Wireless Device Status Reporting Through DRX State Changes

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Solution Overview

Problem

There is a conflict between maintaining accurate and up-to-date status information from remote, battery-powered devices in wireless telecommunications networks and conserving battery life, as frequent communication can drain battery power and reduce device lifespan.

Innovation Solution

A method that utilizes discontinuous reception (DRX) modes to schedule periods of inactivity and activity with the network, allowing devices to conserve power and reduce network signaling, while enabling efficient retrieval and communication of status information without constant interaction, using techniques like DRX, eDRX, Polling, and Power Save Mode, with network-triggered changes and centralized management.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If frequent communication is used to retrieve status information from battery-powered devices, then status information accuracy is improved, but battery life is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestatus information accuracyVSAvoidbattery life
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements discontinuous reception (DRX) cycles where the device alternates between active and inactive states. Status information is retrieved periodically at scheduled intervals rather than continuously, allowing the device to enter low-power states between retrievals. This periodic action resolves the contradiction by maintaining acceptable status information accuracy through regular updates while significantly reducing battery consumption compared to continuous monitoring.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent dynamically adjusts the DRX cycle length and retrieval frequency based on device conditions, network requirements, and battery status. The system can transition between different DRX modes (short DRX, long DRX, extended DRX) and modify retrieval parameters in real-time. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to optimize the balance between status information freshness and power consumption, resolving the contradiction by making the communication frequency flexible rather than fixed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Loss of information

If continuous communication is used to maintain up-to-date status information, then information currency is improved, but network bandwidth usage increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation currencyVSAvoidnetwork bandwidth usage
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs periodic status information retrieval at scheduled intervals rather than continuous communication. Devices enter discontinuous reception modes where they periodically wake up to exchange status information and then return to idle states. This periodic approach maintains information currency by ensuring regular updates while dramatically reducing network bandwidth consumption compared to continuous communication streams.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts only the essential status information that needs to be transmitted during each DRX cycle, rather than maintaining constant communication channels. By selecting and transmitting only necessary status updates at periodic intervals, the system maintains information currency for critical parameters while minimizing overall network bandwidth usage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Measurement precision

If devices remain active to report status frequently, then status monitoring accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestatus monitoring accuracyVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements discontinuous reception cycles with defined active and inactive periods. During active periods, devices perform status monitoring and reporting; during inactive periods, devices enter low-power states with minimal processing. This periodic structure maintains status monitoring accuracy through regular active periods while reducing device complexity by allowing components to enter sleep modes and reducing the need for continuous high-performance operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent dynamically transitions devices between different operational states (active, short DRX, long DRX, extended DRX, idle) based on network conditions and device status. This dynamic state management simplifies device architecture by using standardized state transitions rather than requiring complex continuous monitoring logic, while still maintaining accurate status reporting through appropriate state selections.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3921915B1Network device management
Publication Date: 2025.01.01 BRITISH TELECOM PLC
  • EP3921915B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3921915B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3921915B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method of retrieving status information from a telecommunications device (110) via a wireless telecommunications network (100), comprising the steps of: detecting, at the telecommunications device, a change in discontinuous reception of the telecommunications device (210); the telecommunications device retrieving status information relating to said telecommunications device (220); and in response to detecting the change in discontinuous reception, communicating the retrieved status information to the wireless telecommunications network (230).