Idle Mode IP Address Renewal for Battery Conservation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Wireless communication devices face increased battery power consumption due to the need for frequent transitions out of idle mode to renew IP addresses, which reduces their operational efficiency and battery life.

Innovation Solution

A method and system for enabling automatic renewal of IP addresses, allowing communication devices to remain in idle mode longer by configuring an idle mode timer and automatically requesting updates from the IP address allocation unit when the timer expires, thereby reducing the need for devices to actively transmit and renew IP addresses.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If devices frequently transmit to renew IP addresses, then IP address validity is maintained, but battery power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveIP address validityVSAvoidbattery power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The network performs IP address renewal actions in advance before the device actually needs to use the network. The access node automatically renews the IP address lease timer when it detects the device is in idle mode, so the device doesn't need to actively transmit to renew its IP address, thereby saving battery power while maintaining IP validity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-service IP renewal where the network infrastructure (access node) automatically handles the IP address renewal process without requiring the device to actively participate. The access node monitors idle mode status and automatically transmits renewal requests to the IP address allocation unit, allowing the device to remain in low-power idle mode while its IP address is maintained.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Use of energy by moving object

If devices remain in idle mode longer, then battery power savings increase, but IP address renewal reliability decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebattery power savingsVSAvoidIP address renewal reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The access node continuously monitors the device's idle mode status and uses this feedback to determine when automatic IP renewal is appropriate. When the device transitions from idle mode to active mode, the access node receives feedback and can immediately renew the IP address lease, ensuring reliability without requiring device-initiated transmissions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Use of energy by moving object

If automatic IP renewal is implemented, then battery power consumption decreases, but network complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebattery power consumptionVSAvoidnetwork complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The access node performs multiple functions: it serves as both the communication interface for the device and the IP address management entity. By integrating idle mode detection and automatic IP renewal functionality into the access node's existing operations, the system avoids adding separate complex renewal mechanisms, thereby managing network complexity while achieving power savings.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS8964614B1Method and apparatus for idle mode synchronization

Publication Date: 2015.02.24 SPRINT SPECTRUM LLC

AI summary

A method and system to manage idle mode operation of a communication device are disclosed. The method includes receiving from the communication device a request to enter idle mode comprising a request to enable automatic renewal of an internet protocol (IP) address currently assigned to the communication device, transmitting, to an IP address allocation unit which allocated the IP address to the communication device, the idle mode request, receiving, from the IP address allocation unit, an idle mode response comprising an IP lease update acknowledgement associated with the idle mode request, transmitting, to the communication device, the idle mode response, enabling automatic renewal of the IP address, configuring an idle mode timer, and transmitting to the IP address allocation unit, an IP lease update request corresponding to the IP address, when the idle mode timer expires and the communication device is in idle mode.