Handover Control Using Operating Temperature Thresholds

Solution Overview

Problem

Wireless communication devices (WCDs) experience increased operating temperature and battery drain due to higher transmission power required to maintain connectivity, especially at the edge of a base station's coverage area, leading to user experience issues such as shorter battery life and discomfort from heat.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a method and system that uses operating temperature as a trigger for handover between different wireless coverage systems, allowing the device to switch to a carrier frequency or base station with lower path loss, thereby reducing transmission power and temperature.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the WCD increases transmission power to maintain connectivity at the edge of coverage area, then the connection reliability is improved, but the operating temperature increases and battery life decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection reliabilityVSAvoidoperating temperature

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the handover trigger parameter from traditional signal strength metrics to operating temperature. When the WCD's operating temperature exceeds a threshold, the system triggers handover to another base station, thereby reducing transmission power requirements and lowering operating temperature while maintaining connection reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring the WCD's operating temperature and using this information to control handover decisions. The temperature measurement feeds back to the control mechanism, which adjusts the serving base station to optimize the temperature-power connection scenario

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If the WCD increases transmission power to maintain connectivity at the edge of coverage area, then the connection reliability is improved, but the battery consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection reliabilityVSAvoidbattery consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the handover trigger parameter from traditional signal strength metrics to operating temperature. When the WCD's operating temperature exceeds a threshold, the system triggers handover to another base station, thereby reducing transmission power requirements and lowering battery consumption while maintaining connection reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring the WCD's operating temperature and using this information to control handover decisions. The temperature measurement feeds back to the control mechanism, which adjusts the serving base station to optimize the power consumption scenario

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If the WCD uses higher transmission power to maintain connectivity, then the signal coverage is improved, but the user comfort deteriorates due to heat and shorter battery life

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal coverageVSAvoiduser comfort

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the handover trigger parameter from traditional signal strength metrics to operating temperature. When the WCD's operating temperature exceeds a threshold, the system triggers handover to another base station, thereby reducing transmission power requirements and improving user comfort by lowering device temperature and extending battery life

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring the WCD's operating temperature and using this information to control handover decisions. The temperature measurement feeds back to the control mechanism, which adjusts the serving base station to optimize user comfort

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS10080173B1Method and system for use of operating temperature as basis to control handover

Publication Date: 2018.09.18 SPRINT SPECTRUM LLC

AI summary

A method and system for controlling handover of a WCD based on the WCD's operating temperature. In an example implementation, a determination is made that the WCD's operating temperature is threshold high, and that determination is used as a basis to trigger handover of the WCD to another coverage system, such as to another carrier frequency or to another base station coverage area. Further, in another example implementation, a determination is made that the WCD's operating temperature is threshold low (e.g., is not threshold high), and that determination is used as a basis to trigger handover of the WCD to another coverage system, such as back to the WCD's initially serving coverage system.