Host-Modem Power Management via Predicted Inactivity States

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional communication devices face challenges in balancing power saving and latency in wireless communication, as heuristic-based power management strategies often result in unnecessary high power consumption or increased latency during modem inactivity periods.

Innovation Solution

The communication device employs a modem processor to identify and communicate reduced activity states to the host processor, allowing for proactive power management by reducing the operation of components during periods of modem inactivity, such as powering down or transitioning to low power states, based on Radio Resource Control (RRC) states and scheduling information.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If the host system powers down device components after a predetermined period of modem inactivity, then energy consumption is reduced, but transmission and receipt latencies increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidtransmission latency

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The host system proactively powers down device components before the modem actually becomes inactive, based on predicted inactivity periods from the network node. This preliminary action allows the system to enter low-power states earlier without waiting for actual inactivity to occur, thereby reducing overall power consumption while maintaining acceptable latency performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback from the network node about predicted modem inactivity periods to dynamically adjust power management decisions. The host system receives information about upcoming idle periods and coordinates component power states accordingly, creating a closed-loop control system that optimizes both energy efficiency and latency based on actual network conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Speed

If the host system keeps components active during modem inactivity periods, then transmission and receipt latencies are reduced, but power consumption remains high

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresponse speedVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSUse of energy by stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The host system proactively powers down device components before the modem actually becomes inactive, based on predicted inactivity periods from the network node. This preliminary action allows the system to enter low-power states earlier without waiting for actual inactivity to occur, thereby reducing overall power consumption while maintaining acceptable latency performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts the power state of device components based on real-time network conditions and predicted modem activity. Rather than using fixed power management policies, the host system flexibly transitions components between active and low-power states according to the specific timing and duration of predicted modem inactivity periods, optimizing the balance between speed and energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If heuristic-based power management is used to balance modem availability and energy consumption, then a compromise solution is achieved, but unnecessary power consumption and latency remain

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower management flexibilityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses feedback from the network node about predicted modem inactivity periods to dynamically adjust power management decisions. The host system receives information about upcoming idle periods and coordinates component power states accordingly, creating a closed-loop control system that optimizes both energy efficiency and latency based on actual network conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the timing parameter for power state transitions based on network conditions. Instead of using fixed heuristic thresholds, the host system adjusts when to power down components by incorporating predicted inactivity period information from the network node, thereby optimizing power consumption without sacrificing necessary modem availability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS11882524B2Power saving host-modem interaction in a communication device

Publication Date: 2024.01.23 INTEL CORP

AI summary

In various aspects, power saving host-modem interactions are described herein. For instance, a host of a communication device includes a host processor that receives, via an interface, information about the reduced activity state of a modem of the communication device including an indication of the RRC state of the modem. It also receives, via the interface, information about a projected expiration of a reduced activity period of the modem including an indication of a time remaining until a next event of the modem. The host processor controls a reduction of an operation of a component of the communication device during the reduced activity period of the modem, based on the indication of the RRC state of the modem and the indication of the time remaining until the next event of the modem. The reduced activity state of the modem corresponding to the reduced activity period of the modem.