Foreground App Service Restriction for Battery Conservation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Modern portable electronic devices face challenges in managing non-essential services of foreground applications when the energy storage level drops below a threshold, as existing power saving techniques are not applicable to these applications, leading to unintended functionality and reduced battery life.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a system that uses sensors, location detectors, and motion detectors to identify when an electronic device is at a trusted location or being transported by a trusted mode, allowing processors to restrict non-essential services of foreground applications unless the device is in a trusted environment, thereby conserving energy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If existing power saving techniques are applied to foreground applications, then energy consumption is reduced, but unintended functionality occurs and essential services may be improperly restricted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy consumptionVSAvoidfunctionality reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments services into essential and non-essential categories. Essential services (telephony, messaging, navigation) are excluded from restriction while non-essential services are targeted for energy savings. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by ensuring critical functionality remains reliable while still achieving energy reduction through selective service management.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different quality levels of service restriction based on device state (charging vs. battery power). When charging, more services can operate freely; when on battery, non-essential services are restricted. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by adapting service quality to energy availability while preserving essential functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Duration of action of moving object

If non-essential services are restricted to save energy, then battery life is extended, but device functionality is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebattery lifeVSAvoiddevice functionality

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of moving objectVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent dynamically adjusts service restriction based on real-time device state (charging status, battery level). The system transitions between different operational modes: full functionality when charging, selective restriction when on battery. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by allowing full versatility when energy is abundant while extending battery life when energy is limited.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes operational parameters (service restriction level) based on energy state. When battery level drops below threshold or charging status changes, the system modifies which services are restricted. This parameter-based control resolves the contradiction by optimizing the balance between battery life extension and functionality preservation based on real-time conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If all services are allowed to run in foreground applications, then full functionality is maintained, but energy storage is depleted faster

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefunctionality availabilityVSAvoidenergy storage depletion

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary classification of services into essential and non-essential categories before energy depletion occurs. This pre-established framework allows the system to automatically apply appropriate restriction levels without real-time decision complexity, resolving the contradiction by preparing the service management structure in advance to balance functionality and energy conservation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts non-essential services from the set of actively running services when energy conservation is needed. By separating and removing non-essential service execution while maintaining essential services, the system reduces energy depletion rate while preserving core functionality, resolving the contradiction between full operation and energy conservation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS12132854B2Electronic devices, methods, and systems for restricting non-essential services from foreground applications

Publication Date: 2024.10.29 MOTOROLA MOBILITY LLC

AI summary

An electronic device includes one or more sensors detecting an energy storage level of an energy storage device falling below a predefined threshold. A location detector and a motion detector determine whether the electronic device is positioned at a location trusted by an authorized user or whether the electronic device is being transported by a mode of transport trusted by the authorized user. The one or more processors identify foreground applications operating on the electronic device and non-essential services associated with the foreground applications. The one or more processors restrict the non-essential services from occurring when the energy storage level of the energy storage device is below the predefined threshold unless the electronic device is positioned at the trusted location or is being transported by the trusted mode of transport.