Dual-Mode Mobile Terminal Power Management via Cellular Intermediary
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Solution Overview
Problem
Dual-mode mobile terminals operating in both cellular and WLAN networks face inefficiencies in power conservation, as existing power save methods do not account for mobility, leading to increased battery drain and dropped calls due to frequent AP re-association in WLAN networks.
Innovation Solution
A method where a dual-mode mobile terminal detects WLAN coverage, registers with a SIP server, deactivates its WLAN interface, and activates a cellular interface to enter a low power consumption mode, allowing calls/session to be established via the cellular network when in the WLAN coverage area, thereby leveraging the power efficiency of cellular sleep modes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the mobile terminal uses WLAN power save methods (PS-Poll, Scheduled APSD, Unscheduled APSD), then power consumption is reduced, but reliability deteriorates due to frequent AP re-association and dropped calls
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a cellular network as an intermediary backup system. When the terminal enters WLAN coverage area, it registers with SIP server and can be paged via cellular network. The cellular network acts as a mediator that maintains call continuity reliability even when WLAN connection is unstable, solving the contradiction between power saving and call reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The terminal performs preliminary registration with the SIP server upon entering WLAN coverage area, before any call occurs. This preliminary action establishes the call routing path in advance, so when a call arrives, the terminal can be reliably paged through cellular network even if WLAN is unstable, preventing dropped calls while maintaining power save mode.
2Reliability
If the mobile terminal remains active in WLAN to maintain call reliability, then reliability is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cellular network serves as an intermediary for call paging and setup. The terminal can sleep in WLAN while the cellular network receives calls and pages the terminal. This intermediary mechanism maintains call reliability without requiring the terminal to stay active in WLAN, thus reducing power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of continuous WLAN activity, the terminal uses periodic cellular paging to maintain call connectivity. The terminal wakes up periodically to check for calls via cellular network, achieving reliable call continuity with minimal power consumption compared to continuous WLAN monitoring.
3Use of energy by moving object
If the mobile terminal switches to cellular network for power saving, then power consumption is reduced, but device complexity increases due to dual-mode management
Solution Approach 1:
The terminal is designed with multi-functionality to operate in both WLAN and cellular networks. It can register with SIP server, receive pages via cellular, and establish calls through either network. This universal capability allows flexible network selection for power saving without increasing operational complexity for the user.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback mechanisms where the terminal reports its location and network status to the SIP server. Based on this feedback, the SIP server determines the optimal network for call routing. This automated feedback loop simplifies dual-mode management by removing the need for manual network selection.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for saving power, at a mobile terminal, includes receiving a call, at a network entity, wherein the call contains information relating to transmission of the call from the network entity to the mobile terminal. The mobile terminal operates in first and second communications networks, which are different. The mobile terminal detects coverage of the first communications network and activates a first interface corresponding to the first communications network. The mobile terminal can also deactivate the first interface and activate a second interface corresponding to the second communications network while the mobile terminal is located in both the first and second communications networks. The mobile terminal can then enter a low power consumption mode supported by the second communications network. The mobile terminal can also deactivate the low power consumption mode and activate the first interface to communicate with the first communications network when a call is delivered via the first communications network.