Energy-Aware MAC Architecture for Low Power Scheduling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communication technologies face challenges in reducing power consumption of mobile devices, which affects battery life and user experience, especially as demand for mobile broadband access increases.
Innovation Solution
An energy-aware architecture that supports a low power scheduling mode by allowing access terminals to signal their power capabilities to base stations and dynamically switch between power modes based on criteria such as battery level, application requirements, and usage patterns, using features like dynamic frame structures and power-saving modulation schemes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If mobile devices operate in high power mode to meet growing demand for mobile broadband access, then network performance and data throughput are improved, but power consumption increases reducing battery life
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between normal power mode and low power mode based on real-time criteria including battery level, application requirements, and usage patterns. This dynamic adaptation allows the mobile device to optimize power consumption while maintaining network performance when needed, directly resolving the contradiction between productivity and energy use
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes operational parameters by transitioning between different power modes with distinct characteristics. In low power mode, the device uses extended frame structures and adjusted scheduling parameters to reduce power consumption while maintaining acceptable network performance, thus resolving the contradiction between productivity and energy consumption
2Use of energy by moving object
If mobile devices reduce power consumption to extend battery life, then energy efficiency is improved, but network performance and data throughput may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system can dynamically transition from low power mode back to normal power mode when performance requirements increase. This dynamic switching ensures that network performance is maintained when applications demand high throughput, while still achieving power savings during lower-demand periods
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic monitoring of power mode criteria including battery level, application requirements, and usage patterns. This periodic evaluation allows the system to alternate between power modes in response to changing conditions, maintaining performance when needed while achieving overall power savings
3Use of energy by moving object
If the system dynamically switches between power modes based on multiple criteria, then power optimization is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile device autonomously monitors its own power state, battery level, and application requirements to determine when to switch power modes. This self-service approach eliminates the need for complex external control systems, achieving power optimization while limiting the increase in system complexity to only what is necessary for self-monitoring and decision-making
Data Source
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AI summary
The disclosure relates in some aspects to an energy-aware architecture that supports a low power scheduling mode. For example, a media access control (MAC) architecture for a base station (e.g., an enhanced Node B) and associated access terminals (e.g., UEs) can take the power needs of the access terminals into account when scheduling the access terminals. In some aspects, an access terminal may support a particular frame structure for a low power mode. Accordingly, scheduling of the access terminal may include use of the particular frame structure during low power mode.