Dynamic DRX Configuration for Mobile Device Power Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional mobile devices in sleep states, especially when far from users, experience frequent transitions between connected and idle states due to background data requests, leading to excessive battery consumption despite using Discontinuous Reception (DRX) mode, as they repeatedly activate and deactivate DRX with short and long sleep cycles.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a dynamic configuration of DRX mode based on device use conditions, such as user proximity and sleep state, to remove short DRX sleep cycles when the device is not in use, thereby extending battery life by using only long sleep cycles, and reinstating short DRX cycles when the user is present or the device is awake, to improve data download times.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If short DRX sleep cycles are used to improve data access speed, then user experience is improved, but battery power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata access speedVSAvoidbattery power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the DRX configuration adaptable rather than fixed. The system dynamically switches between first DRX configuration (with short sleep cycles for fast data access) and second DRX configuration (with only long sleep cycles for power conservation) based on real-time detection of user presence and device state, resolving the contradiction between speed and energy consumption

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the DRX parameters (sleep cycle durations) based on operating conditions. When user presence is detected, the system uses shorter sleep cycles to improve data access speed. When no user is present, the system extends sleep cycle durations to reduce power consumption, thereby adapting the speed-energy tradeoff to actual usage scenarios

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If DRX mode is frequently activated and deactivated to respond to background data requests, then data transfer flexibility is improved, but battery drain increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata transfer flexibilityVSAvoidbattery drain

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements self-service by automatically detecting user presence and device state to determine the appropriate DRX configuration without requiring manual intervention. The proximity detector and state monitoring mechanisms enable the system to self-adjust DRX behavior, maintaining data transfer flexibility while minimizing battery drain through autonomous decision-making

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS10542495B2Inhibiting short DRX based on device use conditions

Publication Date: 2020.01.21 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC

AI summary

The embodiments of the disclosure include methods and apparatus that allow dynamic configuration of discontinuous reception (DRX) mode based on conditions associated with device use. For example, a device may be operating in a first mode of DRX having short and long DRX cycles that provide a level of user experience that is balanced with a level of power conservation. During operation, changing conditions of device use may indicate that the first configuration of the DRX may be changed to a second configuration by removing the short DRX cycle to conserve power without affecting the user's experience. For example, a user may move out of proximity of the device and may not be affected by a slower speed of data downloading. Based on the changed conditions of device use, the DRX may be changed to operate in a second configuration that may download data slower but consumes less power.