US 2019/0173543 A1 · SYSTEMS, DEVICES, AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING POWER-PROPORTIONAL COMMUNICATION

Abstract

Systems, devices, and methods for proportionally balancing power during wireless communication are provided. The disclosures provide for an integrated radio in which the functionality of an active radio and a passive radio are integrated into a single radio, with the active and passive radios each being configured to operate in three different modes: active, passive, and backscatter. Based on power and communication link information, the integrated rode is able to balance the modes at which the two radios are operated, thereby optimizing power consumption of the device into which the integrated radio is incorporated. The resulting systems, devices, and methods lead to ultra-low power consumption that enables these communication techniques to enhance computing devices from smartwatches to laptops. Devices incorporating the integrated radios, and methods for power-proportionally exchanging data, among other systems, devices, and methods, are also provided.

Claims40

Dependent claims

A method for power-proportionally exchanging data, comprising:

obtaining first power information corresponding to a first device and first communication data corresponding to a first communication link between the first device and a second device;
receiving second power information from the second device, the second power information corresponding to the second device;
determining one or more feasible operating modes from among a plurality of candidate operating modes, the plurality of candidate operating modes including one or more of an active mode, a passive mode, and a backscatter mode;
calculating an optimal strategy for exchanging data with the second device based on the determined one or more feasible operating modes;
and
exchanging the data with the second device according to the calculated optimal strategy.

3 more elements

A computing device comprising:

an integrated radio configured with active radio functionality and passive radio functionality;
and
a microcontroller communicatively coupled to the integrated radio, the microcontroller being operable to:
obtain first power information and first communication data corresponding to a first communication link with another computing device;
receive, from the other computing device, second power information and second communication data corresponding to a second communication link with the other computing data;
determine one or more feasible operating modes from among a plurality of candidate operating modes, the one or more feasible operating modes being determined based, at least in part, on one or more of the first power information, the second power information, the first communication link information, and the second communication link information, the one or more feasible operating modes including one or more of an active mode, a passive mode, and a backscatter mode;
calculate an optimal strategy for exchanging data with the other computing device, based on the one or more feasible operating modes;
and
exchange the data with the other computing device according to the calculated optimal strategy.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Systems, devices, and methods for providing power-proportional communication

Life of this patent

Systems, devices, and methods for providing power-proportional communication

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims40