Network-Based WLAN Positioning for Mobile Terminal Power Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mobile terminals connected to cellular networks face inefficiencies in locating nearby WLANs due to power-intensive scanning processes, which can drain battery life and miss opportunities for connection.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that determine the mobile terminal's position and retrieve nearby WLAN positions from a database, sending notifications when the terminal is within range, allowing efficient scanning and minimizing power consumption by using network-based and terminal-based positioning methods.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the mobile terminal constantly searches for WLAN systems, then the mobile terminal can detect WLAN opportunities, but the battery life of the mobile terminal is adversely affected
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by having the network determine the mobile terminal's position and proactively retrieve WLAN position information from the database before the terminal needs to scan. This allows the network to identify when the terminal is within range of a WLAN and send a notification, eliminating the need for the terminal to continuously scan and consume power.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent inverts the traditional scanning approach by shifting the active role from the mobile terminal to the network. Instead of the terminal actively searching for WLANs, the network determines terminal position, queries WLAN database, and notifies the terminal of WLAN opportunities. This inversion transfers the energy-intensive operations from the terminal to the network infrastructure.
2Use of energy by moving object
If scanning for a LAN system is not performed often enough, then the battery life is preserved, but an opportunity to connect to a WLAN system may be missed
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring the mobile terminal's position through the network's positioning capabilities. The network maintains awareness of terminal location and automatically queries the WLAN database when position changes occur, ensuring timely detection of WLAN opportunities without requiring terminal-initiated scanning.
Solution Approach 2:
The network acts as an intermediary between the mobile terminal and WLAN systems. It retrieves position information from the positioning center, queries the WLAN database based on terminal location, and communicates WLAN opportunities to the terminal. This intermediary role ensures comprehensive WLAN detection while keeping the terminal in a low-power state.
3Reliability
If the mobile terminal determines its own position and scans for WLANs, then the terminal can find WLANs, but the device complexity and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the positioning and WLAN database query functions from the mobile terminal and relocates them to the network infrastructure. The terminal only needs to provide its identity, while the network handles position determination through the serving mobile positioning center and WLAN information retrieval from the database, significantly reducing terminal complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for finding a wireless local area network, WLAN, when a mobile terminal is connected to a cellular network. A position associated with each WLAN operating within the coverage area of the cellular network is stored in a database. At predefined intervals or conditions, the system determines a current position of the mobile terminal, and determines whether the current position of the mobile terminal is close enough to a stored WLAN position for the mobile terminal to connect to the WLAN corresponding to the stored WLAN position. If so, a notification is sent to the mobile terminal indicating that the mobile terminal is within range of the identified WLAN. The mobile terminal then scans for the identified WLAN.