Communication Processor Internal Memory DRX Power Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wireless terminals with separate Application Processors (AP) and Communication Processors (CP) face increased power consumption in Discontinuous Reception (DRX) mode due to the need to access and load control programs from external memory, which is not optimized for power efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The Communication Processor (CP) pre-loads and executes a DRX mode control program from its internal memory, switching between sleep and active states without accessing external memory, allowing for reduced power consumption by minimizing hardware activation during sleep states.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the wireless terminal uses separate AP and CP processors sharing external memory for DRX mode operation, then the terminal can perform normal communication operations, but power consumption increases due to hardware activation required for external memory access
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the memory system into two distinct parts: internal memory dedicated to the CP processor and external memory shared by AP and CP. This segmentation allows the CP to operate independently in DRX mode using only internal memory, avoiding the need to activate external memory hardware and associated AP components, thereby reducing power consumption while maintaining communication functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The internal memory acts as an intermediary between the CP processor and the external memory system. By pre-storing DRX mode control programs and data in internal memory, the system eliminates the need for CP to access external memory during DRX operations, serving as a buffer that decouples the low-power DRX operations from the power-consuming external memory subsystem.
2Ease of operation
If the wireless terminal accesses external memory to load control programs during DRX mode, then the terminal can execute necessary operations, but hardware blocks must be activated increasing power consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-loading control programs and essential data into the internal memory during high-power states (connected mode or idle mode). This preliminary preparation ensures that when the terminal transitions to DRX mode, all necessary operational data is already available in internal memory, eliminating the need for hardware activation and external memory access during low-power operations.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the wireless terminal activates hardware blocks to access shared memory in DRX mode, then the CP can read control programs, but more power is consumed compared to single processor or independent memory configurations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing the CP processor with a dedicated internal memory specifically optimized for low-power operations, while the AP processor continues to use the shared external memory system. This localized memory allocation allows the CP to operate with different (lower power) characteristics when performing DRX functions, without compromising the overall multi-processor versatility and capability of the terminal.
Data Source
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AI summary
An apparatus and a method for controlling a Discontinuous Reception (DRX) mode in which a Communication Processor (CP) performs a predetermined operation by switching between a sleep state and an active state in a wireless terminal having an Application Processor (AP) and the CP are provided. The method includes recording a control program configured for the active state in an internal memory of the CP, waking up from the sleep state to the active state at every predetermined interval, and performing an operation required in the active state by executing the control program recorded in the internal memory via the CP, wherein the control program is a complete control module or a part of the complete control module.