Mobile Device Locationing and Power Management at Rest

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Solution Overview

Problem

Electrically-powered mobile devices, such as handheld data capture readers and smartphones, continue to consume power when at rest, leading to battery drain and reduced operational lifetime, and existing locationing systems struggle to accurately track their last known location when switched off.

Innovation Solution

A sensing system and control system that generate location signals and determine when a mobile device is at rest, allowing it to switch to a low power mode and store its accurate location, using motion sensors, ultrasonic, or video locationing systems to reduce power consumption and maintain location tracking.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the mobile device continues to operate locationing systems when at rest, then the location tracking remains continuous and accurate, but the electrical power consumption increases and battery life decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelocation tracking accuracyVSAvoidelectrical power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the locationing system operation mode based on device state. When the device is determined to be at rest (device state indicator indicates stationary), the locationing system switches to a low-power mode or stops operation. When the device is in motion, the system resumes normal operation. This dynamic state-based control resolves the contradiction by making power consumption adaptive to actual tracking needs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The mobile device autonomously determines its own state (at rest or in use) using device state indicators such as motion sensors or location signal stability, and self-regulates the locationing system operation accordingly. The device switches to low-power mode automatically when at rest without requiring external control, thereby reducing power consumption while maintaining tracking capability through periodic location updates.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Use of energy by moving object

If the mobile device switches off completely when at rest, then the electrical power consumption is reduced to zero, but the locationing system cannot determine the last known location when the device is picked up

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectrical power consumptionVSAvoidlast known location data

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

Before the device switches to low-power mode or off state, the system performs preliminary action by determining and storing the last known location of the device. This pre-stored location information is immediately available when the device is picked up and switches back to active mode, eliminating the information loss that would otherwise occur. The location is captured in advance of the power reduction event.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system introduces an intermediary storage mechanism (memory or database) that holds the last known location information. This intermediary preserves the location data even when the device is in low-power or off state, acting as a bridge between the inactive and active states. When the device resumes operation, the stored location information is retrieved, ensuring continuous location tracking without requiring the device to remain powered on.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Duration of action of stationary object

If the mobile device operates in low power mode when at rest, then the battery life is extended, but the location signals may not be updated frequently enough to maintain accurate tracking

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebattery lifeVSAvoidlocation tracking accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of stationary objectVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The locationing system operates in a periodic manner during low-power mode, updating location information at predetermined time intervals rather than continuously. The system determines the device state at regular intervals and updates location data periodically when the device is at rest. This periodic operation maintains acceptable location tracking accuracy while significantly reducing power consumption compared to continuous operation, thereby extending battery life.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentUS11064431B2Arrangement for, and method of, accurately locating, and reducing electrical power consumption of, mobile devices at rest in a venue

Publication Date: 2021.07.13 SYMBOL TECHNOLOGIES LLC

AI summary

A sensing system generates location signals indicative of where an electrically-powered, mobile device is in a venue. A control system determines that the mobile device is at rest when the location signals are substantially the same for a predetermined period of time, processes the location signals to determine an accurate, current location of the mobile device in the venue when the mobile device is determined to be at rest, and controls the mobile device when determined to be at rest to operate in a low power mode in which the average electrical power consumption of the mobile device is reduced.