Mobile Device Power Management via Dynamic Network Polling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mobile devices experience rapid battery drain due to frequent and simultaneous searches for network connections, especially when the connection is weak or unavailable, leading to inefficient power consumption.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method where mobile devices increase the polling interval for searching network connections when they are unavailable and decrease it when a strong connection is detected, allowing only one application to search for the connection and notify other applications, thereby conserving battery power.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple applications periodically search for network connections at short intervals, then network connectivity is maintained and data can be retrieved, but battery power is consumed rapidly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the network connection searching function into a single dedicated application rather than allowing multiple applications to search independently. This unified approach consolidates the polling activity, ensuring network connectivity is maintained while significantly reducing redundant search operations and associated battery consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic adjustment of the polling interval based on network conditions. The system monitors network availability and adjusts the search frequency accordingly—using shorter intervals when connectivity is needed and extending intervals when the network is unavailable or weak. This dynamic strategy maintains reliability when necessary while minimizing energy consumption during extended periods.
2Productivity
If applications continuously search for network connections, then data can be retrieved promptly, but unnecessary searches waste power when connection is weak or unavailable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the single search application monitors network connection status and communicates this information to other applications. When the network is detected as unavailable or weak, the system receives feedback and extends the polling interval, preventing wasteful search operations while maintaining the ability to retrieve data promptly when connectivity improves.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the polling interval parameter dynamically based on network conditions. When the network is strong and available, the system uses shorter intervals for rapid data retrieval. When network strength falls below a threshold or connectivity is unavailable, the system extends the interval, reducing the frequency of searches and thereby minimizing energy waste on unsuccessful connection attempts.
3Speed
If the polling interval is shortened to search more frequently, then network availability is detected faster, but battery life is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic polling interval adjustment, shortening the search frequency when network availability is detected and extending it when the network is unavailable. This dynamic strategy enables fast network detection when needed while extending battery life during extended periods of network unavailability by reducing the frequency of search operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic network searching at adjustable intervals rather than continuous searching. The polling interval is periodically adjusted based on network conditions, allowing the system to maintain fast detection capability when the network is available while reducing search frequency to conserve battery life during extended periods of unavailability.
Data Source
AI summary
Computer-implemented methods, computer-readable media, and computer systems for managing power consumption in mobile devices are described. A mobile computer system executes a first computer application configured to receive data from a server system over a network, and a second computer application configured to periodically search for a connection to the network at a first time interval. In response to executing the second computer application, the mobile computer system determines that a strength of the connection is below a threshold strength. In response to determining that the strength of the connection is below the threshold strength, the computer system executes the first computer application to delay requesting data from the server system until the connection to the network is detected.