Communications Device Power Management via Service Request Delay

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Solution Overview

Problem

Communications devices face high power consumption due to continuous reception of control information during uncertain response times for service requests, especially in mobile communication systems where devices must remain active for extended periods without knowing when a response will be transmitted.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a delay period in the request for services message allows the communications device to enter a reduced power state until the specified delay period expires, ensuring it can receive responses without unnecessary power usage, and using a second random access request with an identifier to maintain the reduced power state and minimize message transmission.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If the communications device remains active to receive control information continuously, then the response message can be received without delay, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidresponse reception reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The delay period is included in the request for services message in advance, allowing the device to pre-determine when to wake up and receive the response, eliminating the need for continuous monitoring while ensuring timely reception

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The delay period acts as an intermediary parameter that bridges the request and response timing, allowing the device to enter reduced power state while the network uses this delay value to schedule the response transmission appropriately

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Use of energy by moving object

If the transceiver enters reduced power state immediately after sending request, then power consumption is reduced, but the response message may be missed if timing is uncertain

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidresponse message reception
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The delay period is specified in advance in the request message, allowing the device to calculate exactly when to wake up and receive the response, preventing information loss while minimizing power consumption

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The transceiver dynamically transitions between active and reduced power states based on the predetermined delay period, being active only when necessary to transmit requests and receive responses, and in reduced power state during the delay period

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If the device monitors for response continuously until received, then response reception is ensured, but unnecessary power is consumed during periods when response cannot be transmitted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresponse reception guaranteeVSAvoidpower consumption during waiting period
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The delay period is determined in advance and included in the request message, allowing the device to skip monitoring during periods when the response cannot possibly be transmitted (before the delay period expires), thus saving power while ensuring reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of continuous monitoring, the device uses periodic action by waking up at specific intervals determined by the delay period to check for responses, reducing power consumption while maintaining reliable reception

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentEP2989837B1Communications device for transmitting and receiving data
Publication Date: 2020.01.01 SONY GROUP CORP
  • EP2989837B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2989837B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2989837B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A communications device transmits and receives data to and from infrastructure equipment forming part of a communications network. The communications device comprises a controller and a transceiver configured to transmit and/or receive signals representing the data to and/or from the infrastructure equipment. The transceiver is configured under the control of the controller to transmit a request for services message to the infrastructure equipment, and to receive a response message to the request for services message from the infrastructure equipment. The request for services message includes a delay period, and the controller is configured after transmission of the request for services message to configure the transceiver to enter a reduced power state in which an amount of power consumed by the transceiver is reduced for the delay period. The controller is also configured, after the delay period has expired, to configure the transceiver to exit the reduced power state in order to receive the response message from the infrastructure equipment.