Dual Band Dual Modem Wake-Up Control via UART Intermediary
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current Dual Band Dual Modem (DBDM) devices face limitations in simultaneous operation of EVDO/HSDPA and WiMAX modems due to power constraints from USB ports, leading to cumbersome battery usage and increased device size, as well as inability to inform the user terminal about communication feasibility with both modems.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a UART to enable data transmission between modems, allowing one modem to wake up the other and analyze communication feasibility, with a power converter to manage power supply, enabling efficient operation within USB port current limits.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If a USB hub is used to selectively connect modems to the user terminal, then both modems can be informed about communication feasibility, but the USB port's current limit of 500 mA prevents simultaneous operation of both modems
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by having the active modem send a wake-up signal to the inactive modem before actual data communication begins. The inactive modem then performs preliminary channel analysis and sends analysis results back through the active modem, allowing both modems to be informed about communication feasibility without requiring simultaneous full operation
Solution Approach 2:
The active modem acts as an intermediary between the user terminal and the inactive modem. It receives wake-up signals, forwards them to the inactive modem, receives analysis results from the inactive modem, and transmits these results to the user terminal, enabling information exchange without requiring both modems to be fully active simultaneously
2Use of energy by moving object
If a switching unit is used to connect one modem to the user terminal, then current consumption is reduced, but the other modem cannot inform the user terminal of whether data communication is possible
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by having the inactive modem analyze communication channels and send analysis results back to the active modem, which then transmits this information to the user terminal. This feedback loop enables the user terminal to receive communication feasibility information from both modems while maintaining low power consumption through selective connection
3Reliability
If both modems are operated simultaneously, then communication feasibility can be determined for both networks, but the USB port's 500 mA current limit is exceeded requiring separate battery installation
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary channel analysis only when needed by sending wake-up signals, rather than continuously operating both modems. The inactive modem performs analysis only when wake-up signals are received, reducing power consumption while maintaining the ability to determine communication feasibility for both networks when required
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is an apparatus for controlling DBDM including a first modem that performs an EVDO (Evolution-Data Optimized) or a HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access) communication, and the second modem that performs a WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access) communication, and a method for controlling DBDM, wherein one of the modems selected from the two (first and second) modems that is used for data communication of a user terminal generates a wake up signal to wake up the other modem that is not selected, and the other woken-up modem receives and analyzes communication data, and transmits a data of analysis result to the user terminal and the UART via the one modem performing the data communication.