Network-Aware Scheduler for Mobile Device Connection Overhead

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Solution Overview

Problem

Mobile devices incur significant battery drain due to the initial overhead of waking up the radio and establishing a network connection for data transmission, which is unnecessary for non-time-sensitive background operations, leading to increased power consumption.

Innovation Solution

A network-aware scheduler that coordinates and delays the transmission of client application messages based on priority designations and network activity, utilizing a persistent low-power connection to minimize radio wake-ups and optimize network usage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If the mobile device establishes a network connection for each data transmission, then the data can be transmitted immediately, but the battery drain increases due to repeated radio wake-ups and connection setup overhead

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata transmission speedVSAvoidbattery consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system establishes a persistent network connection in advance and maintains it in an active state, so that subsequent data transmissions can occur immediately without repeated connection setup. The scheduler proactively manages the connection state based on predicted transmission needs, performing the connection establishment action before actual data transmission occurs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent maintains the network connection in a continuous active state rather than establishing and tearing it down for each transmission. The persistent connection remains available for multiple transmissions, eliminating the repeated radio wake-up cycles and connection establishment overhead that would otherwise occur with each individual data transfer.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

2Loss of energy

If the mobile device maintains a persistent network connection, then the overhead for subsequent transmissions is reduced, but the battery drain increases due to keeping the radio active

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork overhead energy lossVSAvoidbattery consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the network connection state based on real-time scheduling decisions and transmission priorities. The scheduler can transition the connection between active and dormant states, optimizing the balance between maintaining connection readiness and conserving battery power. This dynamic state management allows the system to adapt to varying transmission needs rather than maintaining a static connection state.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the operational parameters of the network connection, specifically the radio activity state, based on scheduling requirements. By adjusting parameters such as connection timeout values, activity thresholds, and state transition timing, the system optimizes the trade-off between connection maintenance overhead and battery consumption for different transmission scenarios.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If background operations transmit data immediately, then the operations complete faster, but unnecessary battery drain occurs due to radio wake-ups for non-time-sensitive transmissions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebackground operation completion rateVSAvoidbattery waste

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The scheduler prepares background transmission tasks in advance by queuing them and pre-establishing connection readiness when appropriate. Rather than immediately triggering radio wake-ups for all background tasks, the system preliminarily organizes transmissions and only activates the radio when actual transmission is needed or when the connection is already active from other operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system batches multiple background transmissions together and transmits them during continuous network active periods. By consolidating background operations into coordinated transmission windows, the system maintains productivity while eliminating unnecessary repeated radio wake-ups, as the network connection remains active throughout the batched transmission sequence.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentUS20150351126A1Systems and methods for controlling network connection overhead associated with mobile device communications

Publication Date: 2015.12.03 GOOGLE LLC

AI summary

Systems and methods include storing execution parameters for handling application messages for two or more client applications and storing callback paths for notifying the two or more client applications of transmission of the application messages. The method includes receiving an indication of a client application message available for transmission, receiving one or more network control messages that include an indication of an activity state of a network. The method includes determining whether to the delay the client application message. Responsive to the determining, based at least in part on the indication from the one or more network control messages that a network connection is active, the method includes allowing transmission of the client application message, and sending an indication of acknowledgement by one or more of the callback paths.