 GHz frequency band, a second WIFI module at the 5 GHz frequency band and a third WIFI module at the 6 GHz frequency band.

According to the invention, the first WIFI module and the second WIFI module are active by default and the third WIFI module is inactive by default and the method is implemented by a processing unit within the access point and includes the following steps:

- when at least one station is associated with the access point, reception by the access point, via the first WIFI module or the second WIFI module, of compatibility data transmitted by the station, this compatibility data comprising all of the WIFI frequency bands with which the station is compatible,

- if the station is compatible with the 6GHz frequency band, activation of the third WIFI module.

According to the invention, all of the WIFI frequency bands with which the station is compatible generally constitute the frequency capacity of the station. These are all the WIFI frequency bands that the station can use.

With the method according to the invention, an automatic activation of a WIFI connection at 6 GHz is set up only in the presence of stations or equipment capable of communicating at this frequency band. This activation is obtained on the basis of a communication carried out first in 2.4GHz or 5GHz.

[0013] Generally, an access point according to the invention can be a gateway in a home network. Such a gateway is advantageously a box, in particular provided by a network or telecom operator, making it possible to connect equipment in a house to the Internet.

[0014] Such an access point equipped with a 6 GHz WIFI module can communicate with compatible stations such as, for example, a computer, a mobile telephone, a tablet, a television, etc.

[0015] The majority of stations operate at 2.4 GHz and/or 5 GHz. Stations capable of operating at 6GHz are generally top-of-the-range terminals, and therefore not very widespread. Some access points will rarely, if at all, implement WIFI communication on the 6GHz frequency band. Moreover, mobile stations are very often outside the home. Thus, the method according to the invention makes it possible to save energy by activating the WIFI module at 6 GHz only when necessary.

[0016] A WIFI module consists of electronic components such as electronic chips, power amplifier, low-noise amplifier, etc., which are electrically powered. This involves significant energy consumption.

[0017] The invention therefore proposes automatic activation of the 6 GHz frequency only if the user has compatible Wi-Fi stations, near the Access Point, by analyzing the capacities of the Wi-Fi station from the frequencies 2.4GHz and 5GHz.

According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the compatibility data can be transmitted during the association by a “Supported Operating Classes” data field as defined in the IEEE 802.11 standards. [0019] Indeed, when associated with an access point on 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz, the station sends standardized information called “Supported Operating Classes”.

[0020] This information includes all of the frequency capacities of the station.

• If the station includes the item [81 - 84]: the station is 2.4GHz compatible.

• If the station includes the elements: [115 - 130]: the station is 5GHz compatible.

• If the station includes the elements: [131 - 136]: the station is 6GHz compatible.

This information makes it possible to reliably identify when a station supporting 6 GHz is connected to the user's access point on the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequencies.

According to the invention, by default, the 6 GHz frequency is deactivated for all users. If a station has the capability to use 6GHz, then the Wi-Fi access point activates the 6GHz frequency for the user's household and instructs the station to connect to 6GHz or another band depending on the technique. called "bandsteering" consisting of automatically switching to the most efficient frequency band.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the method according to the invention can advantageously further comprise a step of deactivating the third WIFI module when a last station compatible with the 6 GHz frequency band dissociates from the point of access.

[0024] For example, the deactivation can be carried out after a configurable period since the dissociation of the station.

[0025] When all the stations supporting 6 GHz are disconnected from the Wi-Fi access point, the 6 GHz is also switched off after a few minutes, the duration is configurable.

The invention thus relates in particular to the activation and deactivation of the 6 GHz WIFI module. The processing unit is configured to count the connected WIFI stations. When the last station connected in 6 GHz WIFI disconnects or switches to another mode, for example 2.4 or 5 GHz mode, the 6 GHz WIFI module is deactivated immediately or after a predetermined period.

According to one embodiment of the invention, during association, the third WIFI module is activated only when the following condition is also met: when the first WIFI module and the second WIFI module are not able to ensure a quality of transmission for services of all the stations connected to the access point.

[0028] In this case, an additional condition is provided for activating the WIFI module at 6 GHz. Indeed, a station having the capacity to communicate at 6 GHz can continue to communicate at 2.4 or 5 GHz when the requested service is fully satisfied, taking into account all the services provided by the access point for all connected stations. The processing unit is then configured to analyze the services provided by the access point. As long as the services are satisfied, the 6GHz WIFI module is not activated. Satisfied service means for example that the bandwidth offered by the access point is sufficient, or that the different frequency bands used by the access point do not create interference, . . .

According to one embodiment of the invention, for a station associated with the access point; when the access point is connected to a repeater with a fourth WIFI module, not activated, at the 6GHz frequency band; the method may further comprise the following steps:

[0030] - estimation of the location of the station in relation to the access point and the repeater,

[0031] - transmission of an instruction to the repeater, this instruction comprising an additional condition for activating the fourth WIFI module only when the station is closer to the repeater than to the access point.

[0032] In other words, if a 6 GHz repeater is connected to the access point such as a residential gateway, and if a 6 GHz station is connected to the access point and away from the repeater, the 6 GHz module of the repeater remains off as long as that the station is not close enough to the repeater. Close enough can be a configurable minimum distance or a distance for which the connection is better with the repeater than with the access point.

[0033]Sufficiently close can also be a configurable minimum power or a power for which the connection is better with the repeater than with the access point.

[0034] Preferably, the estimation can be carried out periodically or at the request of the repeater; and the instruction can be transmitted periodically or at the request of the repeater.

According to one mode of implementation of the invention, the activation of a WIFI module can consist in supplying the WIFI module completely electrically; and the deactivation may consist of totally or partially cutting off its electrical power supply.

[0036] Thus, by way of example, in non-activated mode, the WIFI module can be on standby. According to the invention, the access point can be a home internet gateway or “set top box”, or a repeater in a home network.

The present invention also provides for the protection of a processing unit configured to implement a method as described above.

There is also provided a computer program product comprising instructions which, when the program is executed by a processing unit in an access point, lead the latter to implement the method as described above. .

[0040] Description of figures and embodiments.

Other advantages and particularities of the invention will appear on reading the detailed description of implementations and non-limiting embodiments, and of the following appended drawings:

[0042] [Fig. 1] Figure 1 is a schematic view of a home comprising an access point in the form of an internet gateway and a user station;

[0043] [Fig. 2] Figure 2 is a schematic view of the house of Figure 1 further equipped with a repeater;

[0044] [Fig. 3] Figure 3 is a flowchart illustrating the steps of a method according to the invention.

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 below 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 state of the prior art. This selection includes at least one preferably functional feature 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 state of the art.

[0046] Figure 1 is a schematic view illustrating a house 1 equipped with an access point 2 which is a gateway allowing access to the Internet 3 via a wired connection 4 based on coaxial cable or optical fiber.

Home equipment can connect wired and wirelessly to the access point 2 to access the internet 3. In the example of Figure 1, there are a television 5 and a mobile phone 6 of the type "smartphone". When the television set 5 is on, a digital television service is notably activated between the television set 5 and the access point 2. The mobile phone can connect to the access point to access the Internet based on different types of services: web, download, telephony, . . .

In Figure 1, the television 5 and the mobile phone 6 can connect to the access point 2 by WIFI.

The access point 2, television set 5 and mobile phone 6 together form a home network.

The access point 2 comprises conventional hardware and software means for access point service between stations and the internet and further comprises a computer program product for implementing the method according to the invention.

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

[0052] By default, the 10 to 6 GHz WIFI module is off. Default means that no stations are connected to access point 2 or only stations that are only 2.4 or 5GHz compatible are connected to it.

When the mobile phone 6 arrives near the access point 2, the association to connect to the access point takes place via the WIFI modules 8 or 9 at 2.4 or 5 GHz. During the association, the access point retrieves a set of information including the frequency capacities of the mobile phone 6. If this mobile phone is not compatible with 6GHz, then the connection with the access point remains in 2.4 or 5GHz and the WIFI 10 module remains off. On the other hand, if the mobile phone 6 is capable of communicating on the 6 GHz band, the processing unit 7 activates the WIFI module 10. Communication between the mobile phone 6 and the access point 2 can be done via the band frequency at 6 GHz.

When associated with the access point on the 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz frequency band, the frequency capacities of the station are transmitted included in standardized information called “Supported Operating Classes”.

- If the station includes the element [81 - 84]: the station is 2.4GHz compatible.

- If the station includes the elements: [115 - 130]: the station is 5GHz compatible.

- If the station includes the elements: [131 - 136]: the station is 6GHz compatible.

[0055] An example of code for such information may be the following:

• “tag: Supported Operating Classes

• Tag Number: Supported Operating Classes (59)

• Tag length: 21 • Current Operating Class: 128

• Alternate Operating Classes: 134, 133, 132, 131, 129, 128, 127, 126, 125, 124, 123, 122, 121, 120, 119, 118, 117, 116, 115, 81”

Then, during communication, the access point 2 can be equipped with a function making it possible to select the best frequency band between the three available. This selection aims at a homogeneous distribution of the traffic within the network for a stable and fast connection of all the stations. Whether the WIFI module is selected for communication or not, it can remain on as long as a compatible station is nearby.

[0057] When the mobile phone 6 is no longer nearby, that is to say is outside the coverage area of the access point 2, the processing unit 7 cuts off the power supply to the WIFI module 10 after a few seconds or minutes. This waiting period makes it possible not to cut the power supply to the WIFI module 10 prematurely due, for example, to a temporary disconnection of the mobile telephone 6.

The invention thus makes it possible to save the energy consumed by the access point because the 6 GHz module is only activated when necessary.

Figure 2 repeats the elements of Figure 1 with the addition of a repeater 11. This repeater may only be intended to extend the coverage of the band to 6 GHz or as shown in Figure 2 to extend the three frequency bands. In this case, the repeater 11 of Figure 2 is equipped with a microprocessor 12 to manage a WIFI module 13 at 2.4 GHz, a WIFI module 14 at 5 GHz and a WIFI module 15 at 6 GHz. The repeater 11 is directly connected to the access point 2 by a wired connection or not. Its function is to serve as a relay for exchanges with access point 2 for stations that are too far from access point 2 but close to the repeater.

According to the invention, the processing unit 7 is configured to estimate the distance between the mobile phone 6 and the access point 2. This estimate can include a measurement or an estimate of the power emitted by the mobile phone 6 and picked up by the access point. As long as the mobile phone 6 is able to communicate with the access point 2 in good conditions according to predetermined technical quality criteria, the processing unit 7 sends instructions to the repeater 11 not to activate the WIFI module 15.

The sending of the instructions can be periodic or else in response to a request sent by the repeater 11.

A mode can be provided where the microprocessor 12 of the repeater 11 is configured to implement the method according to the invention. We can then consider the following mode. For any station entering into association with the repeater, the exchanges are first carried out in 2.4 or 5GHz mode. And if the station is 6 GHz compatible, then the microprocessor 12 activates the WIFI module 15 and this only if an instruction sent by the access point also authorizes this activation.

Figure 3 shows steps of a method according to the invention.

[0065] In step 16, a station begins its association with access point 2 via the 2.4 or 5 GHz frequency band which is more protected than the 6 GHz band. The 6GHz WIFI module remains inactive as long as no 6GHz compatible station has been detected in the coverage area of access point 2.

In step 17, during the association, the station sends to the access point 2 the information "Supported Operating Classes" in which is the indication on the compatibility of the station with the frequency band 6GHz.

[0067] If the station is not compatible, the process stops and communication will only take place at 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz.

If the station is actually compatible in step 18, an optional step 19 is provided for verifying the need for communication on the 6 GHz frequency band. This may include checking whether current or expected traffic requires communication on the 6GHz frequency band. If not, it is planned to delay the activation of the 6GHz WIFI module until a service requiring traffic via the 6GHz frequency band is requested by the station. If yes, the 6GHz WIFI module is activated in step 20.

[0069] In step 21, the station is connected to the 6GHz WIFI module.

[0070] If a 6 GHz repeater exists in the network, access point 2 imposes the maintenance of the 6 GHz WIFI module of the repeater in inactive mode as long as the station remains in the coverage area of access point 2.

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

Claims

[Claim 1] Method for optimizing the energy consumption of an access point (2) using WIFI technology within a private communication network, this access point being configured to allow stations connected by WIFI to access the internet (3) via this access point (2); this access point (2) comprising a first WIFI module (8) at the 2.4 GHz frequency band, a second WIFI module (9) at the 5 GHz frequency band and a third WIFI module (10) at the frequency band of 6 GHz, characterized in that the first WIFI module (8) and the second WIFI module (9) are active by default and the third WIFI module (10) is inactive by default and the method is implemented by a processing unit (7) within the access point (2) and comprises the following steps:

- when associating at least one station with the access point (2), reception by the access point (2), via the first WIFI module (8) or the second WIFI module (9), of compatibility data transmitted by the station, this compatibility data comprising all of the WIFI frequency bands with which the station is compatible,

- if the station is compatible with the 6GHz frequency band, activation of the third WIFI module (10).

[Claim 2] Method according to Claim 1, characterized in that the compatibility data is transmitted during the association by a “Supported Operating Classes” data field as defined in the IEEE 802.11 standards.

[Claim 3] Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it further comprises a step of deactivating the third WIFI module (10) when a last station compatible with the 6 GHz frequency band dissociates from the point of access (2).

[Claim 4] Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the deactivation is carried out after a configurable period of time since the dissociation of the station.

[Claim 5] Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that during the association, the third WIFI module (10) is activated only when the following condition is additionally satisfied: when the first WIFI module (8 ) and the second WIFI module (9) are not able to ensure transmission quality for the services of all the stations connected to the access point (2).

[Claim 6] Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that for a station associated with the access point (2); when the access point (2) is connected to a repeater equipped with a fourth WIFI module, not activated, at the 6GHz frequency band; the method further comprises the following steps:

- estimation of the location of the station in relation to the access point (2) and the repeater,

- transmission of an instruction to the repeater, this instruction comprising an additional condition for activating the fourth WIFI module only when the station is closer to the repeater than to the access point (2).

[Claim 7] Method according to Claim 6, characterized in that the estimation is carried out periodically or at the request of the repeater; and the instruction is transmitted periodically or at the request of the repeater.

[Claim 8] Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the activation of a WIFI module consists in supplying it completely electrically; and deactivation consists of totally or partially cutting off its electrical power supply.

[Claim 9] Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the access point (2) is a gateway in a home network.

[Claim 10] Method according to one of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the access point (2) is a repeater in a home network.

[Claim 11] Access point device comprising a processing unit (7) configured to implement a method according to any one of the preceding claims.

[Claim 12] Computer program product comprising instructions which, when the program is executed by a processing unit (7) in an access point, lead the latter to implement the method according to any one of claims 1 to 10.