Wireless Terminal AF Channel Switching Adaptation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless terminals experience frequent muting due to sensitive Alternative Frequency (AF) channel switching, which is inconvenient for users, especially in walking conditions where instantaneous electric field changes are common, and current solutions do not effectively manage AF channel switch frequency to minimize muting.
Innovation Solution
A wireless terminal with a controller that detects user environments as driving or walking states and adjusts the AF channel switch timing based on recent switch failures, attempting immediate switches in driving states and delaying switches in walking states to reduce muting frequency, by setting a wait time that increases with the number of failures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a small tolerance period is used to increase sensitivity to instantaneous electric field changes in walking conditions, then the receiver can detect channel reception state changes more quickly, but the frequency of muting increases due to frequent AF channel switch attempts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the tolerance period adaptive rather than fixed. The controller dynamically adjusts the tolerance period based on the detected user environment: using a first tolerance period for driving conditions and a second tolerance period for walking conditions. This allows the system to optimize between sensitivity and muting frequency according to the specific usage scenario.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of tolerance period based on detected user environment. When a driving environment is detected, a first tolerance period is used; when a walking environment is detected, a second tolerance period is used. This parameter adaptation resolves the contradiction by selecting appropriate sensitivity levels for different contexts.
2Speed
If AF channel switch is attempted immediately when receive signal quality drops below threshold, then the system responds quickly to poor reception, but frequent muting occurs due to repeated switch attempts after failures
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the response behavior based on environment type. In driving conditions, immediate AF channel switch attempts are made when signal quality drops, providing quick response. In walking conditions, the system waits for a predetermined time before attempting switches, reducing unnecessary muting while still responding to genuine reception issues.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the timing parameter for AF channel switch attempts based on detected environment. For driving environments, switches are attempted immediately when quality drops below threshold. For walking environments, a time delay is introduced before switch attempts. This parameter adaptation balances response speed with muting reduction.
3Reliability
If a large tolerance period is used for driving conditions, then the system avoids frequent muting, but the response to instantaneous reception changes is delayed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the tolerance period dynamic based on environment detection. A first tolerance period is applied for driving conditions and a second tolerance period for walking conditions. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to achieve both goals: reducing muting in driving while maintaining responsiveness in walking conditions.
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided is a device and method for providing an Alternative Frequency (AF) in a wireless terminal, by which an AF channel service suitable for a user environment can be provided. To this end, the device includes a radio broadcast receiver for receiving a radio broadcast signal, and a controller for attempting an AF channel switch after an elapse of a re-try wait time which is set according to a number of recent AF channel switch failures. The controller may detect the user environment as a walking state or a driving state. If a driving state is detected, the AF channel switch is attempted immediately when receive signal quality is below a threshold, regardless of the number of recent AF channel failures. If a walking state is detected, the AF channel switch is attempted after the elapse of the wait time.