Modem Power Interruption for IoT Battery Life

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing power saving modes in wireless communication networks for IoT and M2M devices continue to consume battery power in modems during low-power intervals, leading to reduced battery life, as they cannot completely power down without losing connection session credentials and security keys.

Innovation Solution

An advanced power saving mode that interrupts battery power to the modem, storing session credentials and security keys in non-volatile memory, allowing the modem to re-establish connections without re-registration upon wake-up, thereby conserving battery life and reducing network registration time.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If existing power saving mode is used, then device can power down during certain periods, but modem continues to consume battery power and cannot completely power down

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebattery power consumptionVSAvoidconnection session credentials retention

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the session credentials and security keys from the volatile memory of the modem and stores them separately in non-volatile memory. This allows the modem to be completely powered down while preserving the authentication data, enabling true power saving mode without continuous power consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary action by storing session credentials and security keys in non-volatile memory before the modem is powered down. This pre-storation ensures that when the modem wakes up, it can immediately re-establish connections without needing to re-register, thus enabling complete power down while maintaining connection reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Duration of action of moving object

If modem is completely powered down to save battery, then battery life is extended, but session credentials and security keys are lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebattery lifeVSAvoidsession credentials and security keys

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of moving objectVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the session credentials and security keys from the volatile memory of the modem and stores them separately in non-volatile memory. This allows the modem to be completely powered down while preserving the authentication data, enabling true power saving mode without continuous power consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a copy of the session credentials and security keys and stores it in non-volatile memory. This copy persists when the modem is powered down, allowing the modem to be completely shut off while retaining the necessary authentication information for future reconnections.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

3Reliability

If modem maintains connection during power saving mode, then connection is preserved, but battery power is continuously consumed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection maintenanceVSAvoidbattery power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the session credentials and security keys from the volatile memory of the modem and stores them separately in non-volatile memory. This allows the modem to be completely powered down while preserving the authentication data, enabling true power saving mode without continuous power consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements periodic action by allowing the modem to completely power down during intervals and only activate when needed for data transmission. This periodic on-off operation significantly reduces battery power consumption while maintaining the ability to re-establish connections when required.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentUS11770767B2Advanced power-saving mode for battery powered devices

Publication Date: 2023.09.26 NEPTUNE TECH GROUP INC

AI summary

A user equipment device (UE) establishes a communication session with a wireless network, and receives, from the wireless network, a message that includes scheduling data that schedules a power-saving mode (PSM) at the UE. The UE interrupts, at a first time based on the scheduling data, a supply of power to a modem of the UE. The UE provides, based on the scheduling data at a second time that is subsequent to the first time, power to the modem.