Mobile Device Frequency Scanning Protocol Adaptation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Mobile communication devices spend significant time and power scanning multiple frequency bands when powering on in a new region, especially in areas with sparse network coverage, as they are not optimized to limit scans to only operable bands, leading to inefficient energy use with the increasing number of frequency bands in 5G and 6G networks.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a method where mobile devices select between different scan protocols based on estimated location and mobility characteristics, scanning primarily operable frequency bands in the current region while occasionally scanning neighboring or all bands, transitioning to more extensive scans if the initial region's bands are not identified within a predetermined time.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the mobile device scans all frequency bands to ensure comprehensive network detection, then the reliability of network acquisition is improved, but the power consumption and scanning time increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork acquisition reliabilityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by differentiating the scanning strategy based on the device's estimated location. The system determines whether the device is in an interior or border region and adapts the scanning protocol accordingly - scanning primarily local frequency bands in interior regions while including neighboring bands in border regions. This location-based differentiation ensures reliable network acquisition without unnecessarily scanning all frequency bands everywhere, thereby reducing power consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements partial action by selecting a subset of frequency bands to scan based on location estimates rather than scanning all supported bands. The system identifies a reduced set of operable bands for the current region and scans only those, plus optionally neighboring bands, rather than exhaustively scanning the complete frequency spectrum. This partial scanning approach maintains sufficient reliability for network acquisition while significantly reducing power consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

2Reliability

If the mobile device scans all frequency bands to ensure comprehensive network detection, then the reliability of network acquisition is improved, but the scanning time increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork acquisition reliabilityVSAvoidscanning time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Use of energy by moving object

If the mobile device uses a scan protocol that scans primarily local frequency bands, then power consumption is reduced, but the risk of missing operable bands in border regions increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidnetwork acquisition reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements preliminary action by using location estimation to predict which frequency bands are likely to be operable before actually performing the scan. The system estimates the device's location and mobility characteristics to pre-determine the appropriate scan protocol, including whether to include neighboring frequency bands. This preliminary estimation allows the system to optimize the scanning strategy in advance, reducing power consumption while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

4Reliability

If the mobile device transitions to scanning all frequency bands after a predetermined time, then network acquisition reliability is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork acquisition reliabilityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the scanning protocol adaptive rather than static. The system continuously monitors the elapsed scanning time and transitions from a power-saving protocol (scanning primarily local bands) to an more comprehensive protocol (scanning all bands) after a predetermined time threshold. This dynamic adjustment ensures that the device maintains network acquisition reliability while minimizing power consumption during the initial scanning phase.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3725108B1Scanning frequency selection for a wireless device

Publication Date: 2021.04.28 GOOGLE LLC

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AI summary

Methods, systems, and devices for wirelessly scanning frequency bands based on device location and/or mobility are presented. The method can include (i) scanning, by a mobile device and according to a first wireless scanning protocol, frequencies within first frequency bands that correspond to a first geographic region and second frequency bands that correspond to a second geographic region; (ii) determining at least one of an estimated location or an estimated mobility characteristic of the mobile device; (iii) determining, based on at least one of the estimated location or the estimated mobility characteristic, to adjust a scheduled time for the mobile device to initiate scanning according to a second wireless scanning protocol; (iv) and initiating at the scheduled time, scanning according to the second wireless scanning protocol.