Dynamic Network Identifier Polling for Wireless Battery Conservation

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Solution Overview

Problem

In wireless devices, frequent polling for network identifier values is necessary to maintain accurate connectivity but consumes excessive battery power, as the radio layer does not always inform the transport layer of changes, leading to inefficient power management.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a dynamic polling scheme where the transport layer polls the radio component for network identifier values at a first frequency, increasing to a more frequent basis upon occurrence of specific events, such as data exchange or network identifier changes, and returning to the first frequency after a timeout or change detection, thereby balancing connectivity and power conservation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the transport layer polls the radio layer frequently for network identifier values, then the accuracy of network identifier detection is improved, but battery power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork identifier detection accuracyVSAvoidbattery power consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic polling frequency adjustment based on device state. When the wireless device is stationary, polling occurs at a lower frequency to conserve battery power. When the device is in motion or detects specific events (signal strength changes, location changes), the polling frequency automatically increases to maintain accurate network identifier detection. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by making polling intensity conditional rather than constant.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the polling frequency parameter based on detected conditions. The base polling interval is extended when conditions permit, but shortened when events indicate potential network identifier changes. This parameter adjustment strategy allows the system to maintain detection accuracy when necessary while reducing power consumption during stable periods, directly addressing the technical contradiction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Use of energy by moving object

If the polling frequency is reduced to conserve battery power, then energy consumption decreases, but the detection speed of network identifier changes slows down

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery power consumptionVSAvoiddetection speed of network identifier changes
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates feedback mechanisms where the system monitors for events that indicate potential network identifier changes, such as signal strength variations, location changes, or device motion detection. When such feedback is received, the polling frequency automatically increases to detect the change quickly. This feedback-driven approach ensures fast detection when needed while maintaining low power consumption during stable network conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary checks for triggering events before initiating high-frequency polling. By detecting precursors to network identifier changes (such as signal strength degradation or device movement), the system can proactively increase polling frequency before the actual change occurs, ensuring rapid detection without maintaining high polling rates continuously, thus balancing speed and power consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP1921875B1System and method of network identifier polling
Publication Date: 2011.11.23 BLACKBERRY LTD
  • EP1921875B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP1921875B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP1921875B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

A system and method of polling for a network identifier value is provided. Within a wireless device (10), a transport layer (14) or application layer (17) polls a radio layer (12) for a network identifier value on a first basis (21). However, upon occurrence of an event of a predefined type (2-2), the transport layer polls for the network identifier value on a more frequent basis than the first basis. At some later time, the transport layer polls for the network identifier value on the first basis (2-3). Accordingly, the transport layer (14) achieves a balance of polling frequently at certain times so as to obtain an accurate network identifier value while minimizing undue polling at other times so as to conserve battery power.