Dual Mode Communication Device Battery Management via Interface Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current dual mode communication devices face challenges in maintaining accurate connectivity status while efficiently managing battery life, particularly due to frequent 'heart-beat' messaging exchanges between interfaces and networks, which impact battery life and network capacity.
Innovation Solution
The communication device registers with both broadband and narrowband networks and uses one interface to send status indications to the network, allowing the other interface to be put into sleep mode until needed, reducing unnecessary messaging and conserving battery life.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If frequent heart-beat messaging exchanges are used between interfaces and networks to maintain accurate connectivity status, then connectivity status accuracy is improved, but battery life deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action by having the communication device alternately activate between a first interface (narrowband) and a second interface (broadband) at predetermined intervals. Instead of continuously monitoring both interfaces, the device periodically switches between them to maintain connectivity status updates, thereby reducing energy consumption while preserving measurement accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the continuous monitoring function from both interfaces simultaneously and assigns it alternately to either the first or second interface based on activation conditions. This extraction allows one interface to be deactivated during periods when the other interface is active, removing unnecessary energy consumption while maintaining the essential connectivity monitoring function.
2Reliability
If both broadband and narrowband interfaces are kept active simultaneously to ensure network coverage, then network coverage reliability is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action by establishing predetermined activation conditions that trigger switching between the first narrowband interface and the second broadband interface. The device alternates between interfaces based on these conditions, ensuring that at least one interface remains active for network coverage while the other is deactivated to conserve energy, thus maintaining reliability while reducing power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamics by making the interface activation state changeable rather than fixed. The communication device dynamically adjusts which interface is active based on predetermined conditions such as network availability, signal strength, or power management requirements. This dynamic switching ensures reliable network coverage is maintained while adapting energy consumption to actual operational needs.
3Use of energy by moving object
If interface switching between narrowband and broadband is implemented to conserve energy, then battery life is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent reduces device complexity by implementing periodic action with predetermined activation conditions. Instead of requiring complex real-time decision-making algorithms, the device follows predefined rules for switching between interfaces. This systematic periodic switching simplifies the control logic while still achieving energy conservation goals, making the interface management more manageable despite the presence of multiple interfaces.
4Measurement precision
If heart-beat messages are transmitted frequently to maintain presence information, then presence information accuracy is improved, but network capacity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action by transmitting heart-beat messages only when the communication device is actively activated on a particular interface, rather than continuously on both interfaces. This periodic transmission based on activation conditions maintains accurate presence information for the active interface while significantly reducing the overall volume of network traffic, thus preserving network capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the heart-beat message transmission function from both interfaces simultaneously and assigns it only to the currently active interface. This extraction eliminates redundant message transmissions that would occur if both interfaces continuously sent presence information, thereby maintaining accurate presence tracking while reducing network traffic volume and conserving network resources.
Data Source
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AI summary
Upon connecting to the broadband and narrowband networks, a communication device registers with a broadband wireless network via a broadband interface and with a narrowband wireless network via a narrowband interface. One of (i) a first change in status indication is provided from the broadband interface to the narrowband interface reflecting a change in status between the broadband interface and the broadband network, and (ii) a second change in status indication is provided from the narrowband interface to the broadband interface reflecting a change in status between the narrowband interface and the narrowband network. The communication device transmits one of (i) the first change in status indication and a narrowband status indication to a network component via the narrowband interface, and (ii) the second change in status indication and a broadband status indication to the network component via the broadband interface.