Motion Sensor Control for Mobile Base Station Search Frequency

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current mobile devices face challenges in efficiently managing power consumption and improving performance while providing accurate motion and position information, especially when stationary or moving at varying speeds, which affects base station acquisition, automatic gain control, and signal processing.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating motion and position sensors into mobile devices to determine stationarity and velocity, which allows for adjusting the frequency of base station searches, modifying automatic gain control parameters, and optimizing filter settings in receivers to reduce power consumption and enhance performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the mobile device frequently searches for base stations to maintain connection and improve performance, then the base station acquisition reliability is improved, but the power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebase station acquisition reliabilityVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the base station search frequency adaptive rather than fixed. The search frequency dynamically adjusts based on the detected motion state of the mobile device - higher frequency when moving and lower frequency when stationary. This resolves the contradiction by optimizing the balance between acquisition reliability and power consumption according to actual operational conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of search frequency based on motion detection results. By detecting whether the device is stationary or moving and adjusting the search frequency parameter accordingly, the system achieves reliable base station acquisition when needed while conserving power during stationary periods, thus resolving the contradiction between reliability and energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Use of energy by moving object

If the mobile device uses motion sensors to detect stationarity and adjust search frequency to reduce power consumption, then the power consumption is reduced, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower consumptionVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies self-service by using the mobile device's existing motion sensors (accelerometers, gyroscopes) that are already present for other functions like screen orientation and step counting. The system repurposes these existing sensors for base station search frequency control, avoiding the need to add dedicated hardware and minimizing the increase in device complexity while achieving power savings.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If the mobile device adjusts automatic gain control parameters based on velocity to improve signal processing, then the signal processing performance is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignal processing performanceVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies universality by making the velocity detection system serve multiple functions. The same motion sensors and velocity calculation mechanisms are used both for controlling base station search frequency and for adjusting automatic gain control parameters. This multi-functional approach improves signal processing performance without requiring separate dedicated systems, thus limiting the increase in device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP2436212B1Movement sensor uses in communication systems
Publication Date: 2018.11.14 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP2436212B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2436212B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2436212B1 patent drawingFigure 3

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.