Accessory Device Roaming Priority List for Power Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Accessory devices, such as smartwatches, experience rapid battery drain while roaming due to numerous registration attempts, extensive frequency scanning, and constant searches for higher priority networks, leading to unnecessary power consumption.
Innovation Solution
An aggregated roaming priority public land mobile network (PLMN) list is compiled and dynamically updated on the device, using application processor-assisted methods to prioritize and connect to the most desirable networks, reducing the number of frequencies scanned and registration attempts on less desirable networks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the accessory device scans multiple frequencies and performs registration attempts on roaming partner networks, then the device can find and connect to available networks, but power consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having the companion device perform network scanning and registration attempts before the accessory device needs to connect. The companion device collects information about available roaming partner networks, their priorities, and registration success/failure data, then shares this pre-processed information with the accessory device. This allows the accessory device to connect directly to known good networks without performing extensive scanning itself, significantly reducing its power consumption while maintaining reliable connection.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the accessory device performs frequent scans to find higher priority networks, then network selection quality improves, but battery life decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action by establishing a priority-based scanning schedule where the accessory device scans for networks at predetermined intervals rather than continuously. The companion device provides priority information for different networks, allowing the accessory device to focus scans on higher priority networks at appropriate intervals. This periodic, targeted scanning maintains network selection adaptability while significantly reducing overall scanning activity and power consumption compared to continuous scanning.
3Reliability
If the accessory device attempts registration on multiple roaming networks, then connection success probability increases, but power is wasted on rejected networks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies feedback by having the companion device monitor and share registration success/failure information with the accessory device. When the companion device successfully registers with a roaming partner network or receives a rejection, it communicates this outcome to the accessory device. The accessory device uses this feedback to avoid attempting registration on networks known to reject connections, focusing its limited power resources only on networks with proven acceptance, thereby increasing registration success rate while minimizing wasted energy on rejected networks.
Data Source
AI summary
A user equipment (UE) is configured to prioritize a plurality of Public Land Mobile Networks (PLMNs) from an aggregate roaming priority public land mobile network (RPPLMN) list containing the plurality of PLMNs into a plurality of prioritized PLMNs and connect to a selected PLMN from the plurality of prioritized PLMNs based on a priority of the selected PLMN. The UE is further configured to determine if an application processor (AP) assisted location service is available, wherein the AP-assisted service is configured to identify a plurality of deployed PLMNs and a plurality of frequencies used by the plurality of deployed PLMNs at a current geographical location of the UE and when the AP) assisted location service is available, determining if a registered PLMN (RPLMN) is valid in a current mobile country code (MCC).