Portable Terminal Dormancy Mode Control via Segmented Timer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional portable terminals face increased electric current consumption due to delayed dormancy mode entry and unnecessary wake-state maintenance in display power-off states, leading to inefficient power saving.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a dormancy mode timer that counts segments of maximum standby time, checking a dormancy mode flag for communication channel state, and entering dormancy mode when the flag indicates a connection release state, allowing the application processor to quickly enter sleep mode and reduce power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a dormancy mode timer is initiated with a relatively large value to ensure communication channel connection release, then the application processor can receive necessary events, but the dormancy mode entry is delayed and electric current consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the dormancy mode timer into multiple segments (e.g., 5 segments of 10 seconds each) instead of using a single large timer value. This segmentation allows the system to check communication channel state at multiple intervals, ensuring reliable connection release detection while reducing the total time the application processor remains in wake-state, thereby lowering power consumption.
2Reliability
If the application processor uses wake-lock function to prevent premature dormancy mode entry, then communication channel state can be properly monitored, but the application processor stays in wake-state unnecessarily increasing power consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic checking of the dormancy mode flag at each timer segment expiration rather than continuous monitoring. The application processor checks the communication channel state at specific intervals (when each segment expires) and only enters dormancy mode when the flag indicates connection release, reducing wake-state duration while ensuring proper communication state monitoring.
3Use of energy by moving object
If the application processor enters dormancy mode immediately upon connection release detection, then power saving is maximized, but communication channel state may not be fully confirmed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a feedback mechanism through the dormancy mode flag that is set based on communication channel state detection. The application processor continuously monitors communication channel state and updates the flag accordingly. Dormancy mode entry is triggered only when the flag confirms connection release, ensuring both reliable state confirmation and timely power saving.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and an apparatus for controlling a dormancy mode of the portable terminal by minimizing the dormancy mode entry delay of the display in power-off state are provided. The method includes starting, when the application processor and the communication processor stop data communication in display power-off state, a dormancy mode timer, checking, when the dormancy mode timer expires, a dormancy mode flag indicating communication channel state, and entering, when the dormancy mode flag indicates a communication channel connection release state, the dormancy mode, wherein the dormancy mode timer counts a number of segments constituting a maximum standby time for entering the dormancy mode.