Adaptive Duty Cycle for Wireless Channel Scanning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for managing battery life in mobile devices are unpredictable due to dependence on RF/channel conditions, leading to rapid battery depletion when re-acquiring service, which results in user dissatisfaction and unreliable standby time.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that determine the remaining battery power and set a duty cycle for acquisition attempts, adjusting search and sleep times to ensure a defined battery life span, allowing for predictable battery consumption and improved re-acquisition performance, especially in out-of-service states.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the mobile device continues to search for service at a constant frequency when battery power is low, then the device maintains consistent acquisition behavior, but the battery will die quickly before the device is able to re-acquire service
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the search frequency adaptive rather than constant. The device dynamically adjusts the duty cycle of acquisition attempts based on the remaining battery power level. When battery power is high, the device performs searches at a higher frequency; when battery power is low, the device reduces search frequency to conserve power. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between maintaining reliable service re-acquisition and managing battery power consumption effectively.
2Reliability
If the device performs multiple acquisition attempts using multiple systems, then the probability of locating a usable system increases, but the power consumption during re-acquisition increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the duty cycle parameter based on battery power levels. The duty cycle controls the frequency and timing of acquisition attempts across multiple systems. By changing this parameter dynamically, the device can perform comprehensive multi-system scanning when power is abundant while reducing the intensity and frequency of such scans when power is limited, thus balancing acquisition probability with power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The device dynamically adjusts its acquisition strategy based on real-time battery status. When battery power is sufficient, the device aggressively searches multiple systems with high-frequency attempts. When battery power drops below thresholds, the device reduces the number of systems scanned and the frequency of attempts. This dynamic behavior resolves the contradiction between maximizing acquisition probability through multiple system attempts and managing power consumption to prevent battery death before successful re-acquisition.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the device uses conventional out of service methods dependent on RF/channel conditions, then the device can adapt to current signal conditions, but standby time estimation becomes difficult and battery life span becomes unpredictable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by continuously monitoring battery power levels and using this information to adjust the duty cycle of acquisition attempts. This closed-loop control provides predictable battery life span estimation because the device knows exactly how power consumption will vary based on battery status. The feedback mechanism overrides the unpredictability introduced by RF condition-dependent methods, allowing the device to maintain adaptability while ensuring predictable power consumption and battery life span.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method and an apparatus for system acquisition at a wireless device while maintaining a predetermined battery life span, include determining a level of remaining battery power upon entering an out of service state. A duty cycle, comprising a search time and sleep time, of acquisition attempts is determined such that the level of remaining battery power lasts for the defined battery life span. The duty cycle is determined by adjusting at least one of the search time and the sleep time, depending on how long the remaining battery power is required to last.