Mobile Receiver Motion Sensing for Adaptive Base Station Search
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current mobile devices face challenges in efficiently managing power consumption and improving performance while providing motion and position information, particularly in base station acquisition, automatic gain control, and receiver responsiveness, due to the lack of effective utilization of motion and position data.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating motion and position sensors into mobile devices to determine stationarity and velocity, which allows for adaptive adjustments in search frequency, automatic gain control, and receiver filter settings, thereby reducing power consumption and enhancing performance by optimizing signal acquisition and processing based on the device's motion state.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the mobile device continuously searches for base stations at high frequency, then the base station acquisition speed and network responsiveness are improved, but the power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the base station search frequency adaptive rather than fixed. The system dynamically adjusts the search frequency based on the detected motion state of the mobile device - using motion sensors to determine whether the device is stationary or moving, and consequently adjusting the searcher operation to perform frequent searches only when necessary (when moving) and reduce or suspend searches when stationary, thereby optimizing the trade-off between acquisition speed and power consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters of the base station searcher based on motion state. By detecting motion parameters (acceleration, velocity) from sensors and comparing them against thresholds, the system modifies the search frequency parameter adaptively - maintaining high search frequency when motion exceeds thresholds (indicating potential cell changes) and reducing frequency when motion is below thresholds (indicating stable positioning), thus resolving the contradiction between speed and energy use
2Use of energy by moving object
If the mobile device uses motion sensors to determine stationarity and adjust search frequency, then power consumption is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent leverages the motion sensors already present in modern mobile devices for multiple functions - primarily for motion detection in applications and games, but also for base station acquisition optimization. By reusing existing sensor hardware and its data output for the searcher frequency control, the system achieves power savings without adding dedicated hardware complexity, as the sensors serve universal purposes across different device functions
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the mobile device's own motion sensors to self-determine its motion state and autonomously adjust the base station search frequency accordingly. The processor analyzes sensor data from the device's built-in motion detection capabilities and automatically controls the searcher operation without requiring external input or additional complex control systems, enabling the device to optimize its own power consumption through self-service mechanisms
3Speed
If the automatic gain control (AGC) responds quickly to signal changes, then the receiver responsiveness is improved, but the system becomes less stable when the device is stationary
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics to the AGC system by making its responsiveness adaptive to the device's motion state. When motion sensors detect that the device is moving (exceeding velocity thresholds), the AGC is configured with faster response characteristics to quickly track signal strength changes. When the device is detected as stationary (below thresholds), the AGC switches to slower, more stable response characteristics, preventing unnecessary fluctuations and improving signal stability during static periods
4Measurement precision
If the mobile device updates receiver filters frequently to track signal changes, then the tracking accuracy is improved, but the power consumption and processing load increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the filter update frequency dynamic based on motion state detection. When the motion sensors indicate the device is moving, the system increases the frequency of receiver filter updates to maintain accurate signal tracking despite changing Doppler shifts and frequency offsets. When the device is stationary, the system reduces filter update frequency, maintaining sufficient tracking accuracy while significantly reducing processing load and power consumption associated with frequent filter recalculations
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and apparatus are directed to mobile devices utilizing motion and/or position sensors for improving operating performance and/or power efficiency. In one example, a method for reducing power consumption in a mobile device includes receiving movement information, establishing movement data based on the movement information, determining if the mobile device is stationary using the movement data; and reducing the frequency of searching for a base station when the mobile device is stationary. In another example, a mobile device which reduces power consumption based upon movement data includes an RF front end, a receiver coupled to the RF front end, a data demodulator coupled to the receiver, a searcher, coupled to the RF front end and the receiver, which searches for base stations, and a processing unit coupled to the searcher, wherein the processing unit controls the searcher based upon the stationarity of the mobile device.