Protocol Mode Switching for Mobile Terminal Power Optimization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current mobile terminals face challenges in extending battery lifetime due to high power consumption, particularly in machine-to-machine (M2M) communication scenarios, where frequent transitions between RRC states lead to increased processing activity and reduced battery life, despite existing techniques not being adequate to meet battery lifetime requirements.

Innovation Solution

Implementing active hardware switching combined with different protocol modes to reduce power consumption, where a mobile terminal selectively activates or deactivates signal processing units based on the selected protocol mode, tailored to the requirements of the mode in terms of processing capabilities and power consumption, allowing for data rate and latency adjustments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the mobile terminal uses advanced processing capabilities to support high-speed data communication and multiple applications, then communication performance is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata communication speedVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The terminal is divided into multiple protocol mode sets, each containing different protocol modes with varying processing capabilities. The terminal can select appropriate protocol modes from different sets based on application requirements, enabling high-speed communication when needed while using lower-power modes for basic tasks, thus resolving the contradiction between communication performance and power consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The terminal dynamically switches between different protocol mode sets based on real-time requirements. The selection of protocol mode sets is not fixed but adapts to changing conditions such as application type, data rate requirements, and latency constraints, allowing the terminal to optimize the balance between processing capabilities and power consumption continuously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If the mobile terminal frequently transitions between RRC states to maintain connectivity, then communication responsiveness is improved, but processing activity increases and battery lifetime is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication responsivenessVSAvoidbattery lifetime
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Different protocol mode sets contain protocol modes with different parameter configurations, including RRC state transition parameters. By selecting appropriate protocol mode sets based on application requirements, the terminal can adjust RRC state transition frequencies and timing, maintaining communication responsiveness when needed while reducing unnecessary state transitions to conserve battery life.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If the terminal activates all signal processing units to handle high data rates, then data transmission capacity is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transmission capacityVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of always activating all signal processing units, the terminal activates only the necessary subset of processing units based on the selected protocol mode. When lower data rates are sufficient, fewer processing units are activated, reducing power consumption while maintaining adequate transmission capacity for the current communication requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP3056059B1Devices and method for protocol mode switching
Publication Date: 2023.07.05 SONY GROUP CORP
  • EP3056059B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3056059B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3056059B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A mobile terminal (20) comprises a wireless interface (21) for communication with a cellular communication network (10). A logic (27) is configured to control the wireless interface (21) to perform a mode switching signalling to cause activation of a protocol mode selected from a plurality of protocol modes for communicating over the wireless interface (21). The logic (27) is configured to selectively activate or deactivate at least one signal processing unit (24, 25) as a function of the selected protocol mode. The at least one signal processing unit (24, 25) is configured to process data received or transmitted via the wireless interface (21).