Offloading Idle Mode Activities Between User Equipment
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Solution Overview
Problem
The integration of cellular modems in user equipment (UE) for always-connected experiences leads to high power consumption in idle mode, which compromises battery life, as devices like laptops and tablets consume significant energy while monitoring for paging messages and performing cell signal measurements.
Innovation Solution
Offloading idle mode activities from one UE to another UE, where the secondary UE performs these tasks on behalf of the primary UE, using a local Bluetooth or WiFi connection to conserve power and extend battery life.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If cellular modem performs idle mode activities (monitoring paging messages, cell signal measurements) in user equipment, then always-connected user experience is maintained, but power consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts idle mode monitoring activities from the primary user equipment and relocates them to a secondary user equipment. The primary UE's cellular modem can then enter deep sleep mode while the secondary UE performs paging message monitoring and cell signal measurements on its behalf, significantly reducing the primary UE's power consumption while maintaining always-connected functionality.
2Use of energy by moving object
If cellular modem enters idle mode to conserve power, then power consumption is reduced, but device cannot receive incoming paging messages
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a secondary user equipment as an intermediary that performs idle mode monitoring activities on behalf of the primary UE. The secondary UE acts as a mediator between the cellular network and the primary UE, receiving paging messages and forwarding them when the primary UE wakes up, thus enabling the primary UE to conserve power while maintaining reliable message reception.
3Adaptability or versatility
If high end modem features are integrated to increase functionality, then user experience is improved, but battery life is compromised due to increased power consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the modem functionality into two parts: the primary UE maintains high-end modem features for active communication, while the secondary UE handles idle mode monitoring tasks. This segmentation allows the primary UE to have advanced modem capabilities without continuously consuming the power associated with idle mode operations, thereby preserving battery life while maintaining feature richness.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method and apparatus for offloading idle mode activities from one user equipment (UE) to another. A UE includes a cellular modem, a device-to-device (D2) communication modem, and a processor. The cellular modem performs idle mode activities during an idle mode. The processor controls the cellular modem and the D2D modem. The processor is configured to send information necessary for performing the idle mode activities to the secondary UE for offloading the idle mode activities of the primary UE to the secondary UE and put the cellular modem in a low power state or turn off the cellular modem during the idle mode. The processor wakes up the cellular modem to receive a paging message if a wake-up signal is received from the secondary UE.