Modem Scan Duty Cycle Control via Device Movement Sensors

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Solution Overview

Problem

Mobile computing devices face frequent battery recharging or replacement due to inefficient modem scan management, leading to user frustration and increased power consumption, especially in fringe areas with intermittent or weak cell coverage.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a modem scan management system that determines the computing device's location and adjusts the modem scan duty cycle based on sensor data and wireless signals to conserve power by reducing scans in areas with weak or no cell coverage, and resuming scans when significant movement is detected.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the modem continuously scans for cell coverage, then connectivity reliability is improved, but power consumption increases and battery life decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnectivity reliabilityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic adjustment of modem scan duty cycle based on device movement state. When the device is stationary, the scan duty cycle is reduced to conserve power. When movement is detected, the scan duty cycle is increased to maintain connectivity reliability. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by making the scan behavior flexible rather than fixed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the scan duty cycle parameter based on device state. By monitoring movement sensors and adjusting the scan frequency parameter accordingly, the system optimizes the balance between connectivity reliability and power consumption. The scan duty cycle parameter is modified from a static value to a dynamic value that adapts to operational conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If the modem increases scan duty cycle in fringe areas, then cell coverage detection is improved, but power consumption and heat buildup increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecell coverage detectionVSAvoidheat buildup

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent adjusts the scan duty cycle parameter based on detected cell coverage conditions. In fringe areas with weak or intermittent coverage, the scan duty cycle is increased to improve detection accuracy. This parameter change enables better measurement precision for cell coverage detection while managing the associated power and thermal costs through conditional application.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Duration of action of moving object

If the modem reduces scan duty cycle to conserve power, then battery life is extended, but connectivity reliability may deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebattery lifeVSAvoidconnectivity reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent dynamically adjusts the scan duty cycle based on device movement state rather than maintaining a fixed low scan rate. When the device is stationary, reduced scanning conserves battery life. When movement is detected, scanning intensity increases to maintain connectivity reliability. This dynamic approach ensures battery life extension without compromising reliability when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where movement sensors provide information about device state, which then feeds back to adjust the modem scan behavior. This closed-loop control ensures that power consumption is optimized while maintaining connectivity reliability through condition-based adjustments rather than uniform reduction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

4Reliability

If the modem scans frequently in areas with no cell coverage, then network availability is improved, but unnecessary power consumption occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork availabilityVSAvoidunnecessary power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the scan duty cycle parameter based on detected network coverage conditions. In areas with no or weak cell coverage, the system adjusts scanning parameters to balance between detecting available networks and avoiding unnecessary power consumption when coverage is unavailable or intermittent.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS11304141B2Controlling device modem scan duty cycle based on device sensor or wireless data

Publication Date: 2022.04.12 MOTOROLA MOBILITY LLC

AI summary

Various different types of computing devices include a modem that allows the computing device to communicate wirelessly with other devices using various different radio access technologies (RATs). During operation of the computing device, the modem scans for a cell to connect to using a particular RAT, and once found connects to the cell. The computing device also includes a modem scan management system that manages the modem scanning for a cell to connect to, controlling the modem's scanning for a cell to connect to, such as stopping scanning using a particular RAT or reducing the frequency of the scans until movement of the computing device by a significant amount is detected. In response to a significant amount of movement being detected, scanning using the particular RAT can resume or the frequency of the scans can be increased.