Motion Sensor Based Scan Selection for User Equipment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Wireless communication systems face challenges in prolonging battery life and reducing channel scan duration for user equipment (UE) due to the need for full band scans, which consume significant battery energy and take several minutes to complete.

Innovation Solution

The method determines whether to perform a full band scan by using motion sensor data, where if the UE has been stationary and skipped full band scans more times than a threshold, it performs a full scan, otherwise it performs a partial scan or no scan, optimizing energy usage and scan duration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If full band scan is performed to ensure comprehensive channel search, then channel scanning completeness is improved, but battery energy consumption increases and scan duration increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechannel scanning completenessVSAvoidbattery energy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the scan strategy adaptive based on UE movement state. The system dynamically switches between full band scan and partial band scan modes depending on whether the UE is detected as stationary or moving, optimizing the balance between scanning completeness and energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the scan parameter (scan scope) based on movement detection. When the UE is stationary, the system performs a full band scan for completeness. When the UE is moving, the system performs a partial band scan to reduce energy consumption, thereby adapting the parameter to current operational conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If full band scan is performed to ensure comprehensive channel search, then channel scanning completeness is improved, but scan duration increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechannel scanning completenessVSAvoidscan duration
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts scan duration based on UE movement state. For stationary UEs, full band scan is performed for completeness. For moving UEs, partial band scan is performed to reduce time loss, making the scan duration adaptive to user behavior.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The scan scope parameter is changed based on movement detection to control scan duration. This allows the system to perform comprehensive scanning only when necessary (stationary state) and abbreviated scanning when the UE is moving, optimizing time efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If full band scan is performed to ensure comprehensive channel search, then channel scanning completeness is improved, but battery standby time decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechannel scanning completenessVSAvoidbattery standby time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes battery standby time dynamic by adjusting scan intensity based on UE movement. When the UE is stationary, full scanning is performed. When the UE is moving, partial scanning is performed to conserve battery energy, thereby extending standby time for stationary periods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The scanning parameter is changed based on movement state to optimize battery standby time. The system performs comprehensive scanning only when the UE is stationary (maximizing standby time) and reduces scanning scope when moving, creating an optimal balance between completeness and battery life.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Use of energy by moving object

If channel scan is skipped to save battery energy, then battery life is improved, but channel availability may be missed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery energy consumptionVSAvoidchannel availability detection
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically determines when to skip scans based on UE movement detection. When the UE is detected as moving, the system skips full band scans to save battery energy. When the UE is stationary, the system performs full scans to ensure channel availability detection, making the decision adaptive to user state.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The scan execution parameter is changed based on movement state. The system changes from performing full scans to skipping scans (or performing partial scans) depending on whether the UE is stationary or moving, optimizing the balance between energy saving and channel availability detection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP2428071B1Apparatus and method for using motion sensor data to select full band scans
Publication Date: 2018.05.02 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP2428071B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2428071B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2428071B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An apparatus and method for determining whether to perform a full band scan by using motion sensor data comprising determining if a user equipment has been stationary since the full band scan was last performed; determining if the user equipment has skipped full band scans more times than a skipped threshold; and if the user equipment has skipped full band scans more times than the skipped threshold, performing a full band scan, or if the user equipment has not skipped full band scans more times than the skipped threshold, performing a partial band scan or performing no scan.