Networking Subsystem Autonomous Reset via Power Control

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

In networked devices, networking functionality malfunctions often disrupt application-specific functionality, leading to user experience issues, as existing systems require application subsystems to detect failures and request resets, resulting in delayed restoration of network functionality.

Innovation Solution

The networking subsystem autonomously detects conditions requiring a reset and requests a reset from the power subsystem, allowing for proactive reinitialization without disrupting the application subsystem, thus minimizing user impact and enabling quicker restoration of network functionality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the application subsystem detects networking failure and requests a reset, then the networking functionality can be restored, but the user experience is disrupted and there is a delay in restoration

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetworking functionality restorationVSAvoiddelay in restoration
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The networking subsystem continuously monitors its own operational status and detects failures before the application subsystem becomes aware of them. By performing preliminary detection and initiating reset requests proactively, the system restores networking functionality before the application is impacted, eliminating delays and preventing user experience disruptions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If the application subsystem requests a reset of the networking subsystem, then the networking functionality can be restored, but the application operation is disrupted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetworking functionality restorationVSAvoidapplication operation continuity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system separates the detection and reset initiation functions from the application subsystem and assigns them to the networking subsystem. This segmentation allows the networking subsystem to autonomously detect failures and request resets without involving the application subsystem, thereby maintaining application operation continuity while restoring networking functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The power subsystem acts as an intermediary that receives reset requests from the networking subsystem and executes the reset. This intermediary mechanism enables the networking subsystem to reset without direct application subsystem involvement, preventing application disruption while ensuring reliable networking restoration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Measurement precision

If the application subsystem monitors for networking failures, then it can detect when networking functionality is disrupted, but the detection is delayed until the application attempts to use the networking functionality

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefailure detection accuracyVSAvoiddetection delay
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The networking subsystem performs self-monitoring of its own operational status and autonomously detects failures. This self-service approach eliminates the delay inherent in application subsystem detection, as the networking subsystem can identify issues immediately upon occurrence without waiting for application-level usage attempts.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3729271B1Devices with networking functionality
Publication Date: 2023.06.28 NORDIC SEMICONDUCTOR
  • EP3729271B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3729271B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3729271B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

There is disclosed a device (2) and a method of operating a device (2). The device (2) has a networking subsystem (8), a power subsystem (6), and an application subsystem (4). The application subsystem(4)runs an application (10) which uses networking functionality provided by the networking subsystem (8). The networking subsystem (8) determines that a condition for triggering a reset of the networking subsystem (8) has been met, and sends a request (20) to the power subsystem (6) requesting a reset of the networking subsystem (8). In response to the request (20), the power subsystem (6) resets the networking subsystem (8), thereby causing the networking subsystem (8) to reinitialise.