Smart Door Lock Low-Power Messaging via Intermediary Association
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional smart door locks face challenges in maintaining timely wireless communication for high-priority messages while minimizing power consumption, leading to battery life issues and increased maintenance costs due to the need for continuous high-power operation.
Innovation Solution
A door lock system that maintains an association with an intermediary device during a lower-power state, allowing it to receive high-priority messages through periodic connections with the intermediary, reducing power consumption while ensuring timely message delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the door lock operates in a higher-power state to maintain continuous wireless communication, then communication reliability is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The door lock transitions between lower-power and higher-power states periodically. It operates in lower-power state during normal conditions and switches to higher-power state only when high-priority messages need to be received, thereby reducing overall power consumption while maintaining communication reliability when needed
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts its power state based on communication requirements. The door lock can switch between different operational modes (lower-power and higher-power states) depending on whether high-priority messages are being transmitted, optimizing the balance between reliability and energy usage
2Loss of time
If the door lock maintains continuous connection for message reception, then message delivery timeliness is improved, but battery life decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The intermediary device stores high-priority messages before the door lock needs them. When a high-priority message arrives, it is saved at the intermediary device and then transmitted to the door lock when the door lock wakes up, ensuring timely delivery without requiring the door lock to remain continuously connected
Solution Approach 2:
An intermediary device is introduced between the remote computing device and the door lock. This intermediary receives, stores, and forwards messages to the door lock, allowing the door lock to operate in lower-power state while still receiving high-priority messages timely through the intermediary
3Use of energy by moving object
If the door lock operates in lower-power state to reduce energy consumption, then battery life is extended, but communication responsiveness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Different communication priorities are handled differently. High-priority messages receive immediate attention through the intermediary device, while the door lock maintains lower-power operation for general communication, providing differentiated responsiveness based on message importance
Solution Approach 2:
High-priority messages are pre-stored at the intermediary device before the door lock needs them. This preliminary action ensures that when the door lock becomes responsive, high-priority messages are immediately available, maintaining communication responsiveness without continuous power consumption
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for enabling a door lock coupled to a door in a building to operate in a lower-power state and achieve reduction of power usage, while still being able to timely receive high-priority messages through operation of an intermediary device. The door lock can establish an association with the intermediary device in a higher-power state and maintain the association with the intermediary device when the door lock switches to operating in the lower-power state. Maintaining the previously-established association with the intermediary device during the lower-power state enables timely receipt of high-priority messages by the door lock.