Automatic Radio Power Management via Historical Network Quality Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
Client devices lack access to historical network quality parameters, making it inefficient to select the best wireless network for connectivity, especially as they move between coverage areas, and cellular networks cannot simultaneously scan for other networks while connected.
Innovation Solution
A system that collects and analyzes wireless network quality parameters and geographic information, building a searchable database to inform network selection and power management, allowing devices to make informed decisions and optimize connectivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the client device continuously scans for wireless networks to ensure connectivity, then network availability is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by collecting and analyzing network quality parameters in advance, building a database of historical network performance data. This allows the device to predict which networks are likely to provide good connectivity without continuously scanning, thereby reducing power consumption while maintaining network availability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms by continuously monitoring network quality parameters and using this information to dynamically adjust scanning behavior. When historical data indicates poor network quality in current or predicted locations, the device reduces scanning frequency, conserving power while maintaining connectivity through informed network selection.
2Productivity
If the client device scans for multiple wireless networks simultaneously, then network selection efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary network assessments by collecting quality parameters from multiple networks in advance and storing this data. When network selection is needed, the device queries the pre-built database rather than performing complex simultaneous scans, simplifying the scanning mechanism while maintaining efficient network selection through historical performance data.
3Reliability
If the radio remains on to maintain connectivity, then network availability is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts radio power states based on historical network quality data and predicted device location. When data indicates poor network quality ahead of time, the radio can be powered down or placed in low-power mode, knowing that connectivity will be restored when the device enters areas with better network coverage, thus reducing power consumption while maintaining overall connectivity.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the device disconnects to scan for other networks, then network selection flexibility is improved, but connectivity interruption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary assessments of alternative network quality using historical data before disconnecting from the current network. This allows the device to make informed decisions about network switching, ensuring that disconnection only occurs when alternative networks are predicted to provide better connectivity, thereby reducing unnecessary connectivity interruptions while maintaining network selection flexibility.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method are provided for automatically shutting off or reducing power to certain radios in a client device based on collected wireless network quality parameters. The wireless network quality parameters are collected from wireless networks by various client devices in communication with the wireless networks. The client devices report the wireless network quality parameters to a server. The server collects wireless network quality parameters from a plurality of client devices and analyses the wireless network quality parameters from the plurality of client devices to determine a network quality for the particular wireless networks. The network quality is stored in a network quality database maintained by the server. When it is determined that a device is in an area of weak signal coverage, power to its radio is automatically reduced or shut off until the device leaves the area.