Method and apparatus for battery life extension for nodes within beaconing networks
An “identical beacons” field ( 401 ) is inserted near the beginning of a transmitted beacon ( 403 ) that contains either an integer equal to the number of consecutive identical beacons sent (i.e., identical to the one presently being transmitted) or a repetition bit indicating whether or not the beacon contains changed information when compared to a prior-sent beacon. After sleeping awhile, a node ( 302 - 304 ) wakes up, receives a first portion of the beacon containing the identical beacons field, and analyzes the identical beacons field. Based on the analysis, the node makes a decision on whether to remain “awake” for reception of the remaining beacon or to return to sleep.
1. A method for transmitting a beacon within a beacon network, the method comprising the steps of:
determining if a beacon contains changed content;
based on the determination, inserting a repetition bit into the beacon, wherein the repetition bit indicates whether the beacon contains changed content; and
transmitting the beacon to nodes within the network.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:
inserting address information within the beacon, wherein the address information comprises addresses for nodes within the network that are to receive a scheduled transmission or to communicate with another network node.
3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:
inserting control information within the beacon.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of inserting the repetition bit into the beacon comprises the step of inserting the repetition bit into a beginning portion of the beacon.
5. A method for battery life extension for nodes within a beacon network, the method comprising the steps of:
receiving a beacon, wherein the beacon comprises a repetition bit that indicates whether the beacon contains changed content; and
based on whether or not the beacon contains changed content, either placing the node in a power conservation mode or staying awake to receive a further portion of the beacon message.
6. The method of claim 5 wherein the step of receiving the beacon comprises the step of receiving a beacon comprising the repetition bit and address information, wherein the address information comprises addresses for remote nodes within the network that are to receive a scheduled transmission or to communicate with another network node.
7. The method of claim 5 wherein the step of receiving the beacon comprises the step of receiving a beacon comprising the repetition bit and control information.
8. An apparatus comprising:
logic circuitry determining if a beacon contains changed content;
beacon format circuitry inserting a repetition bit into the beacon, wherein the repetition bit indicates whether the beacon contains changed content; and
transmission circuitry for transmitting the beacon.