Geo-fence Wireless Activation for Battery Conservation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing geo-fence communication systems inefficiently provide content due to continuous battery consumption from activated wireless communication functions, leading to poor user experience and service efficiency, as devices typically maintain wireless communication in a deactivated state to conserve power.

Innovation Solution

An apparatus and method that automatically activate the wireless communication function of user equipment when entering a geo-fence and deactivate it when leaving, using a location measuring unit, geo-fence receiving unit, determining unit, and activation unit to manage communication based on geo-fence density and user location, minimizing power consumption by controlling communication only when necessary.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the wireless communication function is continuously activated to provide geo-fence content, then content service efficiency is improved, but battery consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontent service efficiencyVSAvoidbattery consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements periodic activation of the wireless communication function based on geo-fence entry/exit events. The communication unit is activated only when the user equipment enters a geo-fence area and deactivated when leaving, transforming continuous operation into periodic intermittent operation. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining content service efficiency during relevant periods while significantly reducing overall battery consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent dynamically adjusts the state of the wireless communication function based on real-time location information. The system transitions the communication unit between activated and deactivated states according to whether the user equipment is within geo-fence boundaries, making the system adaptive to changing conditions rather than static, thus balancing service efficiency and energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Duration of action of moving object

If the wireless communication function is deactivated to minimize power consumption, then battery life is extended, but content service efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery lifeVSAvoidcontent service efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of moving objectVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses location information to predict and prepare for communication needs. By continuously monitoring location and comparing it with geo-fence boundaries, the system prepares to activate the communication function in advance when approaching a geo-fence area, ensuring immediate content delivery while minimizing unnecessary activation time and thus preserving battery life.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where location information continuously feeds back to the activation control logic. This closed-loop system monitors whether the user equipment is within geo-fence areas and automatically adjusts the communication function state accordingly, ensuring content service efficiency is maintained when needed while extending battery life through automatic deactivation when not needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Measurement precision

If location measurement is performed at high frequency to accurately detect geo-fence entry, then detection precision is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegeo-fence entry detection precisionVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial action by performing location measurement only to the extent necessary for geo-fence detection. Instead of continuous high-frequency measurement, the system measures location at intervals sufficient to detect geo-fence boundary crossings, using just enough measurement activity to achieve the required detection precision while minimizing energy consumption from excessive measurements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP3041275B1Apparatus and method for activating wireless communication function automatically for geo-fence, system comprising the same and non-transitory computer readable storage medium having computer program recorded thereon
Publication Date: 2019.06.26 SK PLANET CO LTD
  • EP3041275B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3041275B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3041275B1 patent drawingFigure 3(a)~3(b)

AI summary

Provided are apparatus and method for activating a wireless communication function automatically for geo-fence, a system comprising the same, and a non-transitory computer readable storage medium having a computer program recorded thereon for providing a content by activating the wireless communication function while entering a geo-fence which is a predetermined virtual area for providing the content based on a current location of a user. Thus, it is possible to greatly improve efficiency of a content providing service using a geo-fence by automatically activating a wireless communication function of user equipment according to whether a user enters the geo-fence to receive store information through communication with a beacon or a WIFI AP provided in the store positioned at the geo-fence and transmitting the corresponding store information to a geo-fence service providing device providing a content related with the store to receive the content corresponding to the store information.