Modem Power State Control via Activity Sensors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current modem technologies are inefficient as they maintain a continuous, fully-active state, consuming significant power even during periods of low data usage, as they lack the ability to autonomously switch to a low-power state during low activity and back to full power during high data transmission needs.
Innovation Solution
A modem energy management system utilizing a controller responsive to user-configurable timing and data activity sensors, allowing users to set parameters for low-power or full-power modes based on elapsed time, time of day, and day of week, with manual override options, enabling the modem to automatically adjust its power state accordingly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the modem is maintained in an always-on, fully-active state, then data transmission and reception are always ready and reliable, but power consumption is continuously high
Solution Approach 1:
The modem dynamically adjusts its operational state based on real-time data activity monitoring. The system transitions between full-power mode during high data usage and low-power mode during low data usage, making the power state adjustable rather than fixed. This resolves the contradiction by allowing the modem to be fully reliable when needed while conserving energy during idle periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the power consumption parameter of the modem based on data activity conditions. By monitoring data usage patterns and adjusting the power state parameter accordingly, the modem can maintain reliability when data transmission is active while reducing power consumption during low-activity periods, thus resolving the trade-off between reliability and energy use.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the modem switches to low-power state during low data usage, then power consumption is reduced, but data transmission readiness is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The modem performs preliminary actions by monitoring data activity patterns and predicting when high data usage will occur. The system uses configurable parameters such as elapsed time since last data use, time of day, and day of week to anticipate data transmission needs and switch to full-power mode in advance, ensuring reliability is maintained when data transmission is actually needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms by continuously monitoring data activity and using this information to adjust power state decisions. The configurable interface allows users to set parameters that govern when the modem should assume low-power or sleep states, creating a feedback loop that balances power savings with data transmission readiness based on actual usage patterns.
3Use of energy by moving object
If manual power control is implemented, then power consumption can be optimized, but user convenience is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The modem performs self-service by autonomously monitoring its own data activity and automatically adjusting its power state without requiring manual user intervention. The system uses embedded sensors and controllers to detect data usage patterns and independently decide when to switch between power modes, eliminating the need for users to manually control power states while still achieving power optimization.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary component - the configurable interface and control algorithm - that mediates between power optimization goals and user convenience. This intermediary layer translates user-configurable parameters into automatic power state decisions, allowing users to set their preferences once while the system handles the continuous optimization automatically, thus maintaining convenience while achieving power savings.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for modem energy management utilizing a controller that is responsive to both a user-configurable timing system and a data activity sensor. The disclosed technology provides a configurable interface that enables a user to specify the parameters governing the modem assuming a low-power or sleep state, as well as a monitor adapted to detect the occurrence and rate of user data, video, Wi-Fi, voice and other services. The parameters a user may specify include elapsed time since the last detected data use, the rate of data being transmitted/received by the modem, the time of day and/or the day of the week. The system and method also permit a user to manually initiate the assumption of a low-power or a full-power mode by a modem.