Multi-mode Mobile Device Radio Access Network Selection for Idle Mode

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Solution Overview

Problem

Multi-mode mobile devices experience reduced battery life due to the need to monitor multiple radio access networks for paging and beacon messages, even when not actively transferring data, leading to increased current consumption and redundant monitoring.

Innovation Solution

A method for selecting a subset of radio access technologies that provide the necessary services, allowing the device to deactivate or reduce monitoring of other technologies, thereby reducing current consumption and extending battery life.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the mobile device monitors all registered radio access networks for paging and beacon messages, then the device maintains service availability across all networks, but the battery life is reduced due to increased current consumption from continuous monitoring

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice availabilityVSAvoidbattery life
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the set of registered radio access networks into two categories: a selected subset of networks that provide necessary services and are actively monitored, and non-selected networks that are deactivated or monitored at reduced frequency. This segmentation allows the device to maintain service availability on critical networks while reducing monitoring overhead on less critical networks, thereby resolving the contradiction between reliability and battery life.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies partial action by monitoring only a subset of radio access networks rather than all registered networks. The device performs discontinuous reception (DRX) on the selected subset of networks at normal frequency, while deactivating or using extended DRX cycles on non-selected networks. This partial monitoring approach maintains adequate service availability while significantly reducing current consumption and extending battery life.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

2Reliability

If the mobile device performs discontinuous reception on multiple radio access networks, then the device can detect incoming calls on all networks, but the current consumption increases reducing battery life

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecall detection capabilityVSAvoidcurrent consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments radio access networks into monitored and non-monitored groups based on service necessity. The device performs discontinuous reception (DRX) only on the selected subset of networks that provide essential services, while deactivating monitoring on non-selected networks. This segmentation maintains call detection capability for critical networks while eliminating redundant current consumption from monitoring non-essential networks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts and removes the monitoring function from non-selected radio access networks while retaining it on selected networks. By taking out the unnecessary monitoring operations from the system, the device eliminates the associated current consumption without significantly impacting call detection capability for services that are available on the selected subset of networks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the mobile device registers with multiple radio access networks, then the device can access services from any available network, but redundant monitoring of non-selected networks decreases battery life

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice access capabilityVSAvoidbattery life
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the registered radio access networks into a selected subset that provides necessary services and non-selected networks that are monitored at reduced frequency or deactivated. This segmentation maintains service access capability for essential services through the selected subset while reducing battery life consumption by eliminating redundant monitoring of non-essential networks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by differentiating the monitoring intensity for different radio access networks based on their service importance. Selected networks receive full monitoring attention to ensure service availability, while non-selected networks receive reduced or no monitoring. This localized quality approach maintains adaptability for critical services while extending battery life by reducing overall monitoring overhead.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3614744B1Multi-mode mobile device based radio access network selection method for idle mode operations
Publication Date: 2022.10.12 BLACKBERRY LTD
  • EP3614744B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3614744B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3614744B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method at a mobile device, and the mobile device, the method selecting a subset of radio access technologies available to the mobile device over which a predetermined set of services on the mobile device is available; and deactivating monitoring, or reducing a monitoring frequency, of at least one radio access technology not within the selected subset of radio access technologies.